Unique Freaque, Ltd.
121 N. Kenilworth
Oak Park, IL 60301
708-445-8900
Come On and Enjoy; "Tommy Guns"
Free Readers Ensemble
Museum of Western Colorado
http://www.wcmuseum.org/

Museum of Western Colorado Dinosaur Digs
http://www.dinodigs.org/
toll-free 1-888-488-DINO
Fruita Colorado
Lots More to Do for the Whole Family
Rafting on the Colorado River, Rodeos, Winery Tours, Museums,
and the Home of
Mike the Headless Chicken.
More Reports Linked Below

Driving to Colorado

Dinosaur National Monument

Virtual Reality Dino Dig 1

Lin Ottinger and his Moab Rock Shop















July 28, 2005

MOAB, Utah and Arches National Park and One of
the World's Best Rock and Fossil Shops .
Arches National Park looking into a region called the Windows.
© Oak Park Journal photo


Lin Ottinger's Rock and Fossil Shop in Moab, Utah.
© Oak Park Journal photo

A Rock Shop and Then Some
by Ed Vincent

Lin Ottinger's store is a monument to hard work and the love of
rocks, minerals, and fossils.  Lin Ottinger has been here at this
location for over 50 years now and has the best selection of items
this side of Peking.  He has been featured in numerous magazines
spanning the ages, from Ford Times to National Geographic.

Lin Ottinger even has the Iguanadon ottingeri, named after his
find.  He has been a field guide for professors looking for
dinosaurs, a tour guide to much of dinosaur loaded areas of
note.  Lin has seen it all and probably been to most places
twice.  He has been snubbed by some University professors
and even had credit for finds taken from by unscrupulous
scientists.  He reminds me of an elder Indiana Jones mixed
with a little car salesman, and that's a good fun mix.  He
enjoys science but he also likes to sell.  I was in there for
over two hours, talking and looking at his incredible selection
of items from all over the world.  He has specimens from
local work all the way to Morocco and beyond.


Part of the store is something of a museum, there are some casts of
prehistoric mammals and some real fossil bones on the same shelf.
© Oak Park Journal photo


Mr. Ottinger the son and Lin Ottinger the father.
© Oak Park Journal photo

Lin's grandson is also helping out from time to time. When he's
older he may work here like his father and father's father.  Lin Ottinger does not have a website, but he should there are tons
of articles about him on the web, he is colorful character.  When
I wrote earlier about his being a little Indiana Jones mixed with
some car salesman I should have also added some P.T. Barnum
and Judge Roy Bean.  Lin Ottinger is worth the trip to Moab itself.

Though when you do come to Moab don't forget Canyonlands
and Arches National Park.
Click Here for Virtual Reality Picture from
Arches National Park in the area called
"5th Avenue".
When you have finished Viewing Hit your Return
Key on Your Browser

The link below is another view of Lin Ottinger from a
local writer.  (tongue and cheek....)
http://www.dreamride.com/ottinger.html

Moab Rock Shop / Lin Ottinger Tours
435-259-7312
600 N. Main
Moab, Utah  84532

 
© Oak Park Journal photo





Museum of Western Colorado
http://www.wcmuseum.org/

Museum of Western Colorado Dinosaur Digs
http://www.dinodigs.org/

toll-free 1-888-488-DINO




© Oak Park Journal
published by Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc.
STARSHIP SUBS, Soups, Catering, and more...