Copyright © Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza
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Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza is near Valley of Fire State Park and located on Moapa Paiute tribal land, less than an hour from the Las Vegas Strip. The plaza has a 10,000 square foot tent housing one of the largest collections of fireworks in the western US. It is also the largest firework store in Nevada.
Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza is also home to a 100 acre “launch pad” located on a broad expanse of remote desert land. Customers that purchase fireworks can use the launch pad for free and engage in pyrotechnic pursuits to their heart’s content.
In addition to the variety of medium and high level fireworks, the Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza includes a convenience store, cafe, gas station, and a small 2,500 square foot casino with 100 slot machines. It is owned and operated by the Moapa Band of Paiutes tribe.
For most of the year, the Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza serves as an unassuming rest stop of sorts for visitors on their way in and out of Las Vegas or Valley of Fire, but hundreds of customers flock to the plaza during the 4th of July holiday season each year to purchase and set off fireworks.
The fireworks are illegal almost everywhere in the US, but the Moapa Indian Reservation is one of the very few places where you can purchase and set off these types of fireworks without a special permit. With so many people gathering to set off fireworks at the same time, it creates a dazzling fireworks display that can easily last over three hours.
During the busy holiday weekend, the Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza also puts on free concerts and a professional fireworks show for its customers. In 2012, the show featured just a few local Las Vegas bands, but by 2015, the event had grown to include some top names in music including LeAnn Rimes, Bret Michaels, Vince Neil, Big and Rich, Foghat and more. The festival attracted nearly 70,000 visitors over the two day event that year. It has continued to grow each year since.
Moapa Band of Paiutes July 4th Weekend Concert
“Moapa Band of Paiutes July 4th Weekend Concert” by Cache Media Works
FUN FACT: A large portion of the world famous off-road race, the Mint 400 runs through the Moapa Indian Reservation and the event is depicted in Hunter S. Thompson’s 1971 classic novel, Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas.
Along with the 4th of July celebrations, the Moapa Band of Paiutes holds various other events on-site at the Southern Paiute Memorial Veterans Park and Event Center, such as the Annual POW-WOW featuring Native music, dance, arts and crafts, and food.
Whether you’re in need of a professional fireworks display or even just a simple truck stop setting to use as a film location for your next production, be sure to check out Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza! You can view the full Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza filming location details here and don’t forget to register your project!
To find more film-friendly locations, be sure to visit our Nevada Filming Locations Database or contact us if you need further assistance with your production!