Utah Dinosaur Museum Names New Leader, Unveils Bone Beds

A museum built on ancient footprints is stepping boldly into the future with new leadership and groundbreaking excavations that could rewrite what we know about prehistoric Utah.

The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm just named Mindy Plumlee as its new Executive Director. She brings 25 years of nonprofit expertise, including 22 years transforming the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho, where she tripled capacity and raised $16 million.

Her arrival couldn't be better timed. Last March, the museum's team began digging into brand-new bone beds located just across the street from the main facility, opening a fresh window into life from 200 million years ago.

The site's origin story reads like a paleontologist's dream. In 2000, Dr. Sheldon Johnson and his wife LaVerna were leveling land on their property when they stumbled upon beautifully preserved ancient trackways. Instead of building over them, they set aside the area for education and science.

What they found was astonishing: thousands of fossilized footprints from a bustling lakeside ecosystem that thrived when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. The museum opened in 2005, and families and scientists have been walking among prehistoric giants ever since.

The Ripple Effect

Plumlee's vision extends far beyond the dig site. She's focused on strengthening community partnerships and donor support to ensure the museum's discoveries reach more people. Her track record of managing large teams and capital campaigns means the museum can dream bigger about educational programs and research initiatives.

The new bone bed excavations represent the first major expansion of active research since the museum opened nearly two decades ago. Each carefully extracted bone could answer questions about how these ancient creatures lived, what they ate, and how they interacted with their environment.

Local families already treasure the museum as a place where kids can touch real science in action. Now, with fresh discoveries happening in real time and experienced leadership at the helm, the site is positioned to become an even more vital hub for paleontological research and STEM education.

The museum welcomes visitors seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM at 2180 E. Riverside Drive, where the footprints of ancient creatures still wait to tell their stories.