48 Years Ago
The July 1, 1977 Golden Transcript announced the imminent opening of a new dinosaur ride at Heritage Square.
Heritage Square is the exact area where dinosaurs once roamed. One hundred years ago Arthur Lakes, for whom the Colorado School of Mines library is named, found in a quarry near Heritage Square the bones of several dinosaurs. Uncovered were structures of a 70 ft. Brontosaurus, a 30 ft. Allosaurus, an 85 ft. Diplodocus, a 34 ft. Comarasaurus and a 15 ft. Stegosaurus.
Golden Transcript - July 1, 1977
The new ride promised to recreate these dinosaurs in life-sized models built of polyurethane foam over wire mesh. The sculptor creating the models had previously built similar creatures for Disney.
On approaching the ride, they were treated to a "spectacular" (Transcript - 7/29/77) flower bed, full of petunias "in all colors, blended into rainbow beds or outlining pathways." During the ride, they saw a T-Rex fighting with a Triceratops, a "Brontosaurus" (now called Apatosaurus), and an Iguanodon. They sailed through the ride on electric-powered 2-seated trolleys. Part of the ride went through a cave. There were also trees and waterfalls.
The family that owned and operated the ride also set up a museum showing their own fossil collection and a gift shop selling dinosaur-related souvenirs. They welcomed school groups and gave an opening lecture and showed a educational film.
The ride was plagued by vandalism from the start:
- three gallons of paint were thrown in the area with $125 worth of damage being done to display animals and scenery (7/11/77)
- the theft of $10 from a cash box at the Heritage Square Dinosaur Park (2/22/78)
- Two speakers worth $200 were stolen from the Dinosaur Park at Heritage Square. Footprints were found in the snow. (2/8/79)
- Several items were broken in the cave at Dinosaur Park at Heritage Square Monday night causing $1,000 worth of damage. (8/20/81)
- Often the victim of vandals, the Heritage Square Dinosaur Park was struck by a thief on the evening of July 9. Someone stole a $4,000 styrofoam Dimetrodon replica, weighing 50 to 1000 pounds. (7/15/82)
- The Dimetrodon reappeared several days later on Highway 72 in Coal Creek Canyon. "The threatening reptile created a large traffic jam before being removed about 8 AM." (7/20/82)
- Heritage Square reports that four juveniles damaged displays at Dinosaur Park. (2/3/83)
The Transcript never announced the closure of the attraction, but the damaged displays may have been the last straw. A 1984 article referred to the owner as having "recently retired."
Who could blame him?
