Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University

What Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University does

Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University is a 44,000 sq. ft. museum and active paleontological research site located in Mantua, New Jersey, operated by Rowan Educational Attractions, Inc., a New Jersey non-profit corporation supporting Rowan University. The facility is built around a 45-foot-deep former Inversand marl pit that has yielded over 100,000 fossils and 100+ species since the 1920s, including a 55-foot Mosasaur, and contains geological evidence of the K-Pg asteroid impact that ended the dinosaurs. Core exhibits include the Cretaceous World Galleries, Collections & Conservation live paleontology lab, Critter Cove live animal exhibits, Discovery Forest, and an interactive Explorer Key system that unlocks personalized digital content. Premium add-on experiences include the Quarry Dig Experience (60-minute hands-on fossil excavation; visitors keep a real fossil) and Expedition Voyager VR (a free-roaming 360-degree VR adventure to the Cretaceous period).

The business operates a multi-stream revenue model centered on timed-entry general admission ($24-$29), tiered annual memberships ($39-$99 individual), premium add-ons ($15-$25), retail (Darwin & Co. museum store), on-site food and beverage (Quarry Grounds Café), private event rentals ($995-$1,095 for birthday parties; corporate quarry rentals for up to 50 guests), school field trips ($15-$30/student with Title I discount), and philanthropy through the Rowan University Foundation and AHA Donor Society ($1,500+). The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer online ticketing (efm.org and tickets.efm.org), sales-led outreach for schools and corporate groups, and event-driven private rentals. The museum opened to the public on March 29, 2025, and was named a Top 10 Best New Museum in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Its purpose-built facility, regional founder-led brand, and Rowan University affiliation anchor a non-profit, donation-supported operating model with no venture capital or private equity funding structure.

Name

Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University

Legal name

Rowan Educational Attractions, Inc.

Website

https://efm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University is a 44,000 sq. ft. museum and active paleontological research site in Mantua, NJ, serving families, schools, and corporate groups with hands-on fossil excavation, VR experiences, and membership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural History Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural History Museums (THAJADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Archaeological Sites & Heritage Interpretation Centers (THAJADAG), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)

Keywords

• Paleontology museum
• Fossil dig experience
• Natural history education
• Science museum exhibits
• Interactive museum attractions

Headquarters

HQ city

Mantua

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. General Admission Tickets: One-time ticket sales for museum admission. Explorer tickets (ages 13+) at $29, Jr. Explorer (ages 3-12) at $24, with children 2 and under free. Includes all-day access to galleries and exhibits.
2. Premium Add-on Experiences: Additional paid experiences bundled with admission: Quarry Fossil Dig Experience (+$25) provides 60 minutes of hands-on digging and a fossil to take home. Virtual Reality Experience (+$15) provides 15-minute free-roaming VR adventure.
3. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership tiers (Bronze $49/$39, Silver $69/$59, Gold $99/$89 for adult/child) providing unlimited visits, discounts, and premium experience benefits. Higher tiers include free Quarry Digs and VR passes.
4. Private Events & Rentals: Revenue from hosting corporate events, weddings, birthday parties, and corporate quarry rentals. Birthday parties range $995-$1,095 for 25 guests. Corporate quarry rentals accommodate up to 50 guests.
5. School Field Trips: Educational group visits at $15 per student (or $30 for combo museum + quarry). Includes free chaperone ratios (1 per 10 students). Title I schools receive discounted rates.
6. Food & Beverage (Quarry Grounds Cafe): On-site cafe offering breakfast, lunch, and beverages. Open at 7am with breakfast menu including sandwiches, bagels, burrito bowls, and vegan/vegetarian options.
7. Merchandise (Darwin & Co. Museum Store): Retail merchandise store selling dinosaur-themed gifts, fossils, and educational items. Members receive 10-15% retail discounts.
8. Donations & Philanthropy: Charitable donations accepted through Rowan University Foundation. AHA Donor Society for cumulative annual gifts of $1,500+. Corporate memberships starting at $2,500 annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum operates an immersive dinosaur and natural history museum at an active 66-million-year-old fossil quarry site in Mantua, New Jersey. Its core offering combines admission to Cretaceous World Galleries, live animal exhibits, and interactive displays with premium add-on experiences including hands-on fossil excavation and free-roaming VR. The museum also sells annual memberships, hosts private events and birthday parties, and runs educational programs for schools and homeschool families.

