Mineral Wells Fossil Park, run by the City of Mineral Wells in Texas, is an unusual free city park where erosion of a former landfill borrow pit has exposed abundant fossils from the Pennsylvanian Period — well over 300 million years old. It is a popular, easygoing stop for families curious about deep time, open year-round and an easy add-on to a North Texas RV route.
Best season — Fall and spring (open year-round; avoid midsummer heat)
At a glance
The facts worth checking before you roll out
Conservative, source-minded facts for planning your visit — always worth confirming against current conditions before you travel.
State
Texas
Managed by
City of Mineral Wells
Fossil age
Just over 300 million years (Pennsylvanian)
Cost
Free
Hours
Open daily, 8:00 a.m.–8:45 p.m. year-round
On the ground
The park exists thanks to about 20 years of erosion of the old City of Mineral Wells landfill's borrow pit, which closed in the early 1990s. That erosion exposed fossils documenting ancient sea life — crinoids (sea lilies), echinoids, brachiopods, clams, bryozoans, corals, trilobites and more — dated to just over 300 million years ago in the Pennsylvanian Period.
Unusually for a public site, the City of Mineral Wells states that visitors may collect and keep fossils for personal use, and the park is free and open every day from 8:00 a.m. until 8:45 p.m. That makes it an approachable, hands-on introduction to paleontology for families.
Because rules and hours can change, confirm current access, collecting guidance, and any group restrictions on the official City of Mineral Wells page before you go. This is a city park designed for visitors — but collecting rules differ at most other public lands, where taking fossils is restricted.
Official sources
- City of Mineral Wells, TX — Mineral Wells Fossil Park Government source
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