If you’re interested in visiting a dinosaur park, there are several options. You can see a park with dinosaurs, one with a prehistoric forest, or a park with dinosaur gardens.
Crystal Palace dinosaurs
The Crystal Palace dinosaurs are a series of sculptures in the London area. Sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins created them. These models were designed to educate the public about prehistoric life. Some of the models feature paleozoic marine reptiles.
The sculptures were set in a landscape designed by Joseph Paxton. They were inspired by fossils found in the Natural History Museum.
Most of the models are designed to depict Mesozoic marine reptiles. Other statues include amphibians and pterosaurs. A few models describe ichthyosaurs.
When the models were first installed, they were considered cutting-edge. However, they became a source of ridicule. One of the most famous Crystal Palace dinosaurs is the Megalosaurus. It was once discovered in Britain.
This creature has a mouth that opens to roar and a long, sharp snout. In addition, the beast has spikes along its back.
As scientific knowledge has continued to grow, the Crystal Palace monsters have become more ridiculous. Several of the models were never completed.
Field Station: Dinosaurs
Field Station: Dinosaurs is a prehistoric theme park in the Meadowlands, NJ, USA. It features a large outdoor exhibit with life-size dinosaurs and other attractions. These include an outdoor maze, live performances, and workshops.
Some make the dinosaurs on display at Field Station of the world’s leading roboticists. They have been created to reflect the latest scientific theories and discoveries in paleontology.
The Field Station features thirty life-size dinosaurs. Among them is the 90-foot-long Argentinosaurus, the giant animatronic dinosaur ever made.
Visitors will find several other activities, including a theater for shows and a fossil dig site. Also located in the arena are the Great Moments of Discovery Theater and the Dinosaur Whodunit. There are four shows each day.
One of the more popular shows at the Field Station: Dinosaurs is T-rex Feeding Frenzy. This show takes viewers on an adventure into the mystery of how and what dinosaurs ate.
Another show is “Dinosaur Whodunit,” which delves into the mystery of how dinosaurs died. It is also a musical.
Dinosaur Gardens
The Dinosaur Gardens, located in Ossineke, Michigan, is a unique attraction that offers visitors a chance to see several different dinosaurs. They are also home to a mini golf course and a gift shop. These attractions are free to visit.
Paul Domke, known for building dinosaurs, started the park in 1935. He made the park on a 40-acre tract of swampland in Ossineke.
Domke’s dinosaur park has since thrived in the outdoor elements. Domke used his art and medical knowledge to create lifelike dinosaurs. There are five accurate replicas of dinosaurs at the park.
Dinosaur Gardens also features a fossil dig. A path hugs the edges of the park’s trees, and it is lined with a variety of prehistoric creatures.
Dinosaur Gardens is open to the public during the summer season. In the fall, they have a unique “Fall-O-Ween,” that draws crowds.
The park is open to the public for free and is a family-friendly attraction. It also offers discounts for senior citizens.
Prehistoric Forest
Prehistoric Forest is a dinosaur amusement park in southeastern Michigan. It opened in 1963. Guests could explore interactive fossil digging pits, a volcano, a 400-foot jungle waterslide, and a safari train.
But the park closed in 1999. A new owner, Sandra Crabb, has now reopened the place. She plans to restore the park. Her plans include restoring the dinosaurs.
While the dinosaurs haven’t been resurrected, the land around the park has been returned to nature. Security cameras are in place to protect the remaining prehistoric creatures.
The former owner of the Prehistoric Forest, Jim Sidwell, built the park. He also made a similar attraction called Dinosaur Land in White Post, Virginia.
Before the amusement park closed, many dinosaurs were displayed in an open field, while others were moved into storage areas. Some have melded into the surrounding trees and foliage. Other statues have been knocked down.
In November 2012, vandals broke down one of the fiberglass dinosaurs at the Prehistoric Forest. It was a Plesiosaurus, a 15-foot model.