mineral wells fossil park

We were able to find small fossils but it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. In Summer cover up, and bring little baggies.

Took our four children hear. They all enjoyed digging for fossils. Just a couple of words on expectations: - The fossils are tiny little sea organisms - There is no shade or water (take plenty of sunscreen and water with you) - Take a spoon or other small shovel to dig a littleAdmission is free and there is a port-a-potty on site.

We were in Mineral Wells Texas for a family reunion and decided to check out the fossil park. The park is open during the daytime hours and it is on your own! You can bring small scraping devices just to remove the top layer of sediment. The fossils were plentiful and so easy to find. There are NO facilities and it is a few miles from a convenience store. Bring something to collect your treasures. That way you can study your finds when you arrive home. I would do this again! We took ages 8-74. Everyone loved it. My mother-in-law is in a wheelchair. She couldn't get down in the pit. The dirt ramp had washed out a bit so we let her watch from above. The website is very informative!

I found out about this place at Fossilmania. It's run by Dallas' Paleontology Society. It's the first park of its kind in Texas.You will need directions to find the place. Make sure you get them before taking off. Just follow the road to the end; drive in a low gear. It's not paved all the way.We went on the first day of a cool front and it was still hot. There's no shade or running water. There is a port-a-potty but I'd be wary of it. Texas is full of snakes, spiders, and scorpions looking for somewhere cool and dark to escape the heat.A helpful billboard informs you of the most commonly found fossils in the pit. We found lots of crinoids (which was good because my partner has little patience).Bring your own cooler, ice, and water. Apply sunblock often. Bring gardening gloves. Wear jeans and closed toe shoes. Wear a hat and sunglasses. Watch the ground carefully and often. Bring paper towels (we brought cloth towels and wet them down before going to the park) to clean. Bring plastic baggies to put your finds in. Knee pads are recommended but we found plenty just walking around. If you're bringing kids, you may want to consider bringing your own shade.You get to keep the fossils you find. Admission is free!

Pros: You will find many fossils on the surface of the soil; mostly fragments of crinoids and shells. We don't have kids, but it seemed like a place where kids could have fun. Admission is free. There's a port-a-potty on site (we did not use it, but I did notice it in the parking area; at least it's there "just in case").Cons: No shade. No running water. It's an open pit; the area has some drop offs, steep slopes, and loose soil. Dangerous encounters with insects and snakes are possible; enter at your own risk. We encountered a scorpion while digging around; wear gloves and be watchful of where you step and place your hand.Reccomendations: take sun-block, a hat and long sleeve shirt if you want to protect your skin from the sun. Take a cooler with beverages, remember, the site has no running water. Take a lunch or a snack with you if you plan to spend more than a few hours at the park; the closest restaurant is about 10 miles away. Take toilet paper with you, if you are brave enough to use the port-a-potty. Some equipment needed to collect fossils: carry a small bucket or a small bag to place your fossils in, bring small gardening tools with you, knee pads, and gloves. No shovels, hoes, picks, nor motorized equipment is allowed on the site. No open fires nor smoking, no alcoholic beverages allowed on site. Park hours are Friday - Monday 8am - dusk. Be cautious and vigilant of your children if you plan on taking them. Like any other park, they can encounter dangerous animals (scorpions, snakes, spiders, etc.). This fossil site is worth taking a look at IF you are in the area and you have an hour to spend, or IF you are a naturalist and have an appreciation for paleontology.

Visited this site during late late spring and it was hot. No shade. Get good directions before going. There are plenty of small fossil fragments to be found. Be prepared for a lot of digging as this is a well used site. Very dreary "pit."