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Visitor Experience at Red Rock Canyon: A Case Study in Public-Land Design

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is located approximately fifteen miles west of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States. The geologic features, plants, and animals of Red Rock Canyon represent a dramatic example of the fragile Mojave Desert. This case study compares two design responses by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which administers the Conservation Area, to the dual challenges of increased visitation and increased emphasis on conservation, and the impacts of those responses on the quality of visitor experience. The authors argue that typical federal governmental tools such as master plans, management plans, and policy statements are not sufficient for maintaining a high quality of visitor experience on our public lands. A three-dimensional design vision also is needed—a vision based on physical design of site amenities that preserves scenic natural resources, immerses visitors in the specific place, and connects them to the land, thus ensuring a higher quality of visitor experience.