Fossil Discovery Exhibit - Big Bend National Park

During our September 2021 trip to Big Bend National Park, we checked out the Fossil Discovery Exhibit. The exhibit is located about eight miles north of Panther Junction and about 18 miles south of the Persimmon Gap Entrance Station. Located east of the road down a ¼-mile paved road, the exhibit has parking for about twenty passenger vehicles, a couple of RVs, and one handicap placarded vehicle. A vault toilet is located near the entrance to the parking area. Across the driveway from the toilet is a covered picnic area and a children's play and learning area named the Boneyard.

The exhibit is completely ADA-compliant, but the sidewalk up to the fossil dig might be too steep for a wheelchair. In addition, the approximately 20 stone steps up to the mini-mesa put the overlook off-limits as well.

Inside the facility are numerous information panels regarding the fossils found in the park and their relationships to each other. Replicas have been cast of some of the more unique fossils. The larger replicas are mounted to the floor, walls, and even the ceiling while smaller replicas are placed in the information panels.

Welcome kiosk

Fossil Discovery Exhibit

Display and information panels

Xiphactinus

Agujaceratops

Trionyx

Deinosuchus

Tyrannosaurus

Life-size Quetzalcoatlus skeleton suspended from the ceiling

Bravoceratops

Femur of an Alamosaurus

Mammal fossils

Sidewalk leads to the mid-1950s dig site

At This Very Spot

Tornillo Creek streambed

Caprock on a mini-mesa

Steps to the top of the mini-mesa

Chisos Mountains

Roys Peak (3945') in the McKinney Hills

Sierra del Carmen

Overview of the Fossil Discovery Exhibit, parking, and picnic area
with the Rosillos Mountains on the horizon

Boneyard play area and a picnic shelter

"Fossils" in the boneyard

A life-size steel cutout of a Deinosuchus

An entry fee of $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person is valid for seven consecutive days at Big Bend National Park. Other fee payment options include the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($80 for a lifetime), Access Pass (free with a documented disability), and Military Annual Pass (free for active-duty personnel). Also available is a Big Bend National Park Annual Park Pass for $55.

The Big Bend National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm.