Boulder City

Where is Boulder City?

Boulder City is a city lying around 26 miles southeast of Las Vegas, also in Clark County, with 14,885 residents as of the latest (2020) census.  Named from Boulder Canyon, the city is one of only two Nevada cities prohibiting gambling.

Boulder Dam History & Culture

Boulder City's beginnings are like many cities in the western United States, as a federal company town. It was set up in 1931 by the Bureau of Reclamation and Six Companies Inc. as a housing community for workers constructing the Hoover Dam, the state's Number 1 attraction. First named Boulder Dam until 1947 when it got the official name Hoover Dam, its huge scale demanded a long project duration that the Bureau considered a semi-permanent town instead of a temporary arrangement. Thus, Boulder City is an exceptional town fully planned under federal supervision.

The development had a city manager, who regulated its commercial development, limiting the number of various store types allowed in the city, aside from screening business applicants for character and financial viability. State-funded schools were established later, as well as hospitals.

Boulder City was incorporated on January 4, 1960 and got its charter. Among Boulder City's Charter provisions, approved by the city council and the residents, is the prohibition of gambling within city limits. There are two casinos with a Boulder City mailing address and telephone number prefix but are not within city limits. Alcohol sales were permitted only starting in 1969.

Boulder Dam/Hoover Dam's presence in the city is clearly seen in many businesses, especially in the historic Downtown district where the Boulder Dam Hotel, home of the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum is located. It has also been used by the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce in promotions, like a yearly short film festival called "The Dam Short Film Festival." Punning on "damn," there are several upcoming events organized or coordinated by the Boulder City Chamber like "That Dam Guy Stole My Dam Car" car race and "Get Off My Dam Lawn" gardening festival.

Things to do in and around Boulder City

Built during the 1930s, the Hoover dam is one of the world's architectural wonders, a triumph of technology and innovation, and a concrete icon of American history. The construction of this colossal icon is an engineering project that is the first of its kind.

A new visitors center was built in 1995 and the visitor count exceeded 1M for the first time the next year. Closed to the public again on 9/11 2001, modified tours resumed in December, and a "Discovery Tour" was added the next year. There are currently almost a million annual visitors for guided tours of the whole facility or just the power plant. There is a self-guided tour available in the visitor center where tourists can view exhibits and a 360-degree sighting of the dam.

Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum

The Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum houses the saga of the men (and later women) who traveled west and risked facing and living in the isolation of the Nevada desert in the construction of Hoover Dam and the establishment of Boulder City.

The museum is open to the public from 7 am to 7 pm daily, all year-round. School and group tours are also available. Inquiries can be made at 702-294-1988.

Alan Bible Botanical Garden

The Alan Bible Botanical Garden, at the Alan Bible Visitor Center of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, is a desert botanical garden named for Senator Alan Bible. There are samples of the desert trees and shrubs indigenous to the area and the plant communities found all around the recreation area. 

Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Park

Among the city's delightful parks, the internationally famous Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Park is in Bootleg Canyon in the northern part of Boulder City, the desert near Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. In this park are various trails like cross-country (XC) and downhill (DH), created by artist and cycling aficionado Brent Thomson. The International Mountain Bicycling Association has identified Bootleg Canyon as an "Epic Ride." https://mtbparks.com/Nevada/295-Bootleg-Canyon-Mountain-Bike-Park/View-details.html

Lake Mead

Around 24 miles from Las Vegas, sits Lake Mead, the largest US reservoir in water capacity, which was formed from the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River.  It occupies the states of Nevada and Arizona, and is the water source for the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and some parts of Mexico, giving sustenance to almost 20M people and large tracts of farmlands.

Lake Mead has various recreation forms for locals and visitors like boating, fishing, swimming, sunbathing, and water skiing. There are four marinas here - Las Vegas Boat Harbor and Lake Mead Marina, and Calville Bay and Temple Bar. There are also several coves with rocky cliffs and sandy beaches.

Small to medium-sized islands appear in Lake Mead depending on the lake's water level. On the north side of the lake is The Grand Wash recreational area. The Alan Bible Visitor Center manages the Alan Bible Botanical Garden, with cactus and other plants native to the Mojave Desert. The Desert Princess of the Lake Mead Cruises, a three-level paddle wheeler certified by the US Coast Guard, cruises to the dam five days a week with 275 passengers.      https://www.nps.gov/lake/

Nevada Southern Railroad Museum

The Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City is a railroad museum located on the original tracks installed for the construction activities at the Hoover Dam, under the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. The state of Nevada obtained the tracks and the right of way from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1985.     

The museum runs a heritage railroad with excursion trains using historic railroad equipment for a 7-mile, 45-minute round trip. Beginning operations in 2002, this heritage railroad is an opportunity for passengers to experience the locomotive cab, and the caboose, and also to operate trains, depending on availability and reservations. https://nevadasouthern.com/

Living in Boulder City, Nevada

Boulder City has been ranking well in cost of living, schooling, nearby amenities, crime rate, employment, housing, and weather conditions, making it one of the best cities in Nevada to live in. In 2009, Boulder City was ranked by Money magazine in its annual list of the top 25 places to retire in the US, based on affordable housing, medical care, tax rates, and arts and leisure.

Boulder City has become a favorite of families and retirees. With Lake Mead at its doorstep, many "migrants" are boaters or those loving the outdoors. Boulder City also has several arts and cultural events throughout the year.

There are several beautiful parks, one of which is Hemenway Park. There's ample space for basketball, tennis, and other outdoor fun, as well as picnic areas and children's playgrounds. Sometimes there are even sightings of the famous bighorn sheep visiting the park.

