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Ogden Echo Dinosaur Park seeks admission increase from $8 to $12; council to consider May 6
Summary
Park executive director presented a request to raise single‑day admission from $8 to $12 (memberships to remain unchanged), citing 10 years without a price change, rising wages and maintenance costs, and new attractions including a hatchery and all‑abilities playground. Council asked for user breakdowns and scheduled consideration for May 6.
Sarah, executive director of the Ogden Echo Dinosaur Park board, told the council the park is formally requesting an increase in single‑day admission from $8 to $12. She said the park last raised rates about 10 years ago and needs additional revenue to cover higher material and labor costs and to support livable wages for staff.
“We want to be able to provide livable wages for our staff,” Sarah said, adding the admission change would help sustain maintenance and planned new attractions including a hatchery building for 3‑D printing and a new all‑abilities playground. Sarah told the council memberships would remain at current price levels while admissions would rise to align the park with similar local venues.
Council members asked for more data about recent attendance and the split between day‑pass users and members. One councilor cited “4,513 guests last year” from park reporting and asked how many were day‑pass visitors; Sarah said she would provide the membership vs. day‑use breakdown by email. The park reported a substantial growth in online audience: YouTube subscribers grew from about 8,000 in January to over 33,000 since, which staff said has driven additional visitation.
Sarah outlined capital and program projects the increase would help sustain: a hatchery building with 3‑D printers and CNC equipment to produce and restore park exhibits; a new all‑abilities public playground scheduled to begin installation in early May with equipment arriving May 9; and expanded programming such as preschool “We Wednesdays,” homeschool events and seasonal attractions. She said the park recently raised staff wages and hired an administrative director.
Council members suggested small, staged increases and asked whether membership fees might be a future target; Sarah and board representatives said the immediate priority is the gate fee and forecasting steady revenue to return operations to the black. The council requested the park provide the membership/day‑use breakdown before the May 6 consideration.
Why this matters: the proposed $4 increase would raise forecasted operating revenue for a widely used local attraction and support staff wages and upkeep of new exhibits and playgrounds. The council noted equity considerations and asked staff to confirm the number of day‑use visitors, membership counts and low‑income admission options.
What’s next: staff will present the fee amendment ordinance for city council consideration on May 6; park staff will supply requested attendance breakdowns to city staff ahead of that meeting.
