Search “Hickman Avenue & Grand Canyon Drive” on Google Maps and you’ll pull up a location at the intersection named “Lone Mountain Nevada Temple,” which doesn’t actually exist. At least not yet. The lot is quiet with no construction equipment, leveling, or signs to announce a project in the works, but these 20 acres represent one of the most controversial building plans in the Las Vegas Valley.
⛰️ A Love for Loneliness
Unincorporated Lone Mountain is governed by Clark County and the City of Las Vegas, but has its own distinct identity. The neighborhood is named after a rugged, 560-foot-tall peak, separated from the Red Rock National Conservation Area by centuries of erosion now home to the 215 Beltway.
Most of the homes are a patchwork of styles and designs on large lots. Not having an HOA to enforce uniformity is one of the perks of a community that slowly emerged in desert isolation, but saw civilization develop around it in later years. Caution signs warn drivers to watch for horseback riders and you’ll see few if any street lights on side streets. While you need to escape the glow of the valley to appreciate true stargazing, Lone Mountain does enjoy a surprising degree of darkness at night.
🐴 Maintaining a Rural Lifestyle
The identity and character of Lone Mountain was legally protected in 1999 when Nevada passed legislation that established and defined rural preservation neighborhoods. Much of that protection has been watered down over the years by local governments.
Last year, Las Vegas City Council approved a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in that lot near Hickman and Grand Canyon, while rezoning the land in the process (although it technically didn’t fall within the boundaries of a rural preservation neighborhood).
A 2024 rendering of the Lone Mountain Nevada Temple. (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/Intellectual Reserve, Inc.)
👍 A Fierce Debate 👎
The temple would serve more than 100,000 members of the local Mormon community, who currently rely on just one full-scale temple on the eastern edge of the valley (although there are more than 70 smaller churches in Las Vegas). Supporters also believe the temple will beautify the area.
Opponents take issue with not only the height of the proposed structure, but its imposing presence and initial plans for surrounding lights that would operate around the clock. An increase in noise and traffic was also cited by neighbors opposing the project, which comes with more than 500 parking spaces.
🌓 A Desire for Dark Skies
Before approving the temple, City Council members agreed to a compromise that would lower the height of the steeple to 196 feet. The City later approved an ordinance for select communities, including Lone Mountain, to keep lights below 35 feet, restricted to warmer color temperatures, limited by light shields, and inactive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
👀 What’s Next?
The Nevada Rural Preservation Alliance of Lone Mountain homeowners filed a petition for judicial review in an attempt to reverse the decision before filing a lawsuit against the city. After a District Court dismissal in February, the alliance filed an appeal with the Nevada Supreme Court in April. Meanwhile, the Church is holding off on any construction until litigation runs its course.
- We hope you’re enjoying Night Week so far. (Wait ‘til you see what we have to say about late-night eats and reverse happy hours tomorrow 👀) Today, City Cast Las Vegas looks at the question that kicked off the whole idea in the first place: Is Las Vegas still a 24-hour city? [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
