U-Dig Fossils Visitor Experiences at U-DIG Fossils Return to Home

April 2008 by J.P. Strange

A few weeks ago we visited Delta, Utah on a trip with our two sons for spring break. We specifically planned the trip to visit the U-DIG facility and experience digging the trilobites. We traveled from Boise, Idaho and visited the Bonneville salt flats before continuing through Salt Lake City, Utah to Delta.

I wanted to thank you for all the information given to us about the location both before and during our trip. Not only were we able to easily located the digging site, but the employee on site was very helpful. I was a little weary about the trip because of the age of my two sons. I have a 9 year old and a 5 year old and was worried neither would find it interesting. Upon arrival, both my sons located trilobites on the ground walking up towards the quarry. Instantly the boys were intrigued and began looking for more. My oldest son was pre-occupied for the remaining two hours there digging the whole time. He located several trilobites and still carries around one with him daily. It was easy for him to break the rock and locate them. My youngest son had more fun rolling down the rock bank, but also found a few laying on the ground to enjoy. After two hours, we carried plenty of specimens including a "mortality plate" that later revealed more than 20 complete specimens with one being "rare". My wife, (who rarely participates in the digging activities because she "enjoys watching") decided to give it a try and became addicted. We now plan our weekends around traveling to local places looking for fossils. She spends hours on the internet researching.
 
Delta was small but hospitable. When we first planned the trip, we scheduled to travel back to Salt Lake City after our dig, but after arriving in Delta we were able to find a room at the Best Western. It was clean and serviceable. Delta is a wonderfully small, yet resourceful town. It has all the necessities needed for your trip. We were able to have our tire repair without much of a wait, the kids were able to have their McDonald's, and the small shops were enjoyable. One in particular was a must visit. The rock shop located on the main street in Delta offered a lot of information, maps, and discussion about local fossils and rock hunting. Plus the variety of items they had in the shop were enjoyable to look at.
 
Another "must see" if you are traveling through salt lake, is to visit the Museum of Ancient Life in Thanksgiving Point. It was excellent for the kids and very informative. They had a huge display of trilobites and a working paleontology lab. Thanks for the wonderful time, we will come again sometime.