“We have hit so many records through the year, you are going to be flabbergasted,” he said.

Park attendance skyrocketed to 175,503 people in 2021, breaking the previous record high in 2019 by 16%, and admissions for adults 17 years and older rose to 56%.

Even better, Allen said, attendance thus far into the new year has gone up 26% over their record year of 2021.

“It’s just phenomenal,” he said.

While membership attendance increased by only 1%, Allen expects to see an influx of new members visiting the park this year due to the increase of membership sales in 2021. Membership attendance is already up 57% so far this year, he reported.

Allen said he attributes the rise in general attendance and event admissions to people looking to get out more as well as viewing the museum’s new specimens.

With the help of the city administration, 16 new exhibits were added to the Stewart Museum last year. Allen said the park’s highly coveted Barosaurus fossil was traded for 16 new specimens accounting for 40% of new specimens inside the museum alone.

A Spinosaurus skull, a Nanotyrannus skeleton, a Cervalces skeleton and an Indarctos skull are among specimens featured at the museum.

“The Spinosaurus skull is one of the most unique skulls you will ever see,” Allen said.

There is much debate surrounding the Nanotyrannus being a distinct dinosaur or juvenile T. rex, according to Allen. Ogden’s Dinosaur Park is home to one of only four in the world.