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Richfield Springs, New York: Petrified Creatures Museum: Ruins (Closed)

Oddly-proportioned, brightly painted dinosaurs spoke to visitors from push-button mailboxes. Opened in 1934, closed in 2016. Some ruined dinosaurs still visible. Private property; no trespassing.

Address:
US Hwy 20, Richfield Springs, NY
Directions:
East of Richfield Springs near Warren on Hwy 20, south side of road. Private property; no trespassing.
Hours:
Closed in 2016.
Status:
Closed
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Visitor Tips and News About Petrified Creatures Museum: Ruins

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Petrified Creatures, 1970 brochure.

Petrified Creatures

I visited this attraction as a child, probably in 1970, and vaguely remember it being pretty cool. I was probably 4 or 5 years old. I found a brochure recently when going through a late family member's travel mementos.

[Greg, 06/09/2023]

"Walk in the World of the Dinosaurs." "Description by Tape Recording." Petrified Creatures was cutting edge in 1970.

Petrified Creatures.

Petrified Creatures: John Mlecz Gone Since 1997

John R. Mlecz went to spend eternity with the dinosaurs 25 years ago. We met the delightfully cranky owner of the Petrified Creatures Museum several times. He was never shy about voicing his opinion of writers who failed to appreciate his disproportionate day-glo dinosaurs, or the unique mailboxes with buttons which, when pressed, delivered monologues by the dinosaurs themselves! His no-budget approach to paleontology occupied the fossil-rich back yard of his house, and his widow kept the place running for almost 20 years before it finally closed in 2015. Like fossils, the dinosaur statues have outlasted their creators, although probably not for much longer.

[RoadsideAmerica.com Team, 04/14/2022]

Petrified Creatures.

Petrified Creatures Museum

Not advocating for trespassing here, but the fence surrounding the museum is now long broken down, and the grounds can be entered. The phone number of the person selling the property is out of service, so this attraction appears to be free-range at this point.

[Jordan A., 03/12/2019]

The dinosaurs were originally built in the 1930s and modified until the 1980s. The attraction closed in late 2015.

Petrified Creatures Museum

The museum is now closed and for sale. Totally bummed to find this out upon taking a detour to experience this potential awesomeness.

[Ronee, 06/11/2016]
Petrified Creatures Museum

If you love the history behind an attraction more than you enjoy a clean and polished look, this is a stop for you. The exhibits and statues are in need of repair, but it is worth seeing.

The first part of the exhibit is full of information on ancient organisms. You can tell someone with a real interest in the field wanted to bring the information to the public. The dinosaur statues are in pretty bad shape, but I loved it. The mailbox messages are great. They really gave it a fun feel. The owner sat and talked with us about the history of the place. See it before it may be gone forever.

[Jennifer Avery, 07/27/2015]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Lighthouse Gas StationLighthouse Gas Station, Cooperstown, NY - 10 mi.
The TepeeThe Tepee, Cherry Valley, NY - 11 mi.
Herkimer Diamond MinesHerkimer Diamond Mines, Middleville, NY - 20 mi.
In the region:
World's Oldest Trees?, Gilboa, NY - 38 mi.

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