Frequently Asked Questions:
Location: One mile west of Rockford, Iowa on B47.
Travel Distance: Park location from these cities:
Mason City = 20 miles, Charles City = 15 miles, Waterloo = 65 miles, Des Moines = 140 miles, Minneapolis = 160 miles
Hours: The park is open year round - sunrise to sunset. The Center is open from 1-4 p.m. daily Memorial Day through Labor Day and weekends in May, September, and October.
Collecting: Fossil collecting is allowed – personal use not for commercial sale. Tools are not necessary; the quarry is fractured limestone and shale.
Fees: There is no fee. But donations are accepted. We encourage everyone to become a member of the Foundation to help support future development of the park.
What does the park offer: The 400 acre park has an interpretive center with museum quality exhibits, fossil quarry, 60 acres native prairie, miles of hiking trails, historic beehive kilns, re-created log cabin, picnic shelter, and more!
Events:
"Prairie Heritage Day" is the second weekend in September. This year it will be on Saturday, September 8th, 2007.
“Fossil & Prairie 5K Fun Run/ 1 Mile Walk” in conjunction with Prairie Heritage Day, Sept. 8th, 2007. Registration is 8:00-9:15. This is a cross-country race on trails through the fossil quarry and native prairie.
Tourist information:
Local tourism web sites: www.charlescitychamber.com and www.masoncityia.com
State tourism web sites: www.iowatourism.com or www.traveliowa.com
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