Dinosaurs have invaded Pasadena, and when they’re done with that city, the herd of prehistoric creatures will take on Costa Mesa next before ending their reign in Pomona.
No, this isn’t another disaster 2020 and 2021 are throwing at us, this is the Jurassic Quest Drive-Thru Experience, a national dinosaur touring exhibit that opened at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena on Jan. 15 with dates scheduled through Jan.31.
From there, the dinos will stomp their way to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa Feb. 5-14 and then to Fairplex in Pomona Feb. 19-28.
“I will tell you that folks love dinosaurs. Kids love it, every kid around the world learns about dinosaurs and what’s interesting is that people don’t seem to outgrow it. The adults are equally interested in it,” said Adam Friedman, chief executive officer of Jurassic Quest, which previously had walk-through events before the pandemic.
The drive-thru experience is made up of more than 70 Jurassic-era creatures set up in a parking lot. Some stand still looking majestic, others move and growl as if they’re alive. All look realistic, as if they were plucked out of time from millions of years ago.
It’s also educational since it’s coupled with an audio show that talks about the history of dinosaurs, including the places they lived and the various periods in which they existed.
“It’s edutainment, there’s a lot of entertainment but it’s also educational so both parents and kids love it,” Friedman said.
Just make sure to keep an eye out for the signs that tell you when to turn on and when to pause the audio because it’s timed to describe the animals you’re seeing out of your window.
The dinosaurs are all to scale with paleontology experts making sure they are accurately portrayed, Friedman said.
And these creatures aren’t cheap either.
Friedman said it can take months to make each animal and some can cost as much as $30,000 each.
The dinos are made out of layers of foam over an animatronic metal frame that’s equipped with motors for movement. Depending on the dinosaurs, some have rubbery outer layers while others have fur or feathers.
The journey will take about an hour from the time people check in to the time the escape the claws of these reptiles. Actually, it’s not scary at all and all kids should be able to handle the tour.
So for those who want to travel back in time and look these predators in the eye, here are five of the coolest creatures you’ll meet at the drive-thru in order of appearance, along with a handy pronunciation guide so you can brag about meeting them to friends.
Apatosaurus (ah-pot-uh-sawr-us)
It’s a good thing the apatosaurus only has an appetite for plants because this gigantic beast is the first huge creature you’ll see during your drive back in time. Its long neck reaches 40 feet high and it’s looking straight down at the cars driving by. Be careful vegans and vegetarians, it may smell your lunch from miles away.
Spinosaurus (spy-nuh-sawr-us)
This creature looks like a smaller Tyrannosaurus rex but has a spiny mohawk along its back. It was probably a punk in real life, too, because it was one of the largest of the carnivorous dinosaurs. Here, it’s perched up on top of a shipping container opening its jaws and moving its head around as it looks down at its human prey.
Carnotaurus (karn-uh-twar-us)
If a T. rex was actually a demon it would look like this beast. A group of these carnivorous dinos stand just feet away from the car’s passenger side and with long devilish horns on their heads and spikes all over their bodies they look really intimidating. Say your prayers or whatever it’ll take to help you get by these evil looking things.
Quetzalcoatlus (we’re not even going to try)
Dragons have nightmares about this creature. With a wing span as large as 52 feet and at standing about 40 feet tall, this flying reptile was the size of a small plane. At Jurassic Quest it’s perched with its gigantic wings folded and pelican-like beak wide open as if it’s about to take flight and swallow a Cessna for breakfast.
Tyson the baby T. rex
The ferocious T. rex is always the star at any dino party, and there’s a pair of cool ones at Jurassic Quest, too. But cuteness kills ferociousness every single time so the star here is Tyson the baby T. rex. And this future little killer is adorable. He’s around the size of a bulldog and is actually a puppet carried like a baby by handlers who make it move like a real dino would have moved. Fun fact: his movements mirror those of chickens because according to Jurassic Quest dino trainer Dustin “Dino Dustin” Baker, chickens are the closest living relatives to a T. rex. And yes, he goes by Dino Dustin. Since he’s so young Tyson, is carried around the drive-thru as he stops to say hi to his future dinners. Due to COVID-19 he’s keeping a safe distance, of course, at least for now.
Jurassic Quest Drive-Thru Experience
Pasadena: Through Jan. 31. The Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive
Costa Mesa: Feb. 5-14. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive
Pomona: Feb. 19-28. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Cost: $49 per car
Information: jurassicquest.com
This post first appeared on ocregister.com
ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue82erqxnl5rBbsHPZpqlp6Oaeri106FknaGepMCiwdGsZJqsXam1pnnJrqmaq6OesG691J6qrWWUp7a3sYytn6utXZrFsbHRopynm5VkjKK5zw%3D%3D