Nevada Builds Record Blanket Fort for 150 Foster Kids

Imagine transforming two entire gymnasiums into the world's biggest blanket fort, complete with tunnels, rooms, and 150 excited kids running through it. That's exactly what happened Saturday at Desert Breeze in Las Vegas, where Commissioner Justin Jones and community partners built something magical for foster children.

High school student Michael Davalos from West Career and Technical Academy designed the massive fort. Planning started back in December, and the final design came together in April after months of careful work.

Teams from Foster Kinship and West Career and Technical Academy joined forces to bring the vision to life. Blankets draped from floor to ceiling, creating a maze of cozy tunnels and secret rooms that stretched between 14,000 and 15,000 square feet.

About 150 foster and kinship kids got the first chance to explore the fort. They raced through tunnels, played games, and joined activities led by the parks and recreation team while their caregivers enjoyed a rare afternoon of rest.

"The nice thing is that the parents who do such a difficult job in having foster kids or kids that otherwise would be in foster care, they need a break," Jones explained. "We're going to provide them with that respite for this afternoon so they can go enjoy some other activities themselves."

The Ripple Effect

This wasn't just about breaking a world record. The event recognized the hard work of foster and kinship families who open their homes to children in need. By creating something extraordinary, the community sent a clear message that these families and kids matter.

The current Guinness World Record for largest blanket fort stands at just over 12,000 square feet. Clark County's fort beat that by roughly 3,000 square feet.

Guinness officials arrived on site to measure the structure and review video footage of the build. They'll make the final call on whether Clark County officially enters the record books.

This celebration of childhood joy and community support shows what happens when people work together for kids who need it most.