St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm
If you’re staying at WillowWind RV Park in southern Utah and looking for an unforgettable side trip, the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm is a must‑visit destination. This museum is unique not just for its fossil displays, but because many of the dinosaur tracks and fossils are preserved in situ—right where they were found—and the museum is built around the original discovery site. In this article, we’ll explore the history, geology, exhibits, visitor tips, and why this site makes a perfect day excursion from your base camp at WillowWind.
A Dash of Local Flavor: Why WillowWind RV Park Makes a Great Base
Before diving into the dinosaur world, it’s worth highlighting why WillowWind RV Park is a smart choice for your stay in southern Utah. Nestled in Hurricane, UT, WillowWind offers modern amenities, a comfortable, shaded environment, and convenient access to many of the region’s top attractions, including Zion National Park and Red Cliffs Conservation Area.
From WillowWind, the drive to St. George is short (16 miles) and scenic—making it entirely feasible to plan a half‑day or full‑day visit to the dinosaur site without feeling overextended. As you immerse yourself in the ancient past, you’ll appreciate coming “home” after a day of exploration to a quiet, well-equipped RV retreat.
The Story of the Site: Discovery and Significance
From a Farm to a Fossil Treasure
In 2000, Dr. Sheldon Johnson, a resident of St. George, was leveling a block of sandstone on his property when he noticed “bumps” on the underside that turned out to be dinosaur footprint casts. Unlike typical footprints (indentations), these were natural casts—three-dimensional impressions left when sediment filled in tracks and solidified.
Recognizing their rarity and scientific potential, Dr. Johnson and his wife LaVerna donated the land and collaborated with the city, paleontologists, and various institutions to preserve and interpret what would eventually become the museum you can visit today.
In April 2005, the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm officially opened its doors. Since then, it has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors, serving both as a research center and an interactive educational resource.
Geology & Paleoecology: A Window into the Early Jurassic
The fossils and tracks preserved at Johnson Farm date to about 200 million years ago, during the Early Jurassic period. They sit in the Moenave Formation, a geologic unit that preserves sediments from lakeshores, floodplains, and river systems.
What makes this site especially remarkable is the sheer abundance and exquisite detail of the trackways. Researchers have documented thousands of footprints across at least 25 separate “track-bearing horizons.”
Moreover, the site preserves not only dinosaur tracks but also fish, plants, invertebrates, rare dinosaur teeth and bones, and even swim tracks—evidence that some dinosaurs traversed
Some of these swim tracks at Johnson Farm are among the best-preserved examples in the world, resolving longstanding debates about whether dinosaurs could leave traces while swimming.
Because of its combination of track density, context, and preservation quality, the Johnson Farm site is often regarded as the best basal Jurassic track site in western North America.
What You’ll See & Do: Highlights of the Museum Experience
In Situ Trackways & Fossil Displays
One of the most striking aspects of the St. George site is that many fossil tracks remain in place, under protective flooring and glass walkways. You often feel as though you're walking right over what was once a muddy lakeshore millions of years ago.
Displays of fossilized plants, fish, and small aquatic invertebrates help round out the story of the ecosystem that coexisted with dinosaurs.
Life-Sized Models & Interactive Exhibits
To bring the ancient landscape to life, the museum includes life-size models of Early Jurassic animals—dinosaurs, fish, and flora—that help visitors visualize the scale and behavior of these creatures.
Interactive elements—such as fossil puzzles, replica fossils to touch, and a “Dino Park” sandbox where kids can dig and make tracks—make the experience engaging, particularly for families.
Fossil Preparation Lab & Excavation Projects
Visitors can observe paleontologists and volunteers working behind glass in the fossil prep lab, cleaning, conserving, and cataloging specimens.
Adjacent to the museum, a more recent excavation site (the “Substation Quarry”) has drawn attention. In 2025, local scientists and volunteers unearthed more than a thousand fossils across the street from the main museum, prompting a pause in construction plans for a power substation that threatened the site. (The Salt Lake Tribune)
This active, evolving aspect of the site means that new discoveries and interpretive updates may occur during your visit—so check ahead for any special tours or excavation viewing opportunities.
Visitor Information & Tips
Hours & Admission
The museum is typically open 7 days a week from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Admission is modest: adults (~$10), seniors (~$9), children (5–17) ~$5, and children under 5 are free.
Note: On some resources, alternate hours and pricing may be cited, so it’s wise to confirm the latest schedule and rates on the museum website before your visit.
Allow Enough Time
Many visitors report spending around 1 to 1.5 hours exploring the museum.
But if you’re especially interested in paleontology or geology, or want to linger in the fossil prep lab, take the interactive displays slowly, and perhaps ask staff about excavation updates, you may easily spend more time.
Bring the Right Gear and Mindset
Wear comfortable walking shoes—they’ll come in handy when navigating glass walkways and exhibit halls.
The interior is climate-controlled and equipped with restrooms, seating, and water fountains.
Summer days in southern Utah can be hot, so plan your visit perhaps in mid-morning to avoid peak heat.
If you’re a geology buff, bring a field guide like Roadside Geology of Utah to place what you see into a broader geologic context.
Why the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site Stands Out
What sets this site apart among countless natural history museums is that you’re walking on actual fossil trackways in their original place of deposition. Many museums display isolated fossils in glass cases—but here, the fossil world is preserved in context, embedded in the very rock beneath your feet.
That contextual preservation is invaluable for scientists: tracks, mudcracks, scour marks, and associated aquatic fossils tell a richer, more holistic story of how dinosaurs moved, interacted, and navigated their environment.
Also, the fact that this is an active paleontological site—with ongoing excavations and periodic new finds—makes it more than a static museum. You become part of a living dialogue between past and present.
In sum, the combination of scientific importance, visitor engagement, and hands-on interpretive elements makes the Johnson Farm site a rare gem in the world of dinosaur preservation.
A Must‑See for RV Travelers with Curious Minds
If your itinerary includes southern Utah’s red-rock splendor, Zion, Bryce, and scenic byways, do yourself the favor of stepping back far further in time—200 million years, to be exact—at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm. Whether you're a seasoned dinosaur enthusiast, traveling with kids, or someone who simply appreciates the interplay of history, geology, and discovery, this site offers a layered, immersive experience you’ll remember long after you leave.
From your home base at WillowWind RV Park, the trip is manageable, the rewards substantial, and the opportunity to say “I walked where dinosaurs once walked” is one you’ll be glad you didn’t pass up.
Resources
WillowWind RV Park (Utah.com)
GeoSights: St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson’s Farm (Utah Geological Survey)
St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm (Dinosaur Discovery Site)
Utah LIfe Elevated (Visit Utah)
St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm Questions & Answers (Tripadvisor)