We had one full day in Washington before the Dead & Company concert at The Gorge Amphitheater and we made the most of it! We explored the town of Ellensburg and the Kittitas County Museum, stopped by Dick And Jane’s Spot, walked the streets of the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, and stopped by the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park.
On our way to the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Visitor Center, we spotted a small collection of brightly colored dinosaurs alongside the road and of course, we had to pull over.
The dinosaurs, sitting among a collection of large pieces of petrified wood, are part of the Ginkgo Gem Shop — a souvenir and gift shop located just outside the entrance to the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park.
The Ginkgo Gem Shop specializes in petrified wood from the Vantage area, fossils, minerals, and a variety of rock items like gemstones and geodes that you can crack. You’ll also find gifts, toys, and books.
Like the dinosaurs we found at Jim Gray’s Petrified Wood Company in Holbrook, Arizona, the Ginkgo Gem Shop dinosaurs came from the now defunct International Dinosaur Park and Museum of the Americas. The owner added the dinosaurs in 2009 to get people’s attention and encourage them to stop at his store.
Know Before You Go
- The Ginko Gem Shop is located at 330 Ginko Avenue, Vantage, Washington 98950 off I-90 in Kittitas County.
- Look for the dinosaurs! The Ginko Gem Shop dinosaurs are painted bright colors and are perfect for a unique photo op!
- The Ginko Gem Shop is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and admission is free, so is snapping photos with the dinosaurs.
- If you stop to check out the Ginkgo Gem Shop dinosaurs, be prepared for wind. It is very windy and you may want a sweatshirt or jacket>
