January 27, 2012
Best of the Worst Roadside Dinosaurs
Dinosaur, Colorado's bizarre, long-snouted Triceratops. Photo by author.
Last week I asked you submit your favorite atrocious roadside dinosaurs. While the sculptures along the main drag of Dinosaur, Colorado come close to the top of the list, my vote last week went to the ugly, ugly dinosaurs outside Stewart’s Petrified Wood near Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park. Readers sent in a few additional contenders for the title.
Photo by Mark Ryan.
Reader Mark Ryan sent in this sad, decaying dinosaur that stands near Interstate 15 in the vicinity of Victorville, California. No wonder the dinosaur needs those metal rods to support itself—its legs look like they’re made of cooked noodles.
Cowboys and dinosaurs, spotted in Natural Bridge, Virginia. Photo courtesy Kathy Krein.
A regular favorite of Dinosaur Tracking readers is the truly strange Dinosaur Kingdom in Natural Bridge, Virginia. Suggested as a top choice for weird dinosaurs by reader Laura Wilson, this tourist trap features a peculiar southern mash-up of dinosaurs and the Civil War—Union Soldiers are chomped on and terrorized by Mesozoic monstrosities. This particular shot, sent in last year by Kathy Krein, features a rather surprised looking cowboy who looks as if he’s only just begun to realize that riding a deinonychosaur was a horrible decision.
Photo by Kelly Enright.
Reader Kelly Enright sent in a set of several dinosaurian abominations from around the country. This one, complete with glowing eyes, stands guard over Goony Golf in New York.
Photo by Kelly Enright.
While not actually a dinosaur, this boxy mosasaur outside Big Mike’s Rocks & Gifts in Kentucky deserves an honorable mention, especially since the poor thing is stranded hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean.
Photo by Kelly Enright.
While not the absolute worst dinosaur I have ever seen, this Tyrannosaurus at the entrance to Kentucky’s Dinosaur World is one of the creepiest. So if the head is up there, and the legs are on either side, what part of the dinosaur am I walking into, exactly?
Photo by Kelly Enright.
We may have a new winner! While this automotive Triceratops—I think?—from Hanksville, Utah does win some bonus points for recycling, my first thought when I opened the image was “Oh geez! Kill it with fire!” This dinosaur is a junkyard nightmare, and surely a top contender for the worst roadside dinosaur ever.
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I want to use just the face on that strange Triceratops up top as the basis of the main character in a children’s book entitled, “The Dragon Who Was Grouchy – But Then Wasn’t!”
Comment by Babbletrish — January 27, 2012 @ 12:37 pm
It’s an Triceryops!
Comment by Niroot — January 27, 2012 @ 1:24 pm
Here’s a good one: http://vhist.com/explore/vermontasaurus/
Comment by wfr — January 27, 2012 @ 1:35 pm
“So if the head is up there, and the legs are on either side, what part of the dinosaur am I walking into, exactly?”
I read your question and then looked at the picture again…LOL
Comment by Kathy — January 27, 2012 @ 5:54 pm
You’re joking right?
The new winner is fantastic! It’s got heaps of character, is cute and a monument to ‘country ingenuity’!
Comment by Matt — January 27, 2012 @ 8:27 pm
I agree with Matt. That junkyard Triceratops is awesome.
Comment by Leigh — January 27, 2012 @ 8:58 pm
In Tucson we have a 2-story T-Rex guarding a local McDonalds: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/article_7af68116-8b2c-510c-8546-47df65ddaa43.html
Comment by Aaron — January 27, 2012 @ 9:04 pm
Although it is not a roadside attraction, Knoebels Amusement Resort in Pennsylvania has a ridiculous looking Tyrannosaurus in their Mining Museum.
Comment by Robert S. Robbins — January 28, 2012 @ 9:47 am
I wish I still lived in Colorado for many reasons but here are two.
In Woodland Park along 24 west, it’s past the Wendy’s, you’ll find the skeleton of a raptor or baby t-rex on your right.
If you’re feeling adventurous and head into Hartsel, there’s a plot of land with hokey dinosaurs which are very charming.
Comment by Adrian Sterling — January 28, 2012 @ 10:58 am
There are some pretty good ones (bad ones?) in Drumheller, Alberta as well.
Comment by Ljubica Todorovic — January 29, 2012 @ 11:04 pm
I love this kind of dinosaurs…
http://www.koprolitos.blogspot.com/search/label/Urbanismo
Comment by eL kOProFagO — January 31, 2012 @ 12:36 pm
The dinos at the three locations of Dinosaur World are fun, but in much better shape! We also loved posing our kids with Wally the stegosaurus, who stands in front of the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA. http://gobigorgohomeblog.com/1725
Comment by Traci — February 1, 2012 @ 11:59 am
A now defunct Prehistoric Park is puttings its various prehistoric “sculptures” up for auction. The true collector will not be able to pass these gems up. Watch the video for a better look. Check it out at http://io9.com/5877499/for-13000-you-can-buy-your-very-own-fiberglass-mastodon?tag=modernruins
Comment by Dan chure — February 5, 2012 @ 12:14 pm
Kentucky’s Dinosaur World seems to have the T-Rex’s feet backwards. The legs above the feet appear to be hind legs as the animal would appear walking away from us but the feet are coming toward us. Oh, Well. It’s a tourist attraction to entertain us and that it does.
Comment by Judy Hewitt — February 17, 2012 @ 9:05 pm