So let me set the stage for you. We're on a highway, in the middle of California, surrounded by nothing but hills and wind farms, driving towards Pasadena for the 2009 Rosebowl. And I happen to look outside my passenger window - and basically see this giant T-rex grinning back at me.
Cue sputtering and finger pointing, and my boyfriend (who was behind the wheel at the time) grinning like a little boy, bouncing in his seat and saying "I've found them! My hunt is finished!!"
We went back the next day, and wandered around, under and even into several large dinosaurs. The story of the place, is that a sculptor and portrait artist, Claude K. Bell (of Knott's Berry Farm fame) built the original two dinosaurs, "Dinny" and "Mr. Rex" (an Apatosaurus, [aka Brontosaurus] and Tyrannosaurus respectively) to draw attention to his restaurant. It works, clearly, as the restaurant is still in business today (although we didn't have time to check it out due to our flight plans). I hear they have excellent pie however. And yes, for anyone who is wondering, Dinny and Mr. Rex were featured in both "PeeWee's Big Adventure" as well as "The Wizard".
After Mr Bell's death, the property was sold, and is currently owned by the Cabazon Family Partnership and MKA Cabazon Partnership of Costa Mesa, California, and it was they who added the current open-air museum of fiberglass dinosaurs, and as you can see in the Gallery, they prompted several amusing photos.
While younger children might make use of the 'Dino Dig' sand pit, where they can unearth "bones" or the gold rush troughs where purchased gemstones and fossils can be discovered ($5 - $10), wandering amid the statues is a good way to spend some quality time with the family - and maybe even have that annoying younger brother eaten by a feral Triceratops.*
*Yes, the author is aware that the Triceratops was a herbivore. Thanks though.
