Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve
Rockford, Iowa
devonian brachiopodshorn coralscrinoid stemsbryozoansgastropods
Public land, rules apply · Free
Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve
An old brick-and-tile quarry left a 402-acre spread of Devonian shale where the fossils lie loose on the ground — brachiopods, horn corals, crinoid stems, bryozoans from a shallow sea. Floyd County Conservation runs it, admission is free, and no tools are needed at all. Open sunrise to sunset year-round at 1227 215th Street in Rockford, with a visitor center and the surviving beehive kilns worth a walk.
The card catalog
| What you can find | devonian brachiopods, horn corals, crinoid stems, bryozoans, gastropods |
|---|---|
| Access | Public land, rules apply — Free |
| Fees | Free, no admission and no permit — Floyd County Conservation invites visitors to collect their own Devonian fossils. No tools are needed; the fossils lie on the surface of the old quarry shale. The county does not publish specific collecting limits or a resale rule online, so ask at the center or check the Floyd County Conservation rules and regulations if you plan to collect heavily. |
| Season & hours | The park is open year-round, sunrise to sunset. The Fossil & Prairie Center keeps much shorter hours — daily 1-4 p.m. in summer — so call 641-756-3490 before counting on it. The quarry flats are best in spring and after rain. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — The single best family fossil stop in this region — no tools, no digging, and fossils literally underfoot. Trails, picnicking, a visitor center, and the old beehive brick kilns give you something to do when small hands get tired. |
| Official source | Floyd County Conservation, Floyd County, Iowa (official) |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Before you go
What does Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve cost?
Free, no admission and no permit — Floyd County Conservation invites visitors to collect their own Devonian fossils. No tools are needed; the fossils lie on the surface of the old quarry shale. The county does not publish specific collecting limits or a resale rule online, so ask at the center or check the Floyd County Conservation rules and regulations if you plan to collect heavily. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve open?
The park is open year-round, sunrise to sunset. The Fossil & Prairie Center keeps much shorter hours — daily 1-4 p.m. in summer — so call 641-756-3490 before counting on it. The quarry flats are best in spring and after rain. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve good for kids?
Yes — Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve works for families. The single best family fossil stop in this region — no tools, no digging, and fossils literally underfoot. Trails, picnicking, a visitor center, and the old beehive brick kilns give you something to do when small hands get tired.