PRESS ROOM

 

Forty life-like animatronic dinosaurs that snarl and move – and some that spit – will take up residence at the Detroit Zoo next month to provide a mega-dose of Vitamin Z for visitors of all ages. Dinosauria, presented by Kroger and Michigan Education Savings Plan, opens May 22, 2015, and runs through Labor Day. The blockbuster summer attraction – the largest dinosaur exhibit of its kind in the country – was last featured at the Zoo in 2011.

Visitors will enter a veritable “Zoorassic Park” as they travel back in time along a lush, winding, 4-acre DinoTrail recreating prehistoric life. Enormous primeval creatures will lurk at every turn, including adult dinosaurs, youngsters and even a nest with eggs and hatchlings. The robotic dinosaurs are built on steel frames by Billings Productions of Allen, Texas, and covered with intricately painted foam rubber skin. High-tech electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs’ menacing claws and gnashing teeth while a sound system gives them their “voices”.

Dinosauria will be open daily May 22 through Sept. 7, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August). Tickets are $5 with Zoo admission for visitors ages 2 and older and will be available at main admissions, the Dinosauria ticket booth or online at www.detroitzoo.org.

The prehistoric adventure continues with two new experiences at the Wild Adventure Zone. Recently making its debut at the 4-D Theater is “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure 4-D”. The 15-minute movie takes audiences back 82 million years for a look at the sea’s most dangerous predators. The film explores a breathtaking underwater world as ferocious creatures swim and slink their way through life while trying to win the epic fight for survival.

“Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs – The Ride” at the Simulator Ride finds the sub-zero heroes from the worldwide blockbuster venturing into a mysterious underground world after Sid the sloth stumbles across three abandoned eggs and decides to raise them as his own. Once the eggs hatch, chaos ensues in the lost world of the dinosaurs. The 15-minute film is voiced by an all-star cast, including Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary and Queen Latifah.

Tickets for both experiences are $5 with Detroit Zoo admission and are available at main admissions, the Wild Adventure Zone ticket booth or online.