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Dinosaur
Canadian, TX |
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This dinosaur is 50' long and 17' tall. I don't know when it was built. It was created by Gene Cockrell who calls her Audry. The dinosaur is high on a hill south of town. Cockrell also has many smaller cement statues in his yard in town. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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Sir Goony Golf Dinosaur
Dallas, TX |
Cascade Caverns
Fair Oaks Ranch, TX |
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This former Sir Goony Golf dinosaur stands in front of E&E Auto Sales. I don't know if there was originally a mini golf on this property or if this guy was transported here. For examples of these dinosaurs in their native environment, see this page.
The Cascade Caverns dinosaur is meant to represent a Tyrannosaurus Rex. He was created as a prop for the 1993 movie "Father Hood." This dinosaur's foam composition is now showing through.
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T-Rex
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Glen Rose, TX |
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The 1964 New York World's Fair 45’ tall Tyrannosaurus Rex and 70’ tall Apatosaurus were donated to Dinosaur Valley State Park in 1970. During the Fair, the Apatosaurus had a moving neck and the T-Rex had a moving jaw. But before their road tour, Jonas had fixed pieces installed. In 1987, Texas Parks and Wildlife decided to replace the Apatosaurus head to conform with modern findings. But it just looked too small to people and in 1995, it was changed back to its original inaccurate version. For more about the Dinosaur Valley dinosaurs, see these websites: 1, 2,
3, 4, and 5.
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Grendel the Dinosaur
Natural Bridge Caverns, TX |
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Grendel the Dinosaur poses at the entrance of Natural Bridge Caverns which has cave formations and a wildlife ranch. Grendel keeps a watchful eye over her shoulder at her two offspring (one just hatching from an egg) and tourists posing on her back. There's a staircase behind her creating this opportunity. Natural Bridge Caverns was discovered in 1960 and was turned into a tourist attraction in 1964. I assume these dinosaurs were built around then. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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Brontosaurus
Wharton, TX |
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This fiberglass Brontosaurus was built in 1992. He is 20' tall and 77' long. He stands in a little park near the Colorado River. It looks like his eyes might light up at night.
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Alley Oop Fantasy Land
Iraan, TX |
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Alley Oop Fantasy Land, or more officially the Alley Oop Museum & Fantasy Land Park, opened in 1965. The park was dedicated to V.T. Hamlin, the creator of the Alley Oop comic strip, who lived in town. Dinny was Alley Oop's pet stegosaurus and is represented here as a 65' long, 16' tall statue. The metal bust of Oop is 20' tall. There was once a slide from his cigar through his head, and another along his shoulder. I didn't notice either when I was there so possibly they have been phased out. Dinny and Alley Oop had been recently restored when these photos were taken in 2008. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.
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The Dinosaur Park
Bastrop, TX |
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The Dinosaur Park opened around 2004 and features several life-sized dinosaurs along a trail. There is also a great gift shop and fun activities for kids. For more, see their website.
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Dinosaurs
Grand Prairie, TX |
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The Grand Prairie Dinosaurs are installed in front of Ripley's Believe It or Not. There is another one at their San Francisco, CA location. I believe these three were created by Larry Godwin who has created many sculptures car bumpers such as this Rooster. These dinosaurs were originally located in Dallas, TX at Fair Park's Museum of Natural History. The exhibit was known as Chromassic Park. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
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