Kiel Ranch fund-raiser a step in right direction

Diana Sahagun

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1999 | 9:30 a.m.

At least 1,500 people flocked to the Community College of Southern Nevada Cheyenne Campus for the Western Heritage Festival, a Kiel Ranch fund-raiser complete with cowboy dancing and poetry but little in the way of gate receipts.

Phyllis Martin, treasurer and secretary for Friends of Kiel Ranch, called the event a small step in the right direction.

Martin said she's disappointed that the three-day event over the weekend didn't draw larger crowds and only broke even, but she said one goal was reached: raising awareness of historic preservation, especially that of Kiel Ranch.

"We got a lot of very positive comments from the people who were there," she said. "We also made a lot of good contacts with people who knew things about the ranch."

Friends of Kiel Ranch has teamed up with the North Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Department to save the historic ranch, located at Carey Avenue and Losee Road. The ranch is 7 acres of the original 240 acres first homesteaded by Conrad Kiel in the mid-1800s.

Some of the most popular events over the weekend were the demonstrations by the UNLV roping team and Star Duster square dancers. There were also more than 40 booths showcasing everything from gold panning to western arts and crafts.