ROYAL OAK – The popular summer attraction Dinosauria — the largest dinosaur exhibit of its kind in the country featuring animatronic dinosaurs — opens today at the Detroit Zoo.
Visitors enter a Zoorassic World as they travel back in time along a winding 5-acre DinoTrail recreating prehistoric life. Enormous prehistoric creatures lurk at every turn, including adult dinosaurs, youngsters and even a nest with eggs and hatchlings. The animatronic dinosaurs were last featured at the zoo in 2011.
The robotic dinosaurs are built on steel frames by Texas-based Billings Productions and covered with intricately painted foam rubber skin. High-tech electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs’ menacing claws and gnashing teeth while a sound system gives them their “voices”.
Dinosauria is open daily through Labor Day, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August). Tickets are $5 with Detroit Zoo admission for visitors ages 2 and older and are available at main admissions, the Dinosauria ticket booth or online at detroitzoo.org/dinosauria.
The prehistoric adventure continues with two experiences at the Wild Adventure Zone in the Ford Education Center. Featured at the 4-D Theater is “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure 4-D”, while at the Simulator Ride “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs – The Ride” is playing. Tickets for both experiences are $5 with Detroit Zoo admission and are available at main admissions, the Wild Adventure Zone ticket booth or online.
