Lately, the girls have been really enthusiastic about dinosaurs. Every time they come across a picture, a movie, or even a playground with a dinosaur, they start jumping up and down and excitedly call out “Mom, mom, dinosaur!” Their excitement was at an all-time high when we pulled up to the Children’s Museum in Indy and saw the massive dinosaur on the side of the building – it was the cutest thing ever! Considering their newfound love for dinosaurs, I’ve decided to make a list of all the places in town where we can find dinosaur-themed attractions.
We have playgrounds with dinosaur slides and small dinosaurs to climb on, a science center with an entire exhibit dedicated to dinosaurs, The Largest Exhibition of Lifesize, Moving, Museum-Quality Dinosaurs in North America coming to town, and more!
Playgrounds with Dinosaurs
Academy Park in Gahanna
Address: 1201 Cherry Bottom Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230
Veterans Park in Delaware
Address: 1121 S. Houk Road., Delaware, OH
Check out my blog post about this park from way back in 2016!! I am sure a few things have changed, so I will update it soon.
Indianola Park in Worthington
Address: 5500 Indianola Ave., Worthington, OH 43085
Arbor Ridge Park in Powell
Address: 500 Bennett Pkwy, Powell, OH 43065
Dinosaur Island at Columbus Zoo
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. – Columbus Zoo
Admission to Dinosaur Island is $3 for general admission, $2 for Columbus Zoo members. It is not included with your general admission. Read more about Dinosaur Island here.
Orton Geological Museum at Ohio State University
THE MUSEUM GALLERY IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. They will remain so until the state of emergency is lifted. However ,they do have virtual exhibits you can view online.
The Orton Geological Museum is located in Orton Hall on the South Oval of The Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio. Part of the School of Earth Sciences, the Museum plays a key role in research, teaching, and outreach. Gallery displays are normally open to the public 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Explore rocks, minerals, and fossils from Ohio, from around the world, and from outer space!
Address: 125 South Oval Mall Columbus, OH 43210
COSI
COSI will reopen to COSI Members and the general public on June 3, 2021.
Can you believe it? COSI is finally re-opening on June 3rd and I can’t wait. They have an AMAZING Dinosaur exhibit that is in collaboration with New York’s American Museum of Natural History. Lucky for us it is a permanent gallery. Inside, you can get up close to dinosaurs like the incredible T. rex and find out why these amazing animals never really vanished from the Earth.
You’ll also find…..
- A 6-foot-long mechanical T. rex model that walks in place, illustrating how biomechanical studies have helped paleontologists learn more about the typical speed and gait of a rampaging tyrannosaur.
- A 15-by-10-foot re-creation of the famous Davenport Ranch Trackway, displaying a collection of sauropod and theropod dinosaur prints, which was unearthed in Texas by scientists in the 1930s and 1940s.
- The cast of a T. rex furcula, or wishbone, once thought to be unique to birds but now known to be present in some bipedal, meat-eating dinosaurs. The wishbone was once thought to strengthen the body for the demands of flight, but scientists today know itโs unconnected to flightโs origins.
- Spectacular displays of dinosaur casts, from the three-horned Triceratops to the dome-headed Pachycelphalosaurus, accompanied by details from the latest theories about how peculiar features including horns, frills, crests, and domes were used in life.
Explore American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery at COSI Virtually in 3D.
Address: 333 West Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215
Cost: The exhibit is included with admission. Find out ticket prices/memberships here.
COSI will be open four days a week, Thursday through Sunday, 10am โ 5pm. Reservations will be required for all guests and face coverings required for guests 6 years of age and older.
Jurassic Quest
The Largest Exhibition of Lifesize, Moving, Museum-Quality Dinosaurs in North America!
The new Jurassic Quest Drive Thru version of the show features over 70 life-like dinosaurs including the very popular T. Rex, Spinosaurus and Triceratops. Jurassic Quest’s herd of animatronic dinos are displayed in realistic scenes that allow guests to experience them roaring and moving from their own vehicles as they drive their way through the tour. Baby dinosaurs greet guests and bring big smiles to explorers of all ages. During the drive-thru experience, guests are guided by an engaging and informative digital audio tour featuring show entertainers and dino wranglers that lasts about an hour. Guests stay in their cars throughout the tour with limited contact, if any, with staff who wear masks, social distance, and follow all state and local guidelines regarding health and safety. To further ensure the safety of patrons and staff, all equipment and workstations undergo regular sanitization throughout the show. All attendees receive a free, safari-style family photo in their vehicles set against a dinosaur backdrop as a memento of their experience.
Location: Ohio Expo Center & Fair, 17 E 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43211
When: June 4-13, 2021
Get Tickets Here
Police, Military, Medical Personnel and First Responders save 10% off (Must Show Valid ID)
Roadtrip Idea
Just in case you’re looking for a road trip, I suggest heading down to Kentucky to Dinosaur World. While I haven’t ever been, it looks awesome and if you love dinosaurs – this is PERFECT! Dinosaur World Kentucky is just a short drive from Mammoth Cave National Park off Interstate 65, which is about 4.5 hours from Columbus. You can dig for fossils, pan for minerals, play at their dinosaur themed playgrounds, see artifacts in their indoor museumโฆ and so much more!
Check out this blog post from Brownie Bites visit in 2018.
Address: 711 Mammoth Cave Rd., Cave City, KY 42127
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