Product overview

Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University is a dinosaur museum and active fossil quarry site offering a portfolio of interconnected visitor experiences and membership programs. The core product is Museum General Admission, which provides access to immersive Cretaceous World Galleries, live animal exhibits, and educational spaces. Premium add-on experiences include the Quarry Dig Experience (hands-on fossil excavation at a 66-million-year-old site) and Expedition Voyager VR (free-roaming virtual reality adventure). The museum also offers School Field Trips and Homeschool Days for educational groups, Birthday Party Packages (both Museum and Quarry formats), and Private Events/Venue Rentals for corporate events and weddings. The membership program spans three tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold) offering escalating benefits including unlimited visits, discounts, and free premium experiences. Supporting amenities include the Quarry Grounds Cafe and Darwin & Co. Museum Store. The Act Now environmental program provides sustainability-focused missions for visitors. The museum is operated by Rowan Educational Attractions, Inc. as a non-profit organization of Rowan University.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quarry Grounds Café: On-site cafe offering breakfast and lunch options for museum visitors.
• Darwin & Co.

Products and services

• Museum General Admission Core museum admission providing all-day access to the Cretaceous World Galleries, interactive fossil scavenger hunt, Critter Cove live animal exhibits, Discovery Forest, Collections & Conservation areas, and outdoor playground and nature trails. Pricing: Explorer (ages 13+) $29, Jr. Explorer (ages 3-12) $24, children 2 and under free.
• Quarry Dig Experience Premium outdoor fossil excavation experience at the 45-foot-deep former Inversand marl pit where visitors dig for real 66-million-year-old fossils including mosasaurs, sea turtles, and shark teeth. Includes up to 60 minutes of hands-on digging with a guided Fossil Guide and one fossil to take home. Available as a +$25 add-on or standalone quarry-only ticket for $34.
• Expedition Voyager VR Free-roaming 360 virtual reality adventure sending visitors 66 million years into the past to collect scientific samples from Cretaceous creatures. Approximately 15 minutes in duration, accommodating up to 4 visitors per session with a minimum height requirement of 48 inches. Available as a +$15 add-on with museum admission.
• Birthday Party Packages Two birthday party packages: Museum Birthday Party ($995 for up to 25 guests) including museum admission, reserved party space, party host, pizza and soda, themed décor, digital invitations, and gift for the guest of honor; and Quarry Dig Birthday Party ($1,095 for up to 25 guests, max 50) including guided fossil hunt in the quarry with all party amenities. Additional guests at $30 per person.
• Annual Museum Membership Annual museum membership tiers providing unlimited museum visits for a year, retail and cafe discounts, and premium experience benefits. Bronze ($49 adult/$39 child) includes 10% discounts and Bring-A-Friend days. Silver ($69 adult/$59 child) adds one free premium experience per year and additional Bring-a-Friend tickets. Gold ($99 adult/$89 child) adds two free premium experiences per year, 15% discounts, and a single-use guest pass.
• School Field Trips Educational group visits at $15 per student for museum-only or $30 per student for museum and quarry combo. Includes free admission for one chaperone per 10 students, self-guided museum experience, and access to all galleries. Title I schools receive discounted $10 per student rate. Available seasonally April-November.
• Homeschool Days Special themed educational programming at $20 per person (or $5 for member families) featuring monthly hands-on workshops focused on different science topics, including access to real fossils and specimens aligned with NGSS standards.
• Private Events & Venue Rentals Private event hosting including corporate events, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, sweet sixteens, and milestone celebrations. Features 44,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space with picturesque Cretaceous gardens, a veranda overlooking the quarry, indoor gallery spaces, and top-tier catering by 12th Street Catering.
• Corporate Quarry Rentals Two-hour team-building quarry rental for up to 25 guests (expandable to 50) including unlimited quarry access, fossil field station event space, on-site event host, and option to dig and take home a fossil.
• Corporate Membership Business membership program starting at $2,500 annually (tax-deductible), offering family memberships, admission tickets, premier experience vouchers, discounts, curated private tours, exclusive event invitations, and behind-the-scenes experiences.
• Wedding Venue Rentals Dedicated wedding and milestone celebration venue offering indoor and outdoor spaces including a veranda overlooking the 45-foot-deep quarry, picturesque Cretaceous gardens, and gallery spaces. Includes top-tier catering by 12th Street Catering.
