UK’s Largest Animatronic Dinosaur Attraction Opens At West Midland Safari Park
The UK’s largest animatronic Dinosaur attraction opens at West Midland Safari Park on Saturday, 21st March 2015.
“Land of the Living Dinosaurs” is an immersive walking trail featuring 38 life size dinosaurs, each with moving eyes, mouth and neck. The exhibit is heavily themed, landscaped and planted with copious amounts of flora, including tree ferns, gunnera, reeds and monkey-puzzle trees. Sound effects indicative of the lost world add atmosphere, whilst static fossil displays, a volcanic vent, three pools and a geyser intensifies the whole experience. It is a journey that spans four ages of dinosaur reign – Permian, Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous.
The entrance to the Jurassic safari is flanked by the skeletal form of the mighty T-Rex and is located in the Park’s Discovery Trail. Examples of some of the most formidable creatures to have roamed the planet include the curiously named Dilophosaurus, fearsome Gorgonops and two of the largest at 8 metres tall, the Apatosaurus measuring 25 metres long and Argentinosaurus at 30 metres. A life size adult Tyrannosaurus Rex elevated on 4m rockwork casts a dramatic shadow, whilst the impressive Sarcosuchus, meaning ‘flesh crocodile’ represents one of the largest crocodile-like creatures that is thought to have ever lived. All the dinosaurