If your kid is in a dinosaurs-are-so-cool phase, or you’re just into quirky roadside attractions, make a pit stop at Virginia’s Dinosaur Land. Tucked behind the trees near the Shenandoah National Park, Dinosaur Land features nearly 50 large dinosaur statues, all baring a nice set of dagger teeth. It’s random and wacky—and completely unforgettable.
It’s a TRIP
Tack a stop here onto a larger excursion — on the way to go camping or hiking at Shenandoah National Park, for instance. Or make it a 45-minute detour from a spelunking adventure through Luray Caverns. Dinosaur Land is open daily and costs no more than $6 per person. It will remind you (in case you forgot) of what it was like back in the Mesozoic era when dinosaurs were the only creatures roaming the earth.
Say Cheese!
Family owned and operated for more than 50 years (apparently dinosaur roadside parks were all the rage in the 1950’s and ’60’s), there are ample photo opportunities here. Climb into the hand of an enormous, snaggle-toothed King Kong. Pose for a snapshot inside the razor-sharp jaws of a shark. Hug the biggest octopus you’re sure to ever see. You’ll be glad you preserved the memories.
Dinos 101
Learn along the way by reading informative explanations of each creature’s eating habits and evolutionary position. For example, if you thought T-Rex was the biggest of the dinosaurs, you would be wrong: There was an even bigger one, appropriately called Gigantosaurus.
3848 Stonewall Jackson Hwy. (White Post, Va)
540-869-2222
Online: dinosaurland.com
Open: Daily, 9:30 am-6 pm; closed Jan. 1-Feb. 28
Cost: $6/11 and up; $5/ages 2-10; Free/under 2
Have you ever been to Dinosaur World? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
— Jamy Bond and Ayren Jackson-Cannady
Photos courtesy of Jamy Bond
