Glen Rose's 98 Painted Dinosaurs and a Moat-Equipped Amphitheater Draw Texans
Tourism Director Traci Niedziela joins host Justin McKenzie to unpack Glen Rose, Texas: a town of 2,700 hosting Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Dinosaur Valley State Park, a 98-dinosaur scavenger hunt, and the Texas Amphitheater's moat-staged production of The Little Mermaid.
Glen Rose, TX (Newsworthy.ai) Sunday Jun 28, 2026 @ 2:00 PM CDT
The Building Texas Show — Glen Rose's Strangest Attraction Isn't What You'd Expect
Photo: Justin McKenzie
“We've got 98 dinosaurs that are located throughout our city, so anywhere you look, you'll find them. They're all uniquely painted, so each one represents its business. The hospital has a doctor in front of it, the dinosaur is painted like a doctor.”
The latest episode of The Building Texas Show, titled Glen Rose's Strangest Attraction Isn't What You'd Expect and hosted by Justin McKenzie, takes listeners one hour south of Fort Worth to a town of roughly 2,700 residents that punches far above its weight in tourism. Published June 25, 2026, the conversation features Traci Niedziela, Tourism Director for Glen Rose, who details why 28% of Texans live within a 90-minute drive yet most have never stopped past the state park exit. The episode reframes Glen Rose as a full weekend destination, not a quick day trip.
Across the conversation, Niedziela walks McKenzie through the attractions that pack the small Somervell County seat. Listeners get specific previews of:
The Building Texas Show — Glen Rose's Strangest Attraction Isn't What You'd Expect
Photo: Justin McKenzie
“We've got 98 dinosaurs that are located throughout our city, so anywhere you look, you'll find them. They're all uniquely painted, so each one represents its business. The hospital has a doctor in front of it, the dinosaur is painted like a doctor.”
- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, including newly born baby giraffes and a baby zebra born in February
- Dinosaur Valley State Park, Dinosaur World, and the new animatronic Rex Ann installed at the visitor center
- The Texas Amphitheater's June run of The Little Mermaid, staged over an actual water moat
- Two rivers, Big Rocks Park, and Paluxy River cabin stays such as Anderson Creek Cabins
- A citywide scavenger hunt featuring 98 uniquely painted dinosaurs tied to local businesses
Niedziela's pitch is rooted in specific detail rather than generic boosterism. On the signature scavenger hunt, she explains the concept in her own words:
We've got 98 dinosaurs that are located throughout our city. They're all uniquely painted, so each one represents its business. For example, the hospital has a doctor in front of it, the dinosaur is painted like a doctor. Our school district has a tiger, that's our school mascot, so the dinosaur is painted like a tiger.
Players scan a QR code at any hotel or the visitor center to unlock rewards including Fossil Rim entry passes, Dinosaur World tickets, and free ice cream at Shoo Fly.
The episode also digs into the economic backbone behind a small town with five major hotels. Niedziela credits the nearby Comanche Peak nuclear power plant for driving midweek corporate retreat and conference demand Sunday through Thursday, which props up lodging capacity for weekend leisure travelers. She and McKenzie discuss Leadership Glen Rose, the hospitality training culture among local businesses, and the visibility of Mayor Joe Bowles, who Niedziela says stopped by her office moments before recording to plan a July 4th parade, dunk tank, and hot dog eating contest. The town's 250th birthday weekend will close with a fireworks show reflected over Wheeler Branch Park's water.
About The Building Texas Show
The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, spotlights the people, places, and ideas shaping the Lone Star State, from booming metros to heritage small towns. Each weekly episode features candid conversations with mayors, founders, tourism leaders, and operators building Texas community by community. The show is sponsored by Chisos Boots. Listeners can find planning details at ExploreGlenRose.com, and this episode is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where exactly is Glen Rose, and how accessible is it from Texas's major metros?
- Glen Rose sits about one hour south of Fort Worth, roughly an hour and a half from Dallas via I-35 south to Highway 67, and approximately 1.5 hours north of Austin. Tourism Director Traci Niedziela notes the town is tucked west of I-35, making it a quick escape for the 28% of Texans living within a 90-minute drive in the Metroplex.
- What is the 98-dinosaur scavenger hunt, and how do visitors play?
- It's Glen Rose's signature citywide attraction: 98 uniquely painted dinosaurs scattered across town, each representing a local business — the hospital's is painted like a doctor, the school district's like a tiger mascot. Visitors scan a QR code available at any hotel or the visitor center, and finding more dinosaurs unlocks rewards including Fossil Rim or Dinosaur World passes and free ice cream at Shoo Fly.
- Why does a town of 2,700 people support five major hotels?
- Niedziela credits the nearby Comanche Peak nuclear power plant, which drives steady midweek corporate retreat and conference business Sunday through Thursday. That commercial demand sustains lodging capacity that weekend leisure travelers, cabin-seekers, and event visitors can then tap into, giving Glen Rose more room inventory than most small Texas towns its size.
- What makes the Texas Amphitheater's production of The Little Mermaid distinctive?
- The Texas Amphitheater features an actual water moat as part of its stage. For the June run of The Little Mermaid, performers including Ariel splash through the water and arrive by boat, with a mermaid appearing in the moat before the show begins — an unusual staging feature Niedziela calls a world-class production element.
- What is planned for Glen Rose's July 4th celebration during America's 250th birthday?
- Plans include a pancake breakfast at the senior center, a parade, a hot dog eating contest, a dunk tank, square games, food trucks, and a 2 p.m. ceremony at the Creation Evidence Museum. The day closes with a fireworks show at Wheeler Branch Park, where the display reflects over the park's water feature.
- Beyond the dinosaur parks, what natural experiences does Glen Rose offer?
- Two rivers flow through town, supporting float trips and riverside cabin stays such as Anderson Creek Cabins, which Niedziela recently visited for its waterfall and hiking just five minutes from the historical square. Big Rocks Park offers river access with large rocks suited to toddlers and older kids, while Fossil Rim Wildlife Center features new baby giraffes and a zebra born in February.
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