The Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center is something of a hidden treasure located at 201 S Fairview St, Woodland Park, CO 80863. It’s not well-known, it’s not flashy and it isn’t overflowing with natural wonders. It doesn’t even have its own zip code. Instead, it calls Woodland Park home, nestled in the foothills of the Front Range at 6200 South Thompson Peak Highway in Englewood CO. If you ask locals where you should go to see dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, they are likely to direct you to one of the many dinosaur museums located around the country. But chances are they will steer you away from this museum as well. Nowadays, most folks aren’t too familiar with what goes on behind closed doors at the RMDRC and fewer still have an inkling as to why visiting here is so incredibly valuable for anyone interested in learning more about dinosaurs. So if you happen to be reading this article, we’re guessing that you already know how important an outing like this is going to be for your future field of study and career down the line.
The first and most obvious reason to visit the RMDRC is to simply see the vast array of dinosaur fossils on display. This is something that very few other dinosaur museums in the country have. But even if you’re not so much interested in looking at the actual fossils as you are in learning about them, you will still get your money’s worth out of a visit to the RMDRC. The museum is home to a wide variety of ancient creatures, many of which have not been seen by the public in over 80 years. And while some, such as the Triceratops, are known by almost everyone, many others, such as the Spinosaurus and Deinonychus, are only known by a small handful of scientists. And it’s those dinosaur scientists who are most likely to be delighted that someone from the general public has taken the time to come see them.
If you’re looking to bring your little ones to the RMDRC, don’t worry; it’s not as scary as you might think! The museum is home to a wide variety of dinosaur-related exhibits, including a walk-through exhibit for kids, a hands-on discovery room for curious youngsters, screenings of nature documentaries about dinosaurs, and a gift shop stocked with dinosaur-themed books, toys, and other goodies. When visiting the RMDRC, you should keep the following in mind: – If your kids are under 10 years old, you should bring them to the museum during the off-peak hours (10-5 daily). As a rule, most museums are busiest during the weekends and holidays. – If your kids are under 6 years old, you should keep them close by where they are out of harm’s way. There are no fences around the RMDRC or its exhibits, so you should keep an eye on your children at all times and keep them out of the area where they’re not supposed to be.
If you make it to the RMDRC and decide to stay for the day, don’t miss out on the opportunity to see the museum’s resident dinosaurs up close. Many of the creatures are housed in spacious, high-tech, climate-controlled habitats. And while most of the dinosaurs are not too difficult to see in person, the Spinosaurus and Deinonychus species require special permits to tour, due to the risks associated with seeing them up close. If you would like to view these species but don’t meet the special requirements, you can still see them in person. If you want to get a close look at these dinosaurs but don’t meet the requirements for special permits, you can still come by the museum and take pictures from a distance. Just make sure to stay out of the area where the dinosaurs are housed so as to not endanger the animals.
