An aerial rendering of the Nevada Adventure Center site that, when complete next fall, will offer multiple options.
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Mandi Elliott, executive director for the Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition, and her husband experienced some “culture shock” when they first came to the West. They were surprised to be able to explore more diverse terrain and outdoor adventure.
“I moved to Nevada about three years ago from the rural Midwest in a place that only had two acres of public land,” she said. “I feel so thankful to be here in Nevada, not only because of the outdoor recreation access but to be a part of a state whose local government values outdoor recreation as an economic driver more than any place I’ve ever been.”
Elliott and other speakers gathered Tuesday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the planned Nevada Adventure Center at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. The center is one of two in development, with the second in Boulder City, to serve as a focal point for people to connect with tour operators, destination guides and outdoor recreation experts. Carson City’s center is expected to open next fall.
The centers have suites to be rented to the tour operators. They will be able to choose an excursion, and vendors will provide supplies or other needs, Carrie Roussel, facilities coordinator for both sites, said. But it’s also an opportunity to benefit Nevada’s communities in other ways, she added.
“We want people to stay an extra night, we want people to dine at our restaurants,” she said. “We want them to run into the grocery store and get their sunblock or whatever.”
Roussel said the objective is to ensure there is a variety of services providing an array of outdoor opportunities. A review committee will go through applications and base decisions on a rubric, she said. It would be expected that some tour operators would use the site as a secondary location for their business.
“We really want to make a space where someone can open their dream and provide their tours that normally they wouldn’t dream of doing,” she said. “We want to make it a reality for them.”
The project is funded by a $3.7 million U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Administration grant with a match in state funds for just more than $7 million.
Travel Nevada Executive Director Rafael Villanueva said outdoor recreation is one of the state’s leading economic drivers. More than 52 million visitors in 2024 helped to boost $100 million in spending, reaching $1.8 billion statewide, he said. Approximately 10.5 million people visited Great Basin National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Park, which rose 2.9% over 2023. Villanueva also said Nevada ranks second nationally for outdoor recreation capacity. Approximately 86% of its state lands are public.
Assemblyman PK O’Neill, noting Carson City’s wintry weather groundbreaking in contrast to Boulder City’s recent sunny ceremony, described Nevada’s all-season backdrop as ideal for the centers.
“We have the summer times, we have the winter times and the in-between times to enjoy this beautiful state,” he said. “And it is truly a beautiful state, and I can think of no better place for the Adventure Center than right here.”
Carson Mayor Lori Bagwell thanked the state and local partners for coming together on a project she said would serve as a catalyst for providing jobs, growth and family opportunities in the region.
“We’re not just turning soil,” she said. “We’re turning the page toward a future of economic vitality, innovation and opportunity … a place where families gather, where visitors explore and where our local businesses thrive.”
Resident sentiment survey results, according to Travel Nevada, showed 59% view outdoor recreation is one of the qualities they enjoy most about where they live, Villanueva said.
“It’s a remarkable asset that few other destinations can match and one that we, with the Adventure Center, will be taking full advantage of,” he said. “…This center isn’t just about travel; it’s about strengthening our community.
“It will create opportunities for local businesses and outfitters through leasing, interactive displays and branded marketing, and by welcoming visitors and encouraging them to stay longer, they’ll help generate revenue, jobs and pride in Carson City and the region.”
