Lodge Resort Complex in Lake Mead National Recreation Area to be Demolished through GAOA Funding

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

NPS / Andrew Cattoir

Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA), with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), is demolishing the hazardous and abandoned buildings of the Lake Mead Lodge at Boulder Beach (formally known as the Hualapai Lodge). This project includes the demolition of all associated sidewalks, roads, parking, and non-native plants around the area. The project will restore the natural desert landscape in the Boulder Beach area.

The Lake Mead Lodge at Boulder Beach was built by a concessionaire in 1941. The original lodge complex included one administrative building and two lodge buildings. A 1954 renovation created an annex and swimming pool. In 2008, the lodge closed after being determined “non-mission critical”. The condition of the lodge has since become a public safety risk. A partial demolition project in 2017 boarded up the buildings and removed the pool.

Project at a Glance: This $1.112 million project will demolish the remaining components of the Lake Mead Lodge at Boulder Beach to eliminate safety risks to visitors and park staff. Additionally, it will rehabilitate the natural landscape, improve scenic views, and expand public access for park visitors.

What are the Benefits: Once completed, funds currently being used to maintain these unoccupied and vandalized buildings can be used to create new experiences and recreation opportunities for visitors to interact with the park’s natural landscape. This project removes unstable and hazardous items in a high-use area, removes a refuge for dangerous rodents and insects, reduces the park’s man-made footprint, restores native desert landscaping, expands public access of the park, and creates a safer recreational environment for visitors and staff.

Project Details

Anticipated Start Date: Summer 2021
Anticipated Completion*: Winter 2022
Project Costs*: Approximately $1.112 million
Visitor impact: There will be no visitor impact during demolition

*Estimates that are subject to change

Project Purpose and Goals

Boulder Beach is one of the top two visitor destinations of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. With over 7.5 million recreation visits in 2021, the park wants to ensure that each visitor is safe and enjoys the natural landscape of the park. This project will:

• Eliminate an unsightly and hazardous building from the high-visitor-use area of Boulder Beach

• Eliminate refuge for disease harboring rodents and insects

• Reduce annual operational maintenance costs for park staff that have to clear and re-secure the buildings to prevent unauthorized entry

• Restore the lodge complex site to native desert landscaping

• Reduce deferred maintenance and repairs

Find more information about Boulder Beach

Lake Mead Lodge at Boulder Beach Demolition

NPS Photo

Current Status

This project is substantially complete as of August 2022.