About 10 minutes away is the Gray Fossil Site Museam, a Miocene site that is dated at 4.5 to 7 million years old, containing fossilized remains of an entire ecosystem of plants and animals.
A series of sinkholes formed from a collapsed cave, creating a watering hole that drew animals from near and far. For some unlucky animals, the sinkhole became a trap that preserved them as fossils for the ages.
With less than 2 percent of the site excavated, thousands of fossil specimens have already been recovered! They had fossils of saber-toothed cat, short-faced bear, ground sloth, rhino, alligator, camel, shovel-tusked elephant, Eurasian badger, the world’s largest collection of fossil tapirs, and the world’s only near-complete fossil red panda! (this was copied from the site... I can't retain that much information, especially with Robbie).
The kids had a really good time, especially Mariah who loves learning new things and is very interested in fossils and dinosaurs and all that. There was even an area to 'dig up real bones' which was the hit of the entire trip. It's fun that the kids are getting older and these trips are becoming (slightly) easier.
