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Triceratops Ranch critique of August 15,1998. Hi, a month ago I announced that I was going out to evaluate a dinosaur
trip and excavation before I put it on my website. The trip was to the "Triceratops Ranch" near New Castle, Wyoming,
which along with the "American Mineral and Fossil Exchange", is owned and controlled by a Mr. John Bolon out of Long
Beach, California. Before going to the ranch I was told that we could take home anything we found unless it was rare or
very valuable. If it was rare or valuable it would be 50% ours and WE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BUY IT for about 50%
of its value. Upon arrival we were told NUMEROUS TIMES that if we could carry it out, anything we found was ours and to
have a great time while we were there. My son Tim followed some bone fragments up a hill which eventually lead him to
part of a hadrosaur tooth showing. Tim began carefully uncovering it and more teeth and 1/2 of a lower hadrosaur jaw
was found with teeth still in the jaw bone. We worked together for the rest of the day and began to find vertebrae and
assorted bones. We hardened the bones with a paleobond glue. The jaw was fractured in probably 80-100 pieces. The
owner of the ranch "John Bolon" was heard by three people talking to a gentleman by the name of Japeth out of South
Dakota , asking what 1/2 of one jaw section was worth. Japeth told him as is, it was worth $100-$200, or prepared it
would be worth about $1000. Japeth then approached my son Tim and I and asked us if we would like some help
plastering OUR DINOSAUR. We said sure as we had never done it before. He showed us how and we applied plaster
and got it ready to take out of the ground. Japeth was very nice to my son and I. The next thing we knew John Bolon was
talking to Japeth and the piece was loaded in Japeth' 4x4 and was gone. When we got back to the "Triceratops Ranch", I
asked the party who had invited us out to approach the owner as to the jaws status as it would be a life long
remembrance and memento for my son. The next day we helped the owner John Bolon excavate a triceratops. At the
end of the second day I again asked the status of the jaw for my son. I was told that he approached the owner a couple
times and was told we could not have it. John Bolon was approached again and offered $500-$600 by the party who
invited us out as he wanted to give it as a gift to my son. He reported back to me that John Bolon now said it was worth
$2500 and we could not have it. It was reported to us at this point that the party from a very well known science
magazine who found a triceratops horn, and a party from a also well known science company could not have the teeth
he found. At this point my son and I realizing that this marvelous chance for a father/son experience and $2000 in
expenses had come to a very bitter end. My son and I packed up our tent and personal belongings and left after only two
days there. This experience at the "Triceratops Ranch" had a very negative effect on a young mind. Based upon this
critique I therefore cannot recommend the " Triceratops Ranch" dinosaur expedition or place it on my website. I have
also reviewed this experience with three other parties to make sure my critique was fair and accurate. The area is really
beautiful and there is an abundance of dinosaur material there.. If the owner ever corrects these deficiencies I will be
more than happy to review it again- maybe he was having a bad hair week. I usually put things like this on my website at
no charge. There is another ranch right next to this ranch which also could provide an excellent outing. I guess this
experience showed my son that adults sometimes put money above principals or values. Ron
trip and excavation before I put it on my website. The trip was to the "Triceratops Ranch" near New Castle, Wyoming,
which along with the "American Mineral and Fossil Exchange", is owned and controlled by a Mr. John Bolon out of Long
Beach, California. Before going to the ranch I was told that we could take home anything we found unless it was rare or
very valuable. If it was rare or valuable it would be 50% ours and WE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BUY IT for about 50%
of its value. Upon arrival we were told NUMEROUS TIMES that if we could carry it out, anything we found was ours and to
have a great time while we were there. My son Tim followed some bone fragments up a hill which eventually lead him to
part of a hadrosaur tooth showing. Tim began carefully uncovering it and more teeth and 1/2 of a lower hadrosaur jaw
was found with teeth still in the jaw bone. We worked together for the rest of the day and began to find vertebrae and
assorted bones. We hardened the bones with a paleobond glue. The jaw was fractured in probably 80-100 pieces. The
owner of the ranch "John Bolon" was heard by three people talking to a gentleman by the name of Japeth out of South
Dakota , asking what 1/2 of one jaw section was worth. Japeth told him as is, it was worth $100-$200, or prepared it
would be worth about $1000. Japeth then approached my son Tim and I and asked us if we would like some help
plastering OUR DINOSAUR. We said sure as we had never done it before. He showed us how and we applied plaster
and got it ready to take out of the ground. Japeth was very nice to my son and I. The next thing we knew John Bolon was
talking to Japeth and the piece was loaded in Japeth' 4x4 and was gone. When we got back to the "Triceratops Ranch", I
asked the party who had invited us out to approach the owner as to the jaws status as it would be a life long
remembrance and memento for my son. The next day we helped the owner John Bolon excavate a triceratops. At the
end of the second day I again asked the status of the jaw for my son. I was told that he approached the owner a couple
times and was told we could not have it. John Bolon was approached again and offered $500-$600 by the party who
invited us out as he wanted to give it as a gift to my son. He reported back to me that John Bolon now said it was worth
$2500 and we could not have it. It was reported to us at this point that the party from a very well known science
magazine who found a triceratops horn, and a party from a also well known science company could not have the teeth
he found. At this point my son and I realizing that this marvelous chance for a father/son experience and $2000 in
expenses had come to a very bitter end. My son and I packed up our tent and personal belongings and left after only two
days there. This experience at the "Triceratops Ranch" had a very negative effect on a young mind. Based upon this
critique I therefore cannot recommend the " Triceratops Ranch" dinosaur expedition or place it on my website. I have
also reviewed this experience with three other parties to make sure my critique was fair and accurate. The area is really
beautiful and there is an abundance of dinosaur material there.. If the owner ever corrects these deficiencies I will be
more than happy to review it again- maybe he was having a bad hair week. I usually put things like this on my website at
no charge. There is another ranch right next to this ranch which also could provide an excellent outing. I guess this
experience showed my son that adults sometimes put money above principals or values. Ron