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Dinosaur Journey Museum – Fruita

Hosted by the Museum of Western Colorado, Dinosaur Journey Museum features hands-on, interactive exhibits. See real fossils, cast skeletons and robotic reconstructions of various dinosaurs. It’s located in Fruita, which is part of the Dinosaur Diamond, a scenic driving tour of the Southwest.

One of the newest exhibits is a large Triceratops skull, possibly one of the largest ever found. There’s also a working laboratory where fossils are prepared for display, a simulated earthquake ride and a “quarry site” where kids can uncover actual dinosaur bones.

Address: 550 Jurassic Court, Fruita , CO

Phone: 970-858-7282

Season: Year round

Website: museumofwesternco.com/dinosaur-journey

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Museum of Western Colorado: Dinosaur Journey Museum

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Museum of Western Colorado: Dinosaur Journey Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sun 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
• Mon - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• (0.09 mi) La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fruita
• (0.05 mi) James M. Robb - Colorado River State Park
• (0.06 mi) Saddlehorn Campground
• (0.15 mi) Super 8 by Wyndham Fruita
• (0.14 mi) Comfort Inn Fruita
• (0.09 mi) El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant
• (0.09 mi) Taco Bell
• (0.06 mi) McDonald's
• (0.11 mi) Starbucks
• (0.11 mi) Wendy's

Museum Western Colorado Dinosaur Journey

Review Highlights

“ The kids enjoyed the animatronic dinosaurs, digging for buried fossils, the water area where they used rocks to build a dam, the earthquake simulator and all the cool fossils. ” in 6 reviews

“ They've got lots of great fossils packed into a relatively small museum, including a beautiful Allosaurus skeleton . ” in 2 reviews

“ My son and I stopped off I70 for gas and noticed this dinosaur museum . ” in 4 reviews

Location & Hours

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550 Jurassic Ct

Fruita, CO 81521

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The Museums of Western Colorado inspires and connects our community by championing the scientific and cultural heritage of the Colorado Plateau. …

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I went here once as a kid & have been thinking about going back for...about 20 years now. SO we made the drive and made a trip just to come see it and it didn't disappoint!! One thing to keep in mind, they do ask for guests to wear masks, totally a okay of course but just remember to bring one if you're going to stop in anytime soon! The dinos themselves are incredible! They really pack a lot of stuff in such a small building! I remember as a kid there were a few more moving animatronics, but I know as things age they often have to be turned off to save cosmetics so I wasn't salty at all about this. They had one moving dinosaur that was super cool! The earthquake simulator was tons of fun! I don't know maybe I just miss living in California, but I thought it was very neat lol Overall super fun!! Lived some childhood memories & learned a lot, deff recommend!

See all photos from Meagan D. for Museum Western Colorado Dinosaur Journey

Fun museum. Lots of fossils and some interactive exhibits. Fun stop for us! Only downside-the restroom is clean but smells awful! Tinkle quickly!!

Wasn't much to it besides scaring my 3 year old daughter and 2 year old nephew. Most of the "bones" looked fake. The gift shop was overpriced. The only enjoyable thing for them was the rideable cartoon dinosaur.

Interesting and fun afternoon at this museum! They had an interesting collection of guns and other items from the past. Great way to spend a rainy or cold afternoon!

This is a great little place to take kids. My son is only two and he loved it. It had interactive stations and dinosaurs. He was amazed! It's very affordable too. Great little trip with the family. It is a but small so older kids may just run through and not spend as much time here. It's a wonderful little spot though for curious and learning minds.

Visited Fruita a few days ago and thought why not let's go visit this museum. It is small...but $9 a piece for 30 minutes was not bad. Lots of things ie interactive areas were blocked off due to Covid19. BUT interesting. Friendly staff and very nice gift shop. My two pieces of advice: 1. the outside is ugly, get local artists to paint murals or something 2. maybe with Covid19 add a social distancing spread out short 15 minute movie? Small but glad we went!

See all photos from Jenna J. for Museum Western Colorado Dinosaur Journey

My kiddos (4/6/9 years old) enjoyed this discovery museum. It was smaller and more intimate than any of the others we've been to, and the kids enjoyed it more because of this. We were there for about 30 minutes for the self-guided experience. Some exhibits closed off due to COVID, but we didn't let this take away from our wonderful experience. Admission is $9/adult, $5/child, or you can buy the $25 family pass (for up to 6ppl). Their gift shop is very reasonably priced, with items for young and old. Check out their book selections! This experience was time well spent while the kids are still young - they all enjoyed their time here.