Boulder City has its share of wealthy residents, with historic homes going back to its founding in the 1930s. Million and multi-million dollar properties with stunning lake-views, quiet tree-lined streets, low crime rates, excellent schools, and a great healthcare system, make for the city's popularity among home buyers.

Schools

Under the Clark County School District, Boulder City has 5 preschools, 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school, and 4 public district schools. The average student: teacher ratio in Boulder City is 20.9: 1. Here is a sampling of your family’s options in Boulder City.

Boulder City has no university within city limits but there are colleges and universities nearby.

Shopping and Dining

There are numerous shopping opportunities (and a lot of antiques!)  in Boulder City. Among its entertainment offerings for residents and visitors are:

  • Sherman's House of Antiques - Here you can find an eclectic collection of antiques and gifts, from furniture to dinnerware to vintage jewelry and clothing.  

  • Boulder City Antique Market - The only metaphysical shop in the city, selling antique and gift items from various vendors, as well as sports collectibles and handmade Mexican pottery. 

  • Boulder City Art Guild - The BCAG is a non-profit corporation that runs a gallery and gift shop displaying their artists' works for sale, sponsors community exhibits and events where the public can freely view those works and interact with the artists, offers classes and workshops on art by the Guild members, sponsors youth and adults enabling them to attend art classes by the Boulder City Parks &  Recreation Department and provides scholarships to high school students seeking to pursue fine art in college.  

  • Bella Marketplace - Aside from antiques and gifts, the shop also offers classes on how to re-finish and upcycle your home furnishings.

  • Back in Thyme - This vintage collection shop was opened in 2001, thus starting the now-thriving antique shop community in Boulder City. The owner-founder is also a writer on antique pedal cars and vintage Native American jewelry.

  • Tom Devlin's Monster Museum - With the mission to preserve the art and history of special makeup effects, the displays include screen-used props and creature suits to custom pieces representing monsters in film history.

  • Goatfeathers Emporium - A shop offering antiques, rare finds, unique handcrafted gifts by local vendors, and a trip down memory lane.

  • Erick Begay Native American Jewelry - This shop features various jewelry pieces of turquoise in stunning silver settings, from pendants, rings, bracelets, necklaces, and all other jewelry items.

  • Ruben's Woodcraft and Toys - A specialty shop featuring toys, games, books, and originally-crafted wooden furniture and art. It has a studio where kids can paint the toys that they have chosen. Adults can also enjoy seeing toys reminiscent of their childhood.

  • The Flying Saucer Area 52 - The Flying Saucer is a family-owned shop with an extraterrestrial theme. Thus, its offered items are UFO books, souvenirs, and an outdoor bubble-top saucer for photo ops.

Dining

Boulder City Restaurants, Grills, Cafes. Whether you’re hankering for a steak dinner, an ice cream treat, or a crafted beverage, you’ll be satisfied with the quaint restaurants in Boulder City. Menus are varied and international. All ages and dietary tastes and preferences are catered to. Here's a sampling of choices.

  • Iron Rail Cafe - A 24-hour cafe serving various culinary treats for breakfast to lunch to dinner!

  • Tony's Pizza - A small retro-vibed pizza shop with outdoor tables, serving thin-crust slices of pizza, subs, and pasta.

  • Cornish Pasty Company - Offering traditional and vegan Cornish pasties, and other English favorites, reviewed as “one more reason to go to Boulder City.”

  • Toto's Mexican Restaurant - Named after the owner’s father, the restaurant is now run by the third generation. A family business that has grown and become a community favorite because of the local patrons and tourists.

  • Boulder Dam Brewing Company - Almost like a museum, its interiors display equipment actually used in the construction of Hoover Dam. Considered the place for live music in the city, featuring the best talents in the community playing in the beer garden.

  • Grandma Daisy's Candy Store and Ice Cream Parlor - A different kind of family-owned candy shop that offers virtually awesome treats with everything handmade, creative and fresh, evoking tastes of childhood

  • Momo Sushi - A small Japanese restaurant with a down-to-earth vibe offering sidewalk seating for patrons to enjoy fresh, well-made, good portions of seafood, sushi, and sake.

  • Dam Roast House and Browder Bookstore - The shop’s menu is intended to satisfy differing food preferences and dietary needs to give patrons the best quality food and drinks, all made from organic or organically-grown ingredients, and locally sourced as much as available. 

  • De Simone's Steakhouse - Sized like a small banquet hall, this restaurant is known for its excellent service and fine cuisine. Like mouth-watering steaks filled with flavor.

  • China Bistro - A family-owned and run bistro of Asian fusion menu with everything made from scratch. 

FAQs

Is Boulder City Nevada a good place to live?

For people who want to live in communities with a small town quiet, Boulder City is ranked one of the best cities in Nevada to live in, for affordable cost of living, nearby amenities like entertainment, crime rate, employment, health care, housing, and weather, and a relatively small population as well. A family with kids or retirees would feel safe and at peace in this kind of neighborhood.

What is Boulder City known for?

Boulder City is known for its history connected to the site of Hoover Dam, as well as the Colorado River, Lake Mead, and more. The community had also been named "Nevada's Garden City" when its establishment as a planned community included tracts of green landscaping, having a small-town charm, and offering big adventure opportunities.   

Is Boulder City cooler than Las Vegas?

Boulder City is situated on a plateau, north of the El Dorado Mountains. It is generally cooler than Las Vegas, which is 500 feet lower in height and 25 miles northwest.

Why is Boulder City famous?

Boulder City NV is famous in its location on the US map for its association with the Hoover Dam, the country's largest dam infrastructure, which when it was originally built led to the founding of the then town of Boulder.

Back to Communities