A small town in Ashley Valley known for dinosaur fossils
Nicknamed “Dinosaurland,” Vernal’s iconic sign is held by Dinah, a 40-foot-tall pink dinosaur statue. The city’s claim to fame dates back to 150 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed across eastern Utah. Many fossils are displayed at the nearby Dinosaur National Monument and the Utah Field House of Natural History. In the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, the town has an Old West atmosphere emphasized by rodeos and Main Street retail. “Vernal has lots of shopping and a small-town feel. I think it’s more of a rural area,” says Realtor Janice Sharp, who works with Realty ONE Group Signature and has about two decades of experience in the area. The city of approximately 11,000 is the largest in Uintah County, secluded from any metropolitan areas.
Dinosaur National Monument, Steinaker State Park and more recreation
Dinosaur National Monument, about 20 miles east of Vernal, features petroglyphs and hiking trails through the mountains. “A lot of people go there. It has the bones display, so you can walk through and see where the dinosaurs have been and where they uncovered the bones,” Sharp says. On the northern outskirts of Vernal, Steinaker State Park is centered around a reservoir, where visitors can go boating and swimming at a beach. “It's a nice reservoir; you can paddleboard, kayak and go fishing. The scenery is pretty, and it's really accessible,” Sharp says. In northern Vernal, Ashley Valley Community Park is the city’s most popular municipal park, offering picnic pavilions, playgrounds and walking paths.
Attractions, including the Utah Field House of Natural History
The Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum, located in the heart of Vernal, is the city’s biggest attraction. It has dinosaur fossils from the region, plus an outdoor garden with dino models. Just down the street, the Uintah County Heritage Museum displays local history exhibits, complete with artifacts from cowboys and Native Americans. At the Uintah County Western Park, centrally located in the community, there are rodeos, car derbies and plays performed by the Outlaw Trail Theater.
Bungalows, ranch-style homes and new construction in Vernal
Central Vernal is composed of grid-style blocks of bungalows and farmhouses dating back to the 1920s. Vernal then expands into loose blocks of midcentury ranch-style homes and split-levels, while the edges of the city have subdivisions of contemporary architecture, including new construction. The median sales price in Vernal is $320,000. Homes in the area stay on the market for 132 days on average, compared to the national average of 45 days.
Local retail and entertainment on Main Street
Main Street runs through the center of the city, offering a handful of walkable blocks lined with local businesses. The shops include galleries, gift shops and a game store. The restaurants range widely, with everything from American diners to Thai food. “A lot of them are favorites. There are some really good Mexican homecooked meals there,” Sharp says. Some businesses lean into the Old West theme, including Ashley Trading Post and Gateway Saloon & Cafe. Main Street even has entertainment options, from bowling at Dinoland Bowl to watching musicals at Vernal Theatre: LIVE. There are a few strip malls along U.S. Highway 40, including Vernal Towne Center, which offers grocery shopping, fast-food chains and big box stores.
Uintah School District
On Niche, the Uintah School District has a B-minus rating. The district also has B-plus ratings for clubs and diversity. With approximately 7,000 students, the district has a student-teacher ratio of 26-to-1. For higher education, Utah State University Uintah Basin has a campus in Vernal.
A 170-mile drive to Salt Lake City and more logistics
Vernal, the biggest city in the county, provides work opportunities for its residents. “We have lots of oil, so there are a lot of jobs here,” Sharp says. Some local oil companies include Andeavor Logisitics and Extreme Wireline, Inc. Via U.S. Highway 40, the city is about 170 miles from Salt Lake City. For a nearby hospital, there’s the Ashley Regional Medical Center located in Vernal. The also town has the Vernal Regional Airport for farther travels. However, the Salt Lake City International Airport has more destinations and is about 180 miles away.
The Vernal Police Department and the city's climate
Currently, there is no crime rate data for Vernal, Utah. The city is served by the Vernal Police Department.
The city experiences all four seasons, from warm summers to cold and snowy winters. It has major wildfire risk because it’s next to undeveloped wilderness areas, but Vernal’s Community Wildfire Preparedness Plan has ways to mitigate the risks.
