Zoorassic Park, a collection of lifelike dinosaurs, is at the San Antonio Zoo through August 26, 2018. I visited Zoorassic Park on opening weekend with my kids, F.T. (age 10) and G.N. (age 8). It’s a great way to get your family moving and learning about dinosaurs this summer.
We grabbed a map at the entrance and found all 18 points of interest in the exhibit. F.T. enjoyed the “dinosaur hunt” aspect of the exhibit: they are spread out throughout the zoo, and visitors get to search for and discover each one. The must-see dinosaurs—Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex—are in the Kronkosky’s Tiny Tot Nature Spot, so be sure that area is on your itinerary.
Most of the displays are large animatronic dinosaur figures. They move and make sounds intermittently; if you walk up to a dinosaur and it’s quiet and still, just wait a moment, it may start moving.
Each tableau includes details like crates, cots, netting, tents, etc. to give the illusion that humans are interacting with the dinosaurs. Movies like Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, inspired by the works of author Michael Crichton, have fired the imaginations of children (and adults) who wonder what it would be like if dinosaurs were brought back to life through genetic science.
The dinosaurs are all labeled with enough details about each species to satisfy just about any demanding young paleontologist. F.T. read the descriptions aloud to us, emphasizing which dinosaurs were herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.
G.N. liked that some of the dinosaurs could be controlled interactively: by pressing a button, you could move the dinosaur’s neck, tail, etc., or make it roar.
Two of the stops are about fossils. One is a replica of a dig site. The other is a cluster of sandboxes with embedded fossils so young explorers can make their own discoveries.
The San Antonio Zoo is doing a good job of making improvements to the visitor experience; for example, the entrance process has gotten smoother, especially for zoo members. F.T. praised the new signage and paint colors, especially in the areas closest to the entrance. Fresh landscaping, from tropical foliage to colorful flowers, makes the zoo one of the prettiest parks in town. We are thankful for the San Antonio Zoo as a fun place to play outside and to learn about science.
Read more:
- “Zoorassic Park brings dinosaurs to life at SA Zoo,” Stacey Welsh & Audrey Castoreno, KENS 5, May 25, 2018
- “‘Dinosaurs everywhere’ in San Antonio this summer,” Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, May 22, 2018
- “San Antonio Zoo to transform into Zoorassic Park this summer,” Erica Hernandez, KSAT 12, May 2, 2018
- “San Antonio Zoo Gearing Up for Dino-Sized Summer,” Jennifer Pue, Visit San Antonio, May 2, 2018
- “Charter Schools and Education Nonprofits Participating in the Big Give 2018,” Inga Cotton, San Antonio Charter Moms, March 22, 2018
- “Halloween at the San Antonio Zoo: Pumpkin Bash and Zoo Boo,” Inga Cotton, San Antonio Charter Moms, October 25, 2013
