Dinosaurs that Roar, Snarl and Move Have Taken up Residence at the Detroit Zoo

By Patricia Janeway 

Royal Oak, MI - They’re big. They’re bold. They’re baaaack! Nineteen life-like animatronic dinosaurs that roar, snarl and move have taken up residence at the Detroit Zoo for the summer to provide a thrilling experience for visitors of all ages. Dinosauria, presented by Kroger, opens today and continues through Labor Day.

Visitors enter a veritable “Zoorassic Park” as they travel back in time along a lush, winding, three-acre DinoTrail recreating prehistoric life. Enormous primeval creatures lurk at every turn, beginning with the mighty Megalosaurus and ending with the tremendous Tyrannosaurus rex. Visitors will encounter adult dinosaurs, youngsters and even a nest with eggs and hatchlings.

The robotic dinosaurs are built on steel frames by Billings Productions of McKinney, Texas, and covered with intricately painted foam rubber skin. High-tech electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs' menacing claws and gnashing teeth while a booming sound system gives them their “voices”.

A dino dig site and fossil sifting station give kids the chance to be paleontologists as they search for clues about the lives of dinosaurs. Kids can also walk through a dinosaur rib cage and compare their footprints with those of an Iguanodon. Knowledgeable Zoo volunteers are stationed at education carts where visitors can examine dinosaur skulls, teeth, claws and other biofacts.

The DinoStore at the DinoTrail’s exit is stocked with tempting remembrances to help visitors take the dino experience home.

Sixty-five million years after the last dinosaur species became extinct, the prehistoric creatures still capture the imagination and wonder of adults and kids alike. Dinosaurs were last seen at the Detroit Zoo in 2001.

“There’s a whole generation of young people who haven’t experienced anything like this. It’s an exciting, exotic adventure for kids and families,” said Executive Director Ron Kagan. “Whether folks come to the Zoo to see live animals or prehistoric dinosaurs, they are in for a wonderful experience. Our hope is that everyone becomes more interested and excited about wildlife and nature.”

Also supported by Hungry Howie’s Pizza, Dinosauria is open daily through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (until 7 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August). Tickets are $3 with Zoo admission for visitors of all ages and are available at main admissions, the Dinosauria ticket booth, or online at www.detroitzoo.org.

The Dinosauria fun extends to the DinoSimulator at the Wild Adventure Ride, located in the Ford Education Center. The Wild Adventure Ride is an educational, action-packed thrill ride which offers a “you-are-there” experience from the comfort of a specially equipped, motion-simulated cabin. Passengers visit the fictional Centre for Advanced Palaeontological Research and are transported back in time to see, hear and feel what it was like to be a dinosaur.

The Wild Adventure Ride is open daily during regular Zoo hours; show times vary. Passengers must be at least 36” (three feet) tall, and it is recommended that they be at least 5 years of age or older. Tickets are $3 with Zoo admission and are available at main admissions, the Wild Adventure Ride ticket booth, or online at www.detroitzoo.org.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October (open at 9 a.m. May 1 through Labor Day) – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $11 for adults 15 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 14; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Admission is free. For more information, call (313) 852-4056.

To view Detroit Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-472-Detroit_Zoo