Dinosaur, CO

After scooping up Mom, we jumped on Colorado 139 north towards the NW corner of Colorado.  The kids really wanted to see Dinosaur National Park.  This is a very rural two-lane road, taking us through the fruit groves and farming communities surrounding Grand Junction.  We snagged some fresh peaches,plums, and apricots while waiting for mom's train.

As we approached Grangely, CO, the landscape turned to oil and gas fields and equipment.  The active pump jacks indicated we were likely getting close to dinosaur country. 

We stopped and boondocked at the Colorado Welcome Center in Dinosaur, about two miles from the park entrance on the Colorado side.

We were parked next to B&B Family Restaurant.   I honestly thought it was closed.  But after dinner and a few cold beers, I wondered over and found the owners outside sitting at a picnic table in front.   I sat down and introduced myself to Richard Blakely, the first "B" in the restaurant.  Turns out Richard was a long-long resident of the area.  He worked 25 years in the nearby oil and gas fields.  He and his wife have been operating the restaurant since the late 80's.  Made sense to me:  the oil bust in the mid-80's likely meant the end of his oil field time and the start of something new. 

Yes, It's open.

He said the town was known as Artesian, CO until the early 1960's, when the large-scale paleontological excavation started nearby.  Artesian wells in the town drew the the folks working in the energy business.

I asked Richard about the run-down motel across the street that looked full.  He said there was pipeline being built nearby and the workers had filled all the rooms in the area.  These rooms were $300/week vs. $950/week in nearby Vernal, UT.  Business was pretty good for the B&B, but Richard knows how fickle the energy business can be.  I doubt he'll expand, or even give the place a make-over. 


From our campsite, evidence of the beasts that once dominated the landscape.
 

I spotted some old VWs beetles near our boondocking spot.  No carbon dating required:  a 6-volt 1965 and an orange-colored 1973 super beetle.  Both stuck in their tracks, unmolested from a former time, at the flophouse.


Richard said it was fine and safe to park overnight there.  Not only did Richard know everything about the area, turns out he's also in charge of water and sewer in Dinosaur.  He pointed out a nice park across the street with brand new showers.  He said they are rarely used and to help myself.  I enjoyed a long, hot shower the next morning.  This was a real luxury after three weeks of quick RV showers in the Paddy Wagon.