An early start allowed us to arrive at Dinosaur Valley State Park right as they were opening.
These fiberglass and resin masterpieces were created as part of the Sinclair Dino Land exhibition at the 1964-5 World's Fair. They were acquired and relocated to the park in time for it's opening after Sinclair oil dropped the dino logo.
We were able to get a good view of the Blue Hole and Main track sites, but unfortunately the river was too deep and stirred up at the Ballroom site.
Dinos aside, park has a lovely setting along the Paluxy River.
We drove through Glen Rose on our way to our next stop and discovered these marvelous buildings incorporating petrified wood:
Including this sadly derelict, but still gorgeous one which was apparently a former moonshine center!
Mineral Wells Fossil Park was the areas former landfill borrow site. Digging and erosion revealed copious evidence of its former incarnation as 300 million year old seafloor. Today it is free and open to the public to come and play paleontologist. I might say you could come and try your luck at fossil hunting, but as you can see no luck is needed!
You would have to blindfold yourself and tie your hands behind your back to not find fossils here.
Our campsite was at Possum Kingdom SP. This lake was created by a damming project on the Brazos River and the park was developed by the CCC. In fact, this was the CCC's last project in Texas as the entry of the United States into World War II put an end to the CCC and 9 years of the absolute best public works projects ever.
This park has 5 main track sites along the Paluxy river. The trackways are more or less visible depending on the water level and clarity. But what is perfectly visible whenever you visit are these magnificent specimens!
This park's commitment to theme is highly commended! Check out the awesomeness of the park headquarters:
We stopped in the town of Mineral Wells and visited the Mineral Wells Water Company - home of *Crazy Water*. They have a beautiful garden where we were able to cool off and refresh hotels after the rigors of crinoid collecting!
Our campsite had a fragrant sheltering circle of juniper and mesquite and a large and fossil-rific sandstone slab.
The stargazing was fantastic as the moon was past third quarter! We streamed Mercury the Orchestra's season opening live performance as we lay out on our campsite's natural platform and drank in the magical night sky.
We enjoyed a beautiful sunrise over the lake with coffee which pretty quickly gave way to a brilliant blue sky and blazing sun.
Thank you, Texas State Parks and Wildlife!
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