Mineral Wells Fossil Park

BY Tangoroo

Home, home on the range
Where the Acrocanthosaurus play
Where seldom is heard the squawk of a bird
And the skies had O2 for days

Remember when things were simpler? Everyone got along because no one was around. There was no concern about mineral rights because your gas was too busy walking around doing dinosaur things. And for a time, Texas was part of the Third Coast and the Fourth Coast, split by a Permian sea. Wasn’t that great?

Unfortunately, you can’t turn back time. But you can re-live those glory days a little bit at the Mineral Wells Fossil Park. The park is free to all. It’s free to dig. And free to keep what you find. But you can only dig with garden tools. And if you take anything, you’re not allowed to sell it or use it commercially.

It’s definitely worth a visit for any amateur paleontologists!

What the TangoCroo says...

  • You can keep any fossils you find.
  • You'll pass the middle of nowhere to get there.
  • Bring a chair and some garden tools to dig. Also water and snacks if you'll be there a while.
  • You'll spend longer there than you plan. It's addictive and an oddly satisfying way to spend part of a day.
  • A zen garden for wanna-be paleontologists.