Hartman Prehistoric Garden

at Zilker Botanical Garden

A Cretaceous forest with dinosaur tracks and a life-sized Ornithomimus statue.

The Experience

Prehistoric, lush, educational, mysterious, fun

A Journey to the Cretaceous Period

Step back in time at the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, Austin's unique sanctuary dedicated to the flora of the late Cretaceous period. This immersive 1.5-2 acre garden is built upon the very site where over 100 fossilized reptile tracks and an ancient turtle fossil were discovered, offering a tangible connection to prehistoric life.

Ancient Flora and Fauna

Wander along crushed-granite paths, surrounded by over 100 species of plants that mirror the ancient landscape. Discover towering ferns, resilient cycads, ancient ginkgos, and a variety of palms, including the rare Arenga tremula and Butia capitata. The garden also features horsetails, magnolias, conifers, and surprising specimens like orchid vines (Bauhinia yunnanensis), all meticulously chosen to represent flora from approximately 70 million years ago.

Immersive Prehistoric Landscape

Large basalt boulders, gentle streams, a dramatic waterfall, and a pond with a bedrock of ammonite-fossilized limestone create a vivid prehistoric tableau. The centerpiece is a life-size bronze Ornithomimus statue, sculpted by John Maisano, which stands as a silent guardian of this ancient world. The dense, evergreen plantings of cycads, palms, and cypress enhance the feeling of stepping into a lost jungle, where even familiar natives like pine and juniper once coexisted with dinosaurs.

How to Find It

Follow signs for the Hartman Prehistoric Garden within Zilker Botanical Garden. The Hartman Gate entrance is near the overflow parking lot.

Know Before You Go

Wear comfortable shoes as pathways are crushed granite. The garden is most immersive when plants are in bloom, typically in summer. Look closely for the cast ammonites along the paths.