Learn about Eagle County’s dinosaurs at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens this summer
Education Center hosts family scavenger hunts, dino digs as well as speakers this summer
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens/Courtesy photo
From May 2024 through April 2025, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is hosting the Dinosaurs Among Us exhibit which highlights some of the birds who are modern day ancestors of the dinosaurs that went extinct millions of years ago. Organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the exhibit showcases the evolutionary legacy that lives on today.
In conjunction with the exhibit, the Gardens has invited speakers to educate the public about dinosaurs from two unique perspectives. “We are thrilled to have these captivating experts present throughout the summer,” says operations and sustainability manager Ellen Lorenz. “Dinosaurs fascinate people of all ages and backgrounds, so we are really looking forward to hosting local dinosaur expert Billy Doran and Dr. Gussie Maccracken!”
On July 1 from 4 to 6 p.m., Doran will give a presentation called “Dinosaurs of Eagle County” which will focus on the species that inhabited the Vail Valley. Doran is the Executive Director of the Museum at Dinosaur Junction in Edwards, which features exhibits that cover Eagle County’s comprehensive 200 million-year history from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. He is also the founder of Fossil Posse Adventures in Wolcott – a camp that introduces kids to the wonders of fossil hunting and celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.
For those interested in dinosaur diets, Dr. Maccracken – assistant curator of Paleobotany at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science – will present “What Did the Dinosaurs Eat?” on July 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. Dr. Maccracken’s research focuses on reconstructing ancient landscapes to understand how ecosystems rebuild after mass extinctions and climate change. Lorenz adds that while Doran’s presentation will be enticing for families with younger kids, Dr. Maccracken’s discussion is geared towards adults and older children.
In addition to the speaker series, the Gardens is offering interactive dinosaur-related options for families at the Education Center including the Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt and the Excavation Station. “Watching kids learn through sensory engagement is exciting and we hope these activities continue to draw visitors to the Gardens who are interested in dinosaur evolution,” Lorenz notes.
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The Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt, which is available from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, entails finding dino clues throughout the Gardens to discover a secret fact about the relationship between Tyrannosaurus Rex and birds. Those who want to post up like a real paleontologist can visit the Excavation Station – a sand pit under a tent that features dinosaur bones to dig up – between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. For more information, visit BettyFordAlpineGardens.org/Exhibits/.
