This Hidden Las Vegas Ranch 20 Miles From The Strip Was Once America’s Quick Divorce Capital
Las Vegas nowadays is known for its glitz, glam, and casinos. But did you know that back in the day it was a paradise for those who wanted to get a divorce?
Just 20 miles from the Strip lies Tule Springs Ranch, nestled in Floyd Lamb Park. As the name suggests, beautiful springs were once found on that land – but what became of it later makes for a much more interesting story.
Divorce ranches in Nevada
Before it became a gambling town, Las Vegas was known for its divorce ranches. Divorce was pretty much a business in Nevada, because of its lenient laws. But in order to take advantage of these laws, you had to be a Nevada citizen – which wasn’t that hard. You only had to spend 6 weeks in the state. Around the same time, Nevada also added nine grounds for divorce, including ‘extreme cruelty entirely mental in nature”. Most states required a one year wait after filing for divorce, and it was only possible for proven adultery and abandonment.
It’s easy to see why in the 30s, over 30,000 divorces were granted in Nevada.
According to the city’s website, divorce tourism thrived in Las Vegas for decades. It came to an end in 1970 when California’s governor, Ronald Reagan – himself divorced – signed the nation’s first no-fault divorce law. From then on, couples no longer had to prove misconduct to separate. Other states soon adopted similar laws.
The Tule Springs Ranch
via Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas Online Collections
The springs were first used by Native Americans. In the early 1900s, it was a stop for the nearby mining camps. In 1916, Millard W. Blodgett got the land through a state grant but sold it just a year later to John Herbert Nay, who kicked off farming on the property. By 1941, Las Vegas businessman Prosper Goumond had bought it and turned it into Tule Springs Ranch. The ranch had homes, guest lodgings – especially popular with folks coming to Nevada for quick divorces – and plenty of buildings to support its cattle operation. A divorce ranch, such as the Tule Springs one, was mostly used by women, as men would stay home to work.
After years of activity, Tule Springs Ranch closed in the late 1950s. It left behind historic buildings that still reflect its layered past.
Today’s space
Las Vegas bought the property in 1964 and turned it into a city park. It was later renamed after the state senator Floyd Lamb, a name that stuck even after his bribery conviction.
The grounds are now used as a beautiful, shady park, with wide lawns and peacocks roaming around. The old ranch buildings, mostly whitewashed brick, can still be seen. Around the site, photos and signs tell stories from its “divorce ranch” days.
Today, we know it as Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs. Just a heads-up: the entry kiosk is cashless, so bring a debit or credit card for admission.
