Columbus Zoo to open Dinosaur Island on May 17

POWELL, Ohio, 2014-04-30 — /Travel PR News/ — Dinosaur Island is back from extinction and will open May 17 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Re-hatching by popular demand, Dinosaur Island will take visitors back in time, 65 million years, for an adventure of colossal proportion.

Zoo guests will embark on a quest to find and document 25 animatronic dinosaurs and one Pachyrhinosaurus photo op sculpture in the Australia and the Islands region of the Zoo. Some dinosaurs will be visible from the footpath, but to explore the entire dinosaur expedition by foot and water taxis, guests will need to purchase a special admission ticket.

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 Zoo-it-All ride wristband. The attraction will be open from 9 a.m. to close from May through September and weekends in October.

Guests can spot these ‘dino-mite’ dinosaurs and more on the island:
• Cryolophosaurus: Lived during the Jurassic period; the crest atop its head gives it the nickname “Elivisurus.”
• Deinosuchus: Lived during the late Cretaceous period; its name means “terrible crocodile.”
• Deltadromeus: Lived during the Cretaceous period; with its long, slender limbs the Deltadromeus is thought to be one of the fastest land dinosaurs.
• Megalosaurus: Lived during the Jurassic period and was the first dinosaur discovered.

Making a comeback this year is the T-Rex, but he will stand in the shadow of the larger, Giganotosaurus, which ruled the world after the Tyrannosaurus in the Cretaceous period. The Giganotosaurus weighted nearly 8 tons, 2 tons heavier than the T-Rex, and measured 44 feet long and 12 feet tall, with serrated teeth measuring 8 inches long.

These realistic dinosaurs are equipped with electronic “brains” that bring them to life. Made of steel and a urethane waterproof skin, they have eyes that shift and blink, tails that move and a mouth that speaks with dinosaur-esque vocals.

The dinosaurs were acquired from Billings Productions located in Allen, Texas. Billings Productions is the leading provider of animatronic dinosaurs for zoos, museums and theme parks in North America. They specialize in producing large, life-size animatronic dinosaurs that can withstand outdoor weather for traveling or permanent exhibits.

Guests will embark on a quest guided by a map and identification guide to find and identify all the dinosaurs roaming the Island. Explorers of all ages will enjoy this adventure, whether they have expert knowledge or are discovering dinosaurs for the first time.

To unearth more Dinosaur Island information, explore the Dinosaur Island media kit online.

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The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 575 species from around the globe. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also operates the Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a regional attraction with global impact; contributing more than $1 million annually in privately raised funds to support over 70 conservation projects worldwide. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.

CONTACT:
Jennifer Wilson
Director of Communications

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