See all photos from Jennifer S. for Museum Western Colorado Dinosaur Journey

I have past this place many times before actually going in - and doing so a half hour before they close allowed me to do so without having to pay (so I'm not sure what the actually costs may be). It's not a particularly large exhibit but is a pretty good one. Like Utah and Wyoming, Colorado is definitely part of "dinosaur country" and this place will help you better understand what that means.

See all photos from Oren P. for Museum Western Colorado Dinosaur Journey

The only reason we didn't give 5 stars is because half of the exhibits were covered or closed due to the coronavirus. This made it a little less interesting during our visit, however, we will be returning after things get back to normal to give it the 5 stars it probably deserves. This is very interesting. It gave me a perspective on dinosaurs and fossils that I didn't have before. There are models to show you the probable sizes. Stories went with many of the exhibits and they were very interesting. We also got to see gar fish go hunting for little gold fish. If we had kids, they would probably be fascinated.

It's crazy to think that so many dinosaurs were roaming around the area and how many discoveries were found here in Fruita. Very cool museum and a wonderful interactive place for children. I really enjoyed it!

See all photos from Cecily C. for Museum Western Colorado Dinosaur Journey

4 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Hairpin turns greet drivers in Colorado's Fruita Canyon.

Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

Loop through western Colorado and eastern Utah on I-70, US 40, 191, Utah 128, Colorado 139 and 64

Distance: 480 miles

Time: 3 to 4 days

Season: Spring through fall. Some side trips are on unpaved roads that can be impassable after rain or snow; check locally before proceeding.

Traces of prehistoric “thunder lizards” highlight the route through an expanse of Utah and Colorado. Dinosaur fossils and footprints date from 150 million years ago, when conditions were right for preserving the bones of huge plant-eaters and those of the fierce carnivores that preyed on them. As you drive this loop, you’ll pass rugged red-rock canyons, spectacular geological formations, and cottonwood-lined rivers flowing through rolling, arid, high-plains terrain.

Before visiting Dinosaur National Monument , begin your trip just over the Colorado state line near the town of Dinosaur . A 31-mile scenic drive starts at the park visitor center and winds north to Harpers Corner , near where the Green and Yampa Rivers meet.

You may want to head straight for the national monument’s Dinosaur Quarry north of Jensen, Utah. At the visitor center here you can see thousands of fossils of many species of dinosaurs.

Then follow US 40 west to Vernal. In the Dinosaur Garden outside the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum are 18 life-size models, including the predator called Utahraptor, discovered in 1991. The museum itself is full of dinosaur skeletons and exhibits.

Vernal is also the headquarters for the Ashley National Forest , through which the route passes as US 191 heads west and south into Indian Canyon. Cliffs rise steeply beside the road as it climbs into coniferous forest at 9,100-foot Indian Creek Pass and then heads down to the small town of Helper. The Western Mining and Railroad Museum has exhibits on coal mining and railroads.

The route follows the Price River to Price—another must-stop for dinosaur buffs. The Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum displays fossil dinosaurs and a cast of a mammoth skeleton.

For more dinosaurs, take a short side trip off the main loop. From Price drive south on Utah 10 for 12 miles to Utah 155 and turn east to Elmo and Cleveland. Follow signs to Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry , which has the most concentrated collection of Jurassic-era dinosaur bones known anywhere.

Back in Price, the loop heads southeast for 60 miles through rolling terrain and washes to meet I-70. Go east 25 miles and continue south on US 191. In about 15 miles, turn west on Mill Canyon Road (impassable after rain) to reach the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail . Your next side trip off US 191 might be on Utah 313 to the Needles section of Canyonlands National Park where you can catch a glimpse of the Green River before it joins the Colorado.

Just before you reach Moab on 191, you’ll find Arches National Park , the premier showcase of the rock formations that have made this region famous. More than 2,000 natural arches are here, as well as buttes, spires, and a vast variety of other shapes. Many formations can be seen from park roads, especially in the Windows area.

After Arches you can visit Moab , famed as a center of outdoor activities in this red-rock country, or pick up the Colorado River Scenic Byway .   Over the state line, stop in Fruita to visit the Dinosaur Journey Museum , full of robotic dinosaur models, fossils, interactive displays, and dino-themed exhibits. After your museum visit, drive to Dinosaur Hill (1 mile south on Colo. 340) and view past excavations of several important dinosaur finds.

Fruita is the western gateway to Colorado National Monument , with its gorges and monoliths. Get an overview of the park along 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, a paved road with overlooks and interpretive areas offering far-reaching panoramas.

The loop returns to its start along Colo. 139, which climbs to excellent views at 8,240-foot Douglas Pass. The highway passes through Canyon Pintado National Historic District , a “painted canyon” with more then 200 Native American pictograph and petroglyph sites. Roadside signs identify several of these sites as you drive north to Rangely.

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Map and information originally published in National Geographic's Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways

Side Drive: You may have encountered Native American petroglyphs before, but it's unlikely you've ever seen anything like the 600 symbols inscribed on the front page of Newspaper Rock.

Don't Miss: The "Wall of Bones" at Dinosaur National Monument's Quarry Exhibit Hall features more than 1,500 dinosaur bones still embedded in a rocky cliff face.

Be Safe: Many unpaved roads in this area are suitable for ordinary cars, but they often become impassable when wet, so be sure to check the weather forecast before setting out.

Motorcyclist Memo: When riding through this arid landscape, drink water early and often to avoid the dangers of dehydration.

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Tickets & prices Dinosaur Journey Museum - Museums of Western Colorado

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The following overview lists the admission prices and various discounts and discount codes for a visit to Dinosaur Journey Museum - Museums of Western Colorado in Fruita . All prices are displayed per age group or reduced rate group. You can also directly book your discounted online ticket for the Dinosaur Journey Museum - Museums of Western Colorado here, if available, or make a reservation to reserve a timeslot if applicable.

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325 E. Aspen Fruita, CO  81521 ​(970) 858-3663

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Who We Are: Meet Julia McHugh, Dinosaur Journey Museum’s new curator of paleontology

Local Local | Jul 28, 2014

Editor’s note: Who We Are features men and women embodying Grand Valley’s unique spirit. Send nominations to [email protected] .

When Julia McHugh took over Dinosaur Journey Museum ’s open curator of paleontology position June 23, she hit the ground running — working in the field all but a handful of days, which culminated with the extraction of 6-foot-7-inch long, 2,800-pound Apatosaurus femur from the Mygatt-Moore quarry last week . The site, located just a few miles from the Colorado/Utah border, is home to a variety of prehistoric fossils, both dinosaur and aquatic.

“I’m having a blast,” she said. “This is a great area for paleontology. There’s so much right outside.”

McHugh took over from longtime curator, John Foster, who recently moved on to work for the Museum of Moab .

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“She’s really good,” Foster said of McHugh. “She definitely bonded quickly with the volunteers. I’m looking forward to working with [Dinosaur Journey] on future projects.”

Before moving to Grand Junction, McHugh worked for Oklahoma State University’s Center for Health Sciences in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. She was the senior research assistant for the anatomy and vertebrate paleontology track.

“I assisted in faculty research labs for vertebrate paleontology, and managed the volunteer program and public outreach,” McHugh said.

While in Oklahoma, McHugh also worked as a research associate with Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History . She received her Ph.D. in 2012 from University of Iowa’s Department of Geoscience and previously studied at both Idaho State University and Hanover College in Indiana.

“This job [at Dinosaur Journey] was written like it was made just for me,” McHugh said. “Right now I‘m taking stock, learning the lay of the land and status of the museum. Then I’m coming up with a vision for the next 10, 20 and 50 years. You always have to be moving forward.”

One long-term project McHugh would love to accomplish is a joint expansion on Dinosaur Journey’s Fruita site with The John McConnell Math & Science Center of Western Colorado , which is currently located in Grand Junction.

“It would be a math and science campus for [grades] K-12,” she explained, with a shared education building. “We’re still in negotiations with the City of Fruita. Nothing is set in stone at this point.”

McHugh also traces her first dinosaur dig to Mesa County in 1997.

“It was a dig in Wyoming that was done through Dinamation International, the company that was here and built this building,” she said.

According to McHugh, her interest in geology and paleontology is long-standing, originally stemming from a childhood passion for rocks.

“Mom has a photo of me at 18 months, sitting in a flower bed in a dress looking at scoria. I got into fossils at age 13.

“My favorite dinosaurs are the same ones I liked as a kid,” she added. “Apatosaurus is my favorite herbivore and Allosaurus is my favorite predator. They’re both prevalent in Grand Junction.”

Besides sharing her passion for paleontology through tours, volunteer-based dinosaur digs and community outreach, McHugh will also be teaching classes (one each semester) at Grand Junction’s Colorado Mesa University . This fall she will instruct an Introduction to Geology class; then in spring she’ll teach an Introduction to Paleontology class.

When McHugh isn’t working, she loves to travel and dabble in photography, documenting her trips across the world.

For more information about Dinosaur Journey Museum, visit http://www.museumofwesternco.com/visit/dinosaur-journey .

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