Record-breaking summer draws crowds to Lake Mead on Labor Day

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – With the hottest summer on record across the Las Vegas valley many people are flocking to Lake Mead to try and cool off over the Labor Day holiday.

“A little bit cooler than Las Vegas and it’s beautiful,” Liam Bade said, who was visiting from Germany.

From people to pets, many people were out at the lake on Monday and 8 News Now caught up with many of them on the lake.

“I love it but I feel bad that it’s still down so low though,” Las Vegas resident Kara Kehring who brought her friends from Minnesota to see the lake said.

The lake is about 36% full, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.

Stacy O’Leary who lives in Las Vegas and frequents Lake Mead said she hasn’t seen it this busy in a long time.

“This is the busiest weekend I’ve seen it here in a couple of years,” O’Leary said.

After recent drownings at the lake in early August she is telling others to wear a life jacket.

“The other day we came down and we saved two girls that were on the side of the mountain with the paddle boat and two girls with no life jackets. You gotta have your life jackets,” O’Leary said.

With several deaths noted this year the lake is on track to have its deadliest year yet. The U.S. Park Service said that most drownings on the lake are from people not wearing a life jacket.

Those at the lake will also notice docks “I” and “R” are still closed since the fire on June 9 there. That fire affected 37 boats and remains under investigation but at this time foul play is not expected.

While the hot days are coming to an end at the lake the seasonal trails will be back open at the end of September when it cools off.

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