George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park — Ogden, UT
by Noelle on 05/12/08 at 9:33 pm
If you think dinosaurs are dino-mite, then you don’t want to miss the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park in Ogden, UT!
Dinosaur Park is an exciting opportunity to wander into the prehistoric past and imagine what the earth (and Utah) was like when dinosaurs roamed freely. It’s not quite Jurassic Park (and considering how that turned out that’s a good thing!) but you can see and hear more than 100 dinosaurs. The life-size and life-like replicas are based on genuine fossil skeletons, and some are “brought to life” with robotics and a high-tech sound system that emits some pretty scary roars.
The threatening 20-foot tall T-Rex is a park favorite, and a great photo op. Some of Utah’s indigenous dinosaurs on display are the gigantic Triceratops; the plant-eating Parasaurolophus; the vicious Ceratosaurus; and the terrifying predator, the Utahraptor (the first fossils were found in Utah in 1991). My daughter’s favorite is the Brachiosaurus–one of the largest land animals ever–that you can walk under as you enter the play area. We spend a lot of time at the play area, as it’s toddler-friendly and minus the roars. Don’t worry, there’s something here for all age groups.
The eight-acre Dinosaur Park features creatures from the Triassic through the Cretaceous period. Indoors, there’s a working dinosaur lab where you can watch scientists examine real dinosaur bones, and a hands-on education center where you can learn about our prehistoric friends. There are free dinosaur movies on Mondays (call for schedule–some movies may be too scary for little ones). Outdoors, little paleontologists can dig for dinosaur bones in the excavation pit, play in the fantasy playground, feed ducks in the pond, or get up close and personal with the dinosaur exhibits. Summer brings Dino Day Camps and Adventures in Art, for ages 4-11.
Dinosaur Park is open year-round, but our favorite time to visit is spring and fall, when the weather allows us to spend most of our time outdoors, wandering around the park. There’s lots of trees and shade throughout the park, although not much in the playground or on the paths. We usually bring lunch or snacks (the cafĂ© is only open on weekends) and eat at one of the picnic tables near the playground. We visit so often during the year that it was definitely worth it for us to buy a membership.
Admission is free for children 1 and under; $4 for kids 2-12; $5 for students with ID and senior citizens; $6 for adults. A Family Membership or Grandparent Membership costs $50; individual memberships are $20. See www.dinosaurpark.org or call (801) 393-DINO for more info about memberships, and special group and school rates.
Dinosaur Park is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (8 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day), and Sunday from noon-6p.m. The park is wheelchair- and stroller-friendly. No pets, bikes or skateboards allowed.
Dinosaur Park is located at 1544 East Park Boulevard in Ogden, Utah, at the east end of the Ogden River Parkway, near the mouth of Ogden Canyon.
Directions:
From I-15 take Exit 344. Drive about five miles east on 12th Street (follow signs to Dinosaur Park). The park is about a half mile west of the junction of Valley Drive and Park Boulevard.
Driving time is approximately:
20 minutes from Hill Air Force Base
50 minutes from Salt Lake City
1½ hours from Provo
[...] George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park, Ogden : If you think dinosaurs are dino-mite, then you don’t want to miss the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park in Ogden, UT! Dinosaur Park is an exciting opportunity to wander into the prehistoric past and imagine what the earth (and Utah) was like when dinosaurs roamed freely. [...]