It’s like the dinosaurs never left. The popular Jurassic Quest Drive Thru is making a limited encore appearance at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena beginning this weekend through Aug. 1. They’re there right at this moment.
The one-week event features more than 70 realistic-looking dinosaurs, and has been seen by more than 2.5 million visitors nationwide.
The Jurassic Quest Drive Thru features two new character-led audio tours to choose from (along with the original in English and Spanish).
And while it’s only been six months or so since the dinos visited the Rose Bowl parking lot, there is more to see this time, according to dino trainer “Safari Sarah.”
“We have 70 life-size dinosaurs,” she said, “but we also have aquatic reptiles and a 50-foot megalodon. So there is a little more to see this time.”
And the fun extends into the evening, she noted.
“Even if you’ve come to see the show during the daytime,’ said Sarah, “come back at nighttime because we’ve extended our hours when the sun goes down, and everything is just a lot more atmospheric, like you’re literally in prehistoric times.”
Guests embark on about an hour-long adventure to view 70 photorealistic dinosaurs recreated with the help of leading paleontologists. The dinosaurs move and make sounds, and guests view the whole affair from the comfort and safety of their own vehicles, leaving with a digital souvenir photo.
As Sarah explained, “The Jurassic Quest is the largest dinosaur exhibit in all of North a.m.erica, so it’s something that you won’t be able to see anywhere else. It’s not only fun because it’s cool dinosaurs, that look awesome, and you can hear them roaring, but it’s also very educational.
Continued the dino trainer, “It’s the side that you wouldn’t get at a museum where you’re learning stuff and the side that you wouldn’t get if you’re just going to a fun event. You’re getting both education and entertainment, hand in hand, and you’re seeing these dinosaurs replicated in a way that is actually according to leading paleontologists. So you rest assured you’re actually getting accurate information.”
And since its the second time around, we asked Sarah what is the most popular reaction from guests on the tour?
“Probably the biggest reaction,” she said, “is people talking about how they didn’t realize how big the dinos were. People didn’t realize that [some] had feathers.”
Her favorite reaction, she said, is when parents hear their kids say the name of dinosaurs, and not even realizing how much the kids know about them.
As Sarah explained, “Kids really pick up on dinosaurs. And not only is it a good thing for them to learn because dinosaurs are cool and because they really lived, but it’s also what we like to call ‘Gateway science.’ Because in learning about dinosaurs, not only are you learning about the dinosaurs that used to live, but you’re also learning about where they came from. You’re learning about fossils, you’re learning about geology, you’re learning about all kinds of different sciences in that.”
Sarah also noted there is now a Spanish version of the audio tour, along with two new additional audio tours.
“Even if you have seen it before, you can hear it in a whole new way with new perspectives and different storylines whenever you come back,” she said.
Finally, she added, “If while you’re on the tour, you have questions about any of our dinosaurs, we actually have a texting service called “dino 4 1 1.”
Guests can text two of the characters who are dinosaur experts and get real life answers from them about the things that you’re seeing, she said.
But don’t expect the dinosaurs to pick up the phone. Their arms are way too short.
Jurassic Quest Drive Through is at the Rose Bowl Stadium through Sunday, August 1. Hours: Saturday, July 24: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sunday, July 25: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday, July 28: 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Thursday, July 29: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Friday, July 30: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, July 31: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday, August 1: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
