About the Park

Regular Hours:8 am to 8:45 pm daily.
Admission is free.

Mineral Wells Fossil Park provides the fossil enthusiast, paleontologist, and student an excellent opportunity to see and collect well preserved "Pennsylvanian Period" fossils with ease and abundance. These fossils have been dated to be just over 300 million years old. Yes, you read correctly, you may collect and take fossils out of the park - for personal use only. See the park rules for more information.

The park as it exists today is a result of 20 years of erosion of the old City of Mineral Wells landfill's borrow pit, which was closed in the early 1990s. The erosion of the borrow pit has revealed fossils documenting ancient sea species of crinoids (sea lilies), echinoids (urchins), brachiopods, pelecypods (clams and oysters), bryozoans, corals, trilobites (arthropods), plants and even primitive sharks.

In recent years, the borrow pit has become a mecca for the avid fossil hunter, the amateur and professional paleontologist, and various fossil, paleontological, gem and mineral groups and societies in Texas and the surrounding states.

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Equipment

Small zip bags or nail aprons are good for small finds and keeping things organized.

Knee pads or patches are recommended for crawling around.

Planning Your Visit

This is a fairly primitive site, so be sure to bring a lot of water with you. During the hot summer months visiting in the early morning and evenings is highly recommended. There is a new shade structure, but it is still a good idea to bring an umbrella with you for shade while digging. The park has primitive restrooms and no running water.

Precautions

Enter and exit collecting area at designated points only. Area has dangerous drop offs, steep slopes and loose soil.

Encounters with dangerous insects/animals are possible.
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Mineral Wells
Parks and Recreation Department
940-328-7803

Established with assistance from the
Dallas Paleontological Society
www.dallaspaleo.org

Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce

For more to do and places to stay in Mineral Wells, contact the Chamber of Commerce - 940-325-2557
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