Adventure Center debuts in Boulder City as new option for adventure-seekers

“The most important message that we can spread today all over the state of Nevada, and really all over the country and all over the world … is that outdoor recreation is alive and well in the great state of Nevada.”

Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony declared that Wednesday at the grand opening of the Travel Nevada Adventure Center — Boulder City, the first of its kind. He was joined by dignitaries from across the state, including Travel Nevada and the city of Boulder City.

The recreation hub has been a long time coming, many of them said. At 102 Nevada Way, overlooking Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the center serves as a small-business hub for outdoor recreation and a one-stop shop for visitors seeking adventure.

Rafael Villanueva, Travel Nevada’s chief executive officer, hosted the ribbon-cutting.

“Today is about opening doors,” he said.

The state is already known for its “extraordinary experiences,” Villanueva added, “but sometimes the challenge isn’t convincing someone that they want an adventure; it’s helping them figure out how to do that adventure, and that’s what this center is designed to do.”

‘Do what you love’

The center currently hosts six operational businesses, with two more on the way. Among them, with signage at the ready, are Loop Trail Rentals, Desert Adventures (kayaking, hiking, biking), Lake Mead Cruises (lunch and dinner sternwheeler cruises), Canyon Riders LLC (e-bike rentals and tours), Hoover Dam Rafting Adventures (river rafting), Papillon Helicopters (scenic air tours), and HPP Armory (storage and locker rentals).

Loop Trail Rentals and Canyon Riders are both electric bike rental companies. They’re there in what Jill Rowland-Lagan, CEO of the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce, called “coopertition,” meaning both businesses will act cooperatively if one is booked and the other is available.

Wednesday was the first day of operations for Canyon Riders, owned by Brian Burns.

He said the area is one of the greatest spots in the world for any type of biking. Their standard tours, at three hours and $249, take riders 14 and older (and 4 feet, 11 inches or taller) through the Railroad Tunnel Trail in Lake Mead on fat tire e-bikes.

Riders will take off right from the center with a guide, across the trail and onto the bridge, he said, to look over the Colorado River.

The bikes meet the latest safety codes, he said, with a 750-watt motor, disc brakes, 24-inch tires and a moped-style seat. Riders will also wear Sena U1 Smart Helmets featuring an intercom. Guides will capture the ride on 4K video.

“I do this all the time, anyway,” Burns said of the inspiration for his business. “When I heard they were building this up here and they would be bringing busloads of people in, it just made sense.

“They say do what you love,” he added. “So this is something I really enjoy doing.”

Loop Trail Rentals offers the same route, as well as the River Mountains Loop Trail, a 35-mile round-trip ride for intermediate-to-advanced riders.

‘Herculean’ lift

Rowland-Lagan called the new center a “Herculean” lift by the Nevada Commission on Tourism, along with support from Congresswoman Dina Titus and Nevada Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. The center, along with its forthcoming Carson City counterpart, was funded by a $3.7 million Economic Development Administration award, part of the $7 million in total investment.

And now, adventure-seekers, both local and visiting, have an array of options in one place.

“As we saw outdoor recreation skyrocket, one thing became clear: The region needed more outdoor infrastructure and guidance, not just for safety, but to ensure their activities aligned with the community’s economic and conservation goals,” said Brenda Scolari, director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

In 2025, Nevada saw a total of $1.7 billion in outdoor recreation visitor spending.

She added the event “marks the beginning of a new chapter, one in which Boulder City, Nevada government and our community and our visitors, all move forward together with shared purpose, shared stewardship and shared economic opportunity.”

The center offers daily operating hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with shuttle services available from various Las Vegas locations from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit adventure.travelnevada.com.

Contact Kristen Di Chiara at kdichiara@reviewjournal.com.