• AHA Donor Society Philanthropy recognition society for donors making cumulative annual gifts of at least $1,500. Combines charitable giving with membership benefits including exclusive access, behind-the-scenes opportunities, and special recognition. All donations accepted through the Rowan University Foundation.
• Quarry Grounds Cafe On-site food and beverage venue serving breakfast from 7am and lunch options including sandwiches, bagels, burrito bowls, french toast sticks, avocado toast, and vegan and vegetarian options. Open to all museum visitors.
• Darwin & Co. Museum Store On-site and online retail merchandise store (darwinandco.org) offering dinosaur-themed gifts, toys, apparel, educational items, and fossils. Members receive 10-15% retail discounts.
• GeoExplorers Summer Camp First-ever summer camp program for children launched in February 2026, offering hands-on paleontology and science-themed activities for young explorers at the museum and quarry site.
• Act Now Environmental Program Environmental action program offering missions and activities that benefit biodiversity and climate, including water conservation, organic gardening, yard maintenance, and energy reduction categories. Provides downloadable guides and progress tracking for visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 fossils discovered at the site since the 1920s
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 12th Street CateringcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPreferred catering partner for events at Edelman Fossil Park. Full-service Philadelphia catering company offering locally sourced ingredients, elegant displays, and customizable décor. Offers delivery options and is committed to sustainability practices. Voted Best Caterer of Philly 2025.
• AAA South JerseyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAAA South Jersey provides free parking for visitors to Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, enhancing the visitor experience and reducing barriers to attendance.
• Tour OperatorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with tour operators to create customized group experiences including museum visits, quarry digs, and combo experiences. EFM helps coordinate scheduling, parking, and group logistics.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: Large natural history museum with extensive fossil collections, immersive dinosaur halls, school programs, and membership tiers. Comparable in exhibit portfolio and diversified visitor revenue model.
• Field Museum: Major natural history museum with dinosaur exhibits and active paleontological research, serving families and school groups with premium admission and membership programs — closely aligned business model and visitor experience.
• American Museum of Natural History: Iconic New York natural history museum with extensive dinosaur halls, family programming, school group bookings, and a strong membership base. Comparable product offering with suggested (rather than required) admission.
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History: Pittsburgh-based natural history museum with active paleontological research, dinosaur exhibits, family programming, school field trips, and a tiered membership program — strong operational comparability.
• Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University: Philadelphia-based natural history museum affiliated with a major university, sharing EFM's university-affiliated natural history focus, family and school audience, and tri-state regional reach. Most direct comparable by audience and mission.
• Liberty Science Center: New Jersey-based interactive science center with family and school audiences, premium membership tiers, and corporate event hosting. Closest regional competitor for tri-state family and school visitation.

Regional players

• Adventure Aquarium: Camden, NJ aquarium offering family entertainment, school field trips, memberships, and event rentals within the same tri-state regional market. Comparable in audience and revenue model, though aquarium rather than natural history.
• Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society): Major NYC-area family attraction with live animal exhibits, membership tiers, school programs, and event rentals. Comparable visitor experience mix and tri-state audience overlap, including Critter Cove-style live animal programming.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: The preeminent U.S. natural history museum with free admission and a vastly larger collection, which EFM explicitly references ('Smithsonian-level displays'). A key competitor for aspirational family travel and school trips along the East Coast.
• Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago): Large interactive science museum with school field trip programs, family memberships, premium add-on experiences, and event rentals. Comparable operational footprint and revenue diversification strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thefossilpark
• Facebookfacebook.com/thefossilpark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edelman-fossil-park-museum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University