Powell, OH — Thanks to popular demand from our supportive community, Dinosaur Island at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is back from extinction! This exciting attraction will open on Memorial Day Weekend (Saturday, May 29), and run until the end of October. Guests can expect returning favorites, including the Brachiosaurus, as well as 15 new dinosaurs.
This prehistoric adventure transports guests 251 million years to the start of the Paleozoic Era, when the Rhynchosaurs and Cynodonts first appeared. During this experience, guests will discover more than 30 animatronic dinosaurs. Made of steel with silicon waterproof skin, the dinosaurs have eyes that shift and blink, tails that move, bodies that breathe, and electronic “brains” that activate and control their movements and sounds. The result is a thrilling experience that is sure to captivate dinosaur lovers of all ages!
The dinosaurs began arriving at the Columbus Zoo on Monday, April 26, and were unloaded from trucks by forklifts and other heavy equipment. The dinosaurs will be assembled over the next few weeks and then placed via crane onto the island. Guests can enjoy this expedition by foot and on the island boat ride in the Zoo’s Australia and the Islands region. The biggest dinosaur guests will encounter will be the Brachiosaurus, standing 30 feet tall and 65 feet long.
A special admission ticket is required for entrance and is not included with Zoo admission. Admission to Dinosaur Island is $3 for general admission, $2 for Columbus Zoo members, and free for Columbus Zoo Gold members, as well as included in the price of a ZooMore ride wristband. Explorers of all ages will enjoy this adventure, whether they have expert knowledge or are discovering dinosaurs for the first time.
Visitors can spot these “roar-some” dinosaurs and more:
- Tyrannosaurus rex: Lived in Cretaceous period; name means “tyrant lizard king.”
- Lessemsaurus: Named after Dino Don Lessem.
- Omeisaurus: Named after the sacred mountain (Omeishan) where its first fossil was discovered.
- Gastonia: A herbivorous dinosaur that lived in North America around 125 million years ago.
- Triceratops: A herbivorous dinosaur that became extinct during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event that occurred about 66 million years ago.
- Stegosaurus: Lived in the Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous Period; name means “roofed lizard.”
- Riojasaurus: Lived in the Late Triassic period; named after La Rioja Province in Argentina.
- Utahraptor: Lived in Cretaceous period; name means "Utah's predator."
- Compsognathus: Lived in the Tithonian age of the late Jurassic period; this is also the smallest dinosaur that guests will encounter on Dinosaur Island.
The dinosaurs were acquired from Dino Don Incorporated. Dino Don Lessem is one of the world's leading presenters of dinosaurs, the author of 40 books of natural history, and adviser to Stephen Spielberg's Jurassic Park. Lessem has excavated and reconstructed the world's largest meat-eating and plant-eating dinosaurs in Patagonia and Mongolia. He creates giant touring exhibitions, is the host and creator of NOVA documentaries, and adviser to Universal Studios and Disney theme parks.
The Argentine dinosaur, Lessemsaurus, was named in honor of his contributions to dinosaur research. Dino Don Incorporated is a provider of life-size robotic dinosaurs for zoos, museums, and theme parks worldwide. They specialize in producing large, life-size robotic dinosaurs that can withstand outdoor weather for traveling and permanent exhibits. To “unearth” more information and other updates regarding rides and attractions at the Columbus Zoo, visit the rides and attractions page.
For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo’s animals, events, and more, be sure to follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org.
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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads and inspires by connecting people and wildlife. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Course. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a regional attraction with global impact, annually contributing privately raised funds to support conservation projects worldwide. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.
