Once I met this U.S. customs official who insisted that in the country where he grew up they had Stegosaurus roaming around. What happened was that he took a look at my 5-year olds Stegosaurus model and then he proceeded to insist that, indeed, that's the animal that lived in his country. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask what country he came from. Well I guess that if customs officials believe me when I say that I am bringing only one or two liters of Swedish liquor into the U.S. then I should return the favor by believing their stories about Dinosaurs roaming the plains of their home countries, it is only fair.

Next best to the country where Stegosaurus freely roams the plains is Dinosaur World in Glen Rose, Texas. In the spring of this year (a few months ago) I took my then 9-year old daughter (now ten) to Dinosaur World in Glen Rose.


About Dinosaur World, Glen Rose

Dinosaur World in Glen Rose Texas is located right next to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose. Dinosaur Valley State Park is well known for its many 113 million years old Dinosaur foot prints in and around the Paluxy River. The footprints were formed by a large carnivorous dinosaur chasing a large herbivorous Dinosaur. The footprints are very visible and there are many of them in various places. Dinosaur Valley State Park is also known for the creationist museum nearby which features human foot prints right next to dinosaur footprints. I should say that those have been found to be a fake. I should also mention that Dinosaur Valley State Park offers good hiking paths, biking paths, wild life observation and several camping sites.

Located nearby Dinosaur Valley State Park is Dinosaur World, which is a fairly new attraction. Dinosaur World is a park which features a Natural History museum, fossil dig, a gift shop, and a hiking path along which there are more than 150 life-size Dinosaur models of various kinds. They have Stegosaurus, Stegoceras, Velociraptor, Dilosophorus, Brachiosaurus, Apatosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Allosaurus, Carnotaurus, DryptoSaurus, Ultrasaurus, Triceratops, Chasmosaurus, Spinosaurus, and many more. I should say that there is also a Dinosaur World park in Florida and another in Kentucky.


The Dinosaur Hike

The main attraction at Dinosaur World, Glen Rose, is the Dinosaur hike. It is about one mile long and features more than 150 life-size Dinosaur models. It is a fun walk for children; however, I personally found the walk somewhat disappointing. The dinosaur models are not well made enough to be realistic and they have no animatronics. I don't think all 150 models should be animatronics models, however, if they have had a few models that were really realistic looking and which could move it would have enhanced the experience significantly. If you would add more static Dinosaur models that don't look realistic then you would only make the hike more boring. I say enough of the static models, make it cool instead. Sure that would make it a little bit scary for younger kids but there are ways to circumvent that with alternative hikes.

In my opinion the Dinosaur Hike is a great idea with an enormous potential which fell short due to the total lack of animatronics and realistic models. My daughter and I had a good time, and my daughter did not mind it not being any animatronics. However, I would not drive to Glen Rose (from Dallas) just to do the Dinosaur World walk the way it is now. Luckily there are a lot to do and see in and around Glen Rose, including Dinosaur Valley State Park, and the Fossil Rim Nature preserve.


The Natural History Museum

The Natural History museum at Dinosaur World had a number of Dinosaur related fossils including one Dinosaur skeleton. However, it was even smaller than the Natural History museum in Dallas, Texas, so I would not drive here just to see the Natural History museum. However, they had done a good job in making it kids oriented and there were a lot of signs with interesting information.


Other attractions at Dinosaur World

At the Dinosaur World they have a fossil dig where kids dig for authentic fossils, for example, sea shells, shark teeth, sea urchins, dinosaur bone fragments, coral, and amber. The area around Dinosaur Valley State Park has a lot of fossils including a lot of small fossils. At Dinosaur World they prepared a large sand box in which they hid authentic but inexpensive fossils.

There is also a play ground and they show movies inside the main building. They also have a fairly large and well stacked gift shop as well as a picnic area.


Practical matters

Dinosaur World is open 9.00AM to 6.00PM every day except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. An adult pass is $25.00 and kids go in for $19.50, and seniors are $21.00. The fossil dig tickets are separate. The parking is free (it is a large parking lot), pets are allowed (if on a leash), and they have group rates and educational packets.

They do not have a restaurant; however, you can order pizza or eat at the restaurants in nearby Glen Rose. I should say that there are not many nice restaurants in Glen Rose. If you want to eat a really great meal, for example, French or exquisite South Western cooking with fine wine then you can drive 10 miles south of Glen Rose (on Rt 67) and eat at Rough Creek Lodge.


Final Recommendation

The location of Dinosaur World in Glen Rose is perfect in the sense that is next doors to Dinosaur Valley State Park and the "real thing". However, it is one and a half hour away from Dallas and Fort Worth and two hours north of Austin which makes it pretty far away for most potential customers. For the price and the driving distance I think that they should have made the Dinosaur walk more interesting by adding real animatronics or at least a few realistic models. In the end my daughter was pretty happy with her visit but I am not really sure it was worth it. Therefore I feel that I can only recommend Dinosaur World reluctantly.


Finally I would like to say thank you to Di (SURGRN911) for adding this entry to the epinions data base.

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May