The facility is actively involved in the excavation and mounting of fossils that are often sold or leased to major museums globally.
It hosts an extensive collection of Xiphactinus audax, a massive predatory fish species from the Cretaceous period.
The onsite laboratory utilizes air scribes and specialized chemical stabilizers to remove matrix from delicate fossil bone.
The center is situated in a region of Colorado known for high-altitude fossil discoveries and proximity to significant geological formations.
Many of the displayed skeletons were discovered by the center's own professional field crews.
The Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center is a paleontological museum featuring a large collection of marine reptiles, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period. The facility serves as a working laboratory where visitors can observe professional technicians performing fossil preparation through a glass wall. The museum specializes in the restoration and mounting of vertebrate fossils, many of which are destined for other institutions worldwide. Its permanent exhibits showcase skeletal casts and original fossil material recovered primarily from the Western Interior Seaway. The center is located in Woodland Park at an elevation of 8,465 feet. The exhibits emphasize accurate anatomical mounting and the science of fossil preservation. It functions as both a public educational venue and a hub for private fossil collection management.
The large, central Pteranodon and marine reptile display area offers the best angles for photography.
Watch the technicians in the laboratory for an extended period to learn about the different tools used to extract bone from rock.
Ask staff members if any current projects are being worked on in the lab that are particularly rare or unusual.
Visit the gift shop for high-quality fossil specimens and educational kits not found in standard tourist shops.
Do not attempt to touch the fossils or lean against display glass, as many specimens are fragile original materials or delicate casts.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during the off-season; check official site for seasonal schedule shifts.
