By Rachel Knight
World’s Fair Dinosaurs donated by Sinclair Oil and Solar Pavilion donated by Green Mountain Energy
We may not be able to walk among dinosaurs; but by day-tripping to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, we can walk, swim, hike, and bike in the tracks of four beasts from the Cretaceous Period.
DVSP partially opened in 1969, and fully opened in 1970, but its impact on paleontology dates back to 1909 when 9-year-old George Adams discovered large, three-toed tracks in the Paluxy River, according to DVSP’s website. About 20 years later, R. T. Bird, a famous paleontologist and fossil curator for the American Museum of Natural History in New York, visited the area and for the first time in history discovered sauropod tracks (large elephant-like tracks made by long-necked Sauroposeidon proteles). People have been uncovering tracks at DVSP ever since while visiting the 1,587-acre park.
Today, you can start your DVSP trip in the small interpretive center at the park’s headquarters. Here you can read about how dinosaur tracks were made, the types of dinosaurs that made the park’s famous tracks, why the tracks are still visible, and discover a variety of fossils.
After learning about the tracks throughout the park, visitors have the chance to find new dinosaur tracks by exploring the park on their own or while being guided through the park by a park ranger. Perhaps the best time to discover new dinosaur tracks is during an interpretive program, an enlightening and educational experience created and led by Texas Parks and Wildlife personnel, says Chris Hill, DVSP assistant superintendent. Different programs provide different experiences and levels of interaction with the park’s offerings. One program is specifically designed to make new discoveries in the Paluxy River.
“We actually had one of our visitors find new tracks last year on a river expedition,” Hill shares. “On a river expedition, we’ll have rangers lead people to actually get into the Paluxy River, which ranges in depth from ankle to about waist deep where the expedition takes place. We walk upstream on the river and we look at the archeology and the flora and fauna along the banks. We find fossils and tracks and people discover all sorts of aquatic life that they didn’t even know existed.”
Brontosaurus and T-Rex from 1964 World’s Fair
While following the footsteps of dinosaurs, park visitors can also spot endangered golden-cheeked warblers, threatened black-capped vireo, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, Mississippi kites, and an occasional eagle or osprey, Hill says. More common Texas wildlife like deer, coyotes, rabbits, bobcats, armadillos, and racoons can also be spotted throughout the park.
In addition to walking in the foot prints of dinosaurs and seeing wildlife, park visitors can partake in star parties starting at 8pm on the first Saturday of each month through August. Astronomers with the Fort Worth Astronomical Society and the physics departments at the University of Texas Austin and UT Arlington bring several telescopes, present information on topics such as Native American star stories, lead an activity like making planispheres, and engage visitors with knowledge about space, Hill shares.
No matter what you plan to discover at DVSP, picnicking and grilling are easy with onsite grills and a new solar pavilion that opened in March, Hill says. Food trucks offer an alternative to picnicking, and the park store offers camping and fishing supplies as well as souvenirs.
For those who want to spend more than a day at DVSP, the park offers RV and tent camping. Hill advises making reservations for campsites well in advance, because the park is often booked solid during the summer.
Dinosaur tracks from thousands of years ago
Admission to DVSP is $7 for everyone 13 and older and includes all interpretive programs and activities taking place at DVSP that day, including swimming in a special swimming hole.
“People can swim anywhere in the river; however, there is a locally famous swimming hole called the ‘Blue Hole,’” Hill shares. “It used to be a gathering point for the Glen Rose community for swimming.”
The interpretive programs, wildlife, swimming holes, and fun atmosphere at DVSP add to the fun of visiting, but the park’s biggest draw is the dinosaur tracks. DVSP has maps of different track sites, or areas with highly visible tracks.
Hill’s favorite track site offers a chance to see a unique collage of tracks. “My favorite track site is called the ‘Ballroom Site,’ because there are hundreds of tracks with evidence from all four species,” he explains. “It’s called the Ballroom Site, because they are so mixed up and jumbled together it looks like they were dancing.”
Visit www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/dinosaur-valley for more information.
