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Ogden council approves Dinosaur Park admission increase to $12; park outlines new playground, exhibits
Summary
The council approved an increase in daily admission at the George S. Echols Dinosaur Park from $8 to $12 and heard that the park expects to add new attractions including an all-abilities playground and a hatchery exhibit; park officials said membership prices will remain unchanged.
The Ogden City Council approved an ordinance to raise admission at the George S. Echols Dinosaur Park from $8 to $12 on Tuesday after a presentation from Sarah Muir, the park’s new executive director.
Muir told the council the park has kept its admission at $8 for about a decade and said the increase is intended to support livable wages, exhibit and fossil upkeep and new attractions. She said the park’s forthcoming improvements include an all‑abilities playground (ribbon-cutting scheduled June 18) and a hatchery building that will house new sculptures and exhibits. Muir said the park’s online engagement and attendance are rising and that the increase would be used alongside sponsorships, events and grants to stabilize operations.
The park estimated the $4-per-visit increase could yield an additional roughly $103,000 in partial-year revenue if the remainder of 2025 mirrored 2024 attendance and about $209,000 for a full calendar year, using 2024 attendance as a baseline. Muir emphasized membership prices will remain unchanged to preserve access for frequent visitors and families.
Council member Ritchie moved to adopt the ordinance (Proposed Ordinance 2025-9) to amend municipal admission fees; Council member Graff seconded. The council approved the ordinance on a roll‑call vote with Council members Myers, Ritchie, Blair, Trebruca/Treborka, Graff, Vice Chair Hyer and Chair White voting “Aye.”
Muir also noted the park was pursuing grants, sponsorships and new events — including private rentals and a planned golf fundraiser — as additional revenue streams. She reported nearly $20,000 in new grants for the year to date and said the park’s membership model would remain part of the strategy to keep access affordable for regular visitors.
The ordinance takes effect after adoption and the park’s new playground will be dedicated next month, with the park planning additional marketing and sponsorship efforts to leverage the new attractions.
