We found out about this wonderful place when we were looking for a spot to create an Earthcache. See it here:
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visit link)
The Mineral Wells Fossil Park is free and open Friday through Monday from 8am to dusk. It is WONDROUS place to find tons of cool fossils. We have found thousands of wonderful small fossils here, and even a piece of a trilobite. We gave many of our fossils away to the Younger Blaster's schools, so that kids who have never been on a fossil hunt could experience these magical ancient creatures.
The Pennsylvanian period of the Paleozoic era began 354 million years ago, and lasted for approximately 70 million years. It was characterized by large forest swamps and shallow seas that covered large portions of the Northern Hemisphere. During the Pennsylvanian period most of Texas was part of a giant inland sea. This is why most Texas Pennsylvanian-era fossils are of marine animals and plants such as crinoids, sea urchins, corals, arthropods, and brachiopods. These fossils are abundant in Texas; the challenge is getting to them!
The posted coordinates will take you to the informational sign for the park.
To reach the park from the junction of US 180 and US 281 in downtown Mineral Wells, take US 180 west to Indian Creek Road. Go north on Indian Creek Road to the entrance to the park. The park is open on weekends from 8am to dusk. Please obey the park rules, and bring plenty of water in the summer. Watch for poisonous insects and animals -- this is Texas, after all.
From the Mineral Wells Fossil park website: (
visit link)
"Regular Hours: The park is open Fridays through Mondays, 8 am to dusk. Admission is free.
Mineral Wells Fossil Park provides the fossil enthusiast, palenontologist 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." [end]