Kiel Ranch supporters: Return with us to Old West

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999 | 9:26 a.m.

The nonprofit group Friends of Kiel Ranch is hosting a weekend of cowboy festivities designed to educate the public about the historic ranch in North Las Vegas.

Western Heritage Festival and Cowboy Poetry Gathering will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, at or around the Community College of Southern Nevada Cheyenne campus. Several events will be located next door at the Cheyenne Sports Complex.

More than 40 booths will showcase everything from gold panning and trick roping to Western arts and crafts. And more than 50 poets nationwide will perform cowboy poetry in classrooms inside the college.

The nation's best-selling cowboy poet, Baxter Black, will perform Saturday at 5 and 8 p.m. in CCSN's Horn Theatre. Tickets are $15 for adults and $9 for youth and senior citizens.

The goal is to raise awareness of historic preservation, especially at Kiel Ranch, said Phyllis Martin, secretary and treasurer of the organization. Money raised will go toward further programming for the ranch.

Kiel Ranch is 7 acres of the original 240 acres first homesteaded by Conrad Kiel in the mid-1800s. The city of North Las Vegas owns the ranch, located at Carey Avenue and Losee Road, and is developing it as a resource for both residents and tourists.

"We don't want the city to bulldoze," she said. "If people are aware of the ranch, it will get preserved."

Martin said the event has been two years in the making, sparked when she heard a speech by the state Department of Tourism. A study was cited, showing if a city has historical activities, tourists would extend their stay by two to three days to take part in them.

She started writing grant requests in order to fund the event. She has received approximately $28,000 from state and city agencies.

"Anything you can do that gets more attention is going to help with historic preservation," she said.

For tickets for Baxter Black call 395-9834.