OBITUARY

Legendary “Dino Man” passes into history

Lindy Earl Ottinger, Sr., 97, of Moab, Utah, passed away, peacefully, at his home in Moab, Utah the night of February 12, 2025.

Born November 22, 1927, in Casper, Wyoming to Iley Macon Ottinger and Maude Violet Eilean Potter. Interestingly, because his mother had to ride a horse into town, the Social Security Administration has his birthday listed as November 25th.

Having enlisted in the Army in 1944, Lin served as a vehicle mechanic modifying vehicles for cold weather in case of a Japanese attack in Alaska. He was honorably discharged in 1948.

Geology, anthropology and all things historical and rock related were Lin’s great love. Having never graduated from school, Lin’s passion drove him to heights of excellence as both a self-taught geologist and a pioneer in tourism. He liked to tell the story of how he sold his first rock at the age of 5. Life, in Moab, started for Lin as a uranium miner, but he wasted no time and moved on by offering taxi services and opening his world-famous Lin Ottinger’s Moab Rock Shop in 1960, in the Moab area, and later guided tours through Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, before they were parks! VW buses were his preferred tour vehicles and his tours took people where Jeeps, Hummers and heavily modified trucks now roam. Many of his buses are still maintained and running today, even being featured in Hot VW magazine. The rock shop has had customers from all over the world and even a few famous ones. Some of the notable names to have visited the rock shop over the years include Jerry Bruckheimer, Mark Strong, Dominic West, Neil Young and Edward Abbey.

Lin’s work ethic was unrivaled. He often worked 16-hour days, 7 days a week, guiding during the day and then offering slide shows at night while his family maintained the rock shop. Up until a few years ago, he was still running around in the desert with a 5-gallon bucket and a shovel, collecting agate, obsidian and anything he could legally get his hands on to sell. His work did not go unrewarded. He has been featured in numerous magazines; travel shows and even had a dinosaur named after him; the Iguanadon Ottingeri. Some of the dinosaur fossils he found can be seen at the dinosaur museum in Price, UT and BYU museum in Provo, UT.

Lin is survived by 2 daughters, Raine Guymon and Nina Edgington and a son, Lindy Ottinger, Jr. (Sonny) seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 26th during the annual VW Caravan that he founded and hosted. Details may be found on the Facebook page Lin Ottinger Scenic Tours and Annual Caravan.

Family and friends are invited to share tributes online at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.

PHOTO GALLERY

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