Earlier this year I took a trip to Glen Rose, Texas to do some research and gather inspiration for my first middle grade novel, The Summer of Moons & Monsters. My parents joined me, and we had a great time. On the way out I took them by Waco Mammoth National Monument, which is well worth a visit too.

Sometimes referred to as the Whiskey Woods, Glen Rose has many claims to fame. The town is most well known for the unprecedented amount of moonshine that flowed from the area during prohibition, healing mineral springs and health resorts (early 1900’s), petrified wood covered buildings, and dinosaur tracks. Quite a colorful list, huh?

My first stop was Dinosaur Valley State Park to check out the dinosaur tracks and soak in the scenery around the Paluxy River, a prominent figure in the setting of my story. On my first visit a few years prior, I immediately fell in love with the blue water and limestone riverside.

Dinosaur Valley State Park is home to multiple trackways left by theropod (think T-Rex) and sauropod (think long-neck) dinosaurs. The sauropod tracks in this park were the first distinct sauropod tracks found in the world and provided definitive proof that sauropods walked on land. Prior to this discovery, paleontologists debated whether or not sauropods could even maneuver on land due to their enormous size. The theropod tracks were discovered by locals, and the sauropod tracks were uncovered by Roland T. Bird, a dinosaur hunter for the Museum of Natural History.

Visiting the park requires an entrance pass. Check the website for updates on track visibility as the tracks are located in the riverbed and not always visible.

Strolling through downtown Glen Rose makes for an enjoyable afternoon. My favorite stops were Rhythm & Company Books and Pie Peddlers. I walked out of the book shop with a tower of books on various Texas topics, and I’m not ashamed to say that I left the pie shop with a similarly sized stack. Pie and books, what more could a girl want?

Unfortunately, I got my days mixed up and the Somervell County Museum was closed. However, the folks at the book shop were kind enough to make some calls to see if someone could come open it up for me. Ultimately, it didn’t work out on that visit, but I can’t wait to stop by on my next visit.

Downtown Glen Rose is covered in fascinating historical markers and one “hysterical marker” that makes for a good laugh. There are also quite a few buildings decked out in petrified wood, earning Glen Rose the nickname “Petrified City.”

The best example of this is the Outlaw Gas Station. The gas station operated as a speakeasy during prohibition. Rumor has it they sold more moonshine than gasoline.

Overall, the trip was a great success and I returned home with inspiration, books, information, and pictures aplenty. Glen Rose is a wonderful small town full of beauty, history, and the kind of folks that make me love to call Texas home.

I look forward to sharing what all of this research amounted to in The Summer of Moons & Monsters!