Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve
Unearth the Unexpected!
Thank you for a great 2023 season! We anticipate reopening in late April 2024. See you then!
Looking for fossil fun in the off-season? Consider booking our newest outreach program, Dig In, and let us bring Penn Dixie to you! Learn more here: https://penndixie.org/dig-in/
We’re already booking field trips & group tours for spring & summer 2024! Trip requests can be made here: https://penndixie.org/groups/
Penn Dixie’s annual fundraiser, Hops N’ Rocks, was a smashing success! Thank you to everyone who attended and supported! Click here to view WGRZ’s coverage of Hops N’ Rocks.
Thank you to Blasdell Rod & Gun Club and Village ENGAGED for sponsoring Hops N’ Rocks 2023!
Join us on August 25th @ 10 am for a morning of outdoor exploration with our site manager, Jonathan! Traverse Penn Dixie’s woods and wetlands and learn about the plants and animals that call our park home. This program is included with purchase of park admission and FREE for Penn Dixie members! Recommended for explorers ages 7+.
Registration is required. Members, please contact us for your free admission code.
We will meet at the check-in pavilion next to the parking lot for a brief introduction before heading out on the trail. Our trail is largely flat and is a combination of gravel and mowed sections. The trail loops and is approximately 1 mile long.
Please dress in weather-appropriate gear and wear closed-toe shoes. We suggest that you bring bottled water, as we do not have running water on site. There are portable toilets available near the parking lot. This event is rain or shine, but if there is heavy rain or we detect lightning nearby, the program will be cancelled and you will be notified via email and receive a full refund.
Attention teachers, activities directors, program coordinators, scout leaders, and more! Are you looking for some fossil fun during the colder months? Let us bring Penn Dixie to you with our newest outreach program, Dig In!
Participants become paleontologists as they dig through material from Penn Dixie and learn about Buffalo’s prehistoric past! During this outreach program, a Penn Dixie educator facilitates the hands-on exploration of WNY’s ancient environment while discussing the animals that lived in our area 380 million years ago during the Devonian Period. Participants will also learn the fundamentals of fossils and fossilization.
Dig In can be catered to explorers of all ages and abilities, but is recommended for ages 5+.
After the program is over, you keep the reusable dig boxes full of rocks and fossils, along with teaching materials, so that you can recreate the fossil fun for years to come!
Program capacity:
Dig In can be booked for up to 32 participants at a time. If your group size is larger than 32 people, you will need to book an additional program(s). One dig box is suitable for up to four people. Dig box dimensions: 5 inches high, 8.25 inches wide, 13.5 inches long.
Pricing:
Includes:
Use the form below to request this program! You can also call 716-627-4560, with questions or to book.
Want a more personalized fossil hunting experience? Your small group (2 – 10 people) can book a private collecting expedition in the true style of field paleontology. Your guide — a knowledgeable and experienced member of our staff — will take you on a journey through our 54-acre park in search of a range of fossils.
During the two-hour guided tour, you’ll visit our most prolific spots where you’re guaranteed to find fossils — all of which you can keep for your collection. Your guide will also take you to some unexpected places in search of more exotic fossils, including armored fish and the legendary “golden” trilobite. After the guided portion, you can remain on site to continue collecting at your leisure on days we are open to the public.
Included:
Adults $75, Children $65, Members save 10% – please note that our ticketing software charges a % processing fee.
Private expeditions are available for all ages, but recommended for fossil hunters ages 10 & up. We can schedule an expedition for any day of the week, most times during the year — even when Penn Dixie is closed to the public!
Please contact us if you have concerns about accessibility. We will work with you to plan an expedition best suited to your needs.
Since expeditions are outdoors, we recommend appropriate footwear (e.g., sturdy boots), seasonal dress in layers, sunscreen, shade hats (e.g., wide brim hats or pith helmets), and sunglasses. Adverse weather conditions affect our ability to provide private expeditions, especially during the months. If we must cancel your expedition due to weather, you will receive a full refund.
To request a Private Expedition outside of the listed availability, please call the office at 716-627-4560 or complete the form below.
