subject: Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas [print this page] Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas
Dinosaur Valley State Park is located in Somervell County Texas, near the town of Glen Rose, Texas. Covering over 1500 acres and designated a National Natural Landmark in 1969, the park is great place to view the fossilized dinosaur footprints, as well as to hike, camp, picnic, fish, swim, and enjoy beautiful scenery and wildlife. The world-famous dinosaur tracks in the park occur in a branch of the Brazos River called the Paluxy, which winds through the park. The land for the park was acquired from private owners under the State Parks Bonds Program during 1968 and opened to the public in 1972.
Dinosaur Valley State Park contains some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world. The dinosaur tracks are located in the riverbed, so check on river conditions before you leave for Dinosaur Valley State Park. The fossilized tracks in the Paluxy belong to two main types: many are three-toed, sharp-clawed prints made by two-legged meat-eating dinosaurs called theropods Most of these prints (which are typically 15 to 25 inches long) are thought to have been made by Acrocanthosaurus, a 20-30 foot long carnosaur whose bones have been found in nearby areas. Others tracks in the Paluxy, Dinosaur Valley State Park are even larger footprints (some over a yard long) made by huge, four-legged, long-necked plant-eating dinosaurs known as sauropods, or informally, "brontosaurs." The rear prints somewhat resemble giant bear tracks with large claws angling rearward, while the front prints are more round and elephant-like, with less distinct, peg-like toes. Sauropod tracks were unknown to science until discovered in Glen Rose in the 1930's. The most likely track maker candidate for the sauropod tracks is a dinosaur named Pleurocoelus, which was 30 to 50 feet long. Dinosaur Valley State Park was built, under commission of the Sinclair Oil Company, New York World's Fair Dinosaur Exhibit of 1964 - 1965. Other activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian use in a separate 100-acre area (no horses furnished), river swimming and fishing, and wildlife observation.
Similarly we have Dinosaur World which is conveniently located in Glen Rose, Texas just immediately in front of Dinosaur Valley State Park, which lies a little more than 1 hour from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In Dinosaur World you can watch over 100 life size dinosaurs which are displayed outdoors with explanatory signs. One can also enjoy dinosaur museum at Dinosaur World with everything from dinosaur eggs to raptor claws.
Dinosaur World do not offer food service, but it do encourage bringing picnic type lunches. Dinosaur World also have gift shops in which you can stroll through fossils, dinosaur eggs, educational materials, books, toys, artifacts and more.
