petrified creatures

Don't waste your time. This place is so antiqued. I remember it as a child, the exhibits haven't changed in 40 years

The dilapidated highway sign should have been a clue. $9.00 for adults, $5 kids. $28 for the four of us. Giftshop is extensive and curious...and sells VHS tapes. Displays were worn out, spider webby, falling apart, info on displays referenced on prerecorded playbacks was missing or damaged. 6 or 8 large dinosaurs of wire mesh and plaster were all falling apart. Even I know there was no such thing as a brontosaurus, but there was one here. I had an 8 and 11 year old with us, they were rolling their eyes. We were in the dino/fossil yard for MAYBE 20 minutes before crying UNCLE and climbing back in the car. It was cute in a dated, simpler, by-gone way but not $28 cute. Not engaging enough for kids and not science-y enough for adults or older kids.

This roadside attraction has fascinated me for years, though it always seemed shuttered when we drove past. I was thrilled when, on a recent drive, we found cars in the parking lot, so we had to pay a visit.The first surprise is the gift shop, which has an extensive collection of mineral samples and dinosaur merchandise. I spotted fun things for paleologically-inclined kids; the space has a dated, musty feeling but is surprisingly well stocked and large.Behind the gift shop is the real attraction, and it is an unusual one. It is clear that at one time this place reflected one person's serious interest in fossils and rocks. The visitor will find a woodsy space with a trail to follow; tired but freshly-painted concrete dinosaurs stand alongside hand-made, rustic displays on the area's prehistoric past. The exhibits have a poignant tiredness to them; on our visit broken branches from a recent storm littered the ground and the place felt somewhat abandoned. The other visitors were focused on digging in a designated area for fossils and in fact were finding enough to keep them happy.Do not visit Petrified Creatures expecting the Smithsonian, because you will be disappointed. Do visit to behold a fascinating testament to one person's interest in rocks, and a 60's-style roadside attraction of a stripe rarely seen anymore: the private museum. Yes, the exhibits are tired and no, the dinosaurs do not actually resemble anything that ever walked the earth. But if you wish to experience a unique, idiosyncratic slice of an America now mostly vanished, by all means stop in at Petrified Creatures before it's shuttered for good.

I heard about this place on CNBC so we had to try it. It really is an eye opener to see all these fossils and dinosaurs in a display on the grounds. This is located a few miles out of town and you can not miss it.

It was rainy. We were grumpy. The children needed to go somewhere that engaged them but did not tire them out. Bingo! Sweet little attraction that has been around since my husband was a child. Enough fascinating "stuff" to keep my little scientist happy, and interesting enough to engage his older sister as well. Yes it is mostly outside, but just fine with a rain poncho, and a nice break from all things baseball.

A good place for younger kids because there are large, colorful, talking dinosaurs that intrigued the little ones. The older boys thought it was OK but it wasn't their favorite activity.

Can you imagine driving along on a highway and finding a place where you can see some huge pastel dinasours? It was so cute, so nice and the people were so friendly. I hope to bring my kids there some day when they are a little older.

We went to the petrified creature museum because my husband always wanted to go there, and thought our kids would have fun. I thought it was just a bit overpriced because the dinosaurs were falling apart and in great need of repair- or at least a new coat of paint. On the plus side, My youngest son Ben liked running around the dinosaurs and the gift shop had many affordables finds.

This was a great outdoor exhibit well worth the trip only a mile outside of town.

This is a hidden gem in Richfield Springs. The museum is one of a kind and was well taken care of. Would highly reccomend.

Visited Petrified Creatures in New York. My parents use to bring me there as a kid and I wanted to return. Great place and the big model dinosaurs are still there! Really interesting dinosaur fossils and very educational. The dinosaurs talk through mailboxes now. Talked to the owner and it is for sale. I hope someone buys it and restores some of the dinosaurs. I'll always love this place. It's on route 20 in New York.