The Mystical Place in Austin Where Dinosaurs Once Roamed
By Elisa Regulski|Published April 20, 2018
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Elisa Regulski
Author
Elisa is a passionate travel writer with over five years of experience. After graduating with a B.F.A in acting from Oklahoma City University, Elisa earned a M.A in mass communication From Texas State University. When she's not writing about all of the amazing places throughout the U.S., she can be heard singing with her band.
Let your imagination soar as you walk through a lush, prehistoric landscape. At The Zilker Botanical Garden, you’ll come across intriguing footprints, gorgeous vegetation, and a rushing waterfall. Learn all about Austin’s ancient history at the Hartman Prehistoric Garden. You’ll love visiting this mystical place in Austin where dinosaurs once roamed.
Go back to the prehistoric era and see what life was like.
The Zilker Botanical Garden is known for its serene gardens and blossoming wildflowers, but it's also home to one of the most intriguing dinosaur exhibits around. The Hartman Prehistoric Garden takes you on a wild journey through time and lets you experience the past like never before.
Follow the dino prints and discover a whole new world!
In 1992, paleontologists discovered more than 100 dinosaur tracks in the Zilker Botanical Garden. The markings were rapidly fading, so they decided to create casts of the tracks, map their whereabouts, and rebury them to prevent further deterioration. As you walk along the trail, you'll come across replicas of their findings that lead you to the next beautiful attraction.
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Today, this two-acre garden is full of prehistoric trees and flowers.
The plants found in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden represent the kinds of vegetation you would likely find in the time of dinosaurs. You'll find ferns, horsetails, liverworts, and plenty of palm trees.
Sixty-five million years ago, insects began to evolve. In this magical outdoor discovery garden, you'll come across plenty of colorful dragonflies and butterflies pollinating the plants.
Relax by the massive waterfall and look around for reptiles and fish.
As you peek through the rippling water, you're likely to come across an unusual type of fish called Gar. This resilient animal was alive even in the Jurassic period.
Finally, you'll come across a magnificent, life-size dinosaur statue.
From the corner of your eye, you're likely to think this imposing piece of art is the real thing! This incredible creature is called an Ornithomimus, and it left its three-toed footprints all across the park. As you explore the garden's breathtaking grounds, you can't help but feel a little bit closer to history.
The Zilker Botanical Garden is located at 2220 Barton Springs Rd, and it’s open every day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is $1 for children aged 3-12, and $2 for adults. To learn more about this wondrous prehistoric park, click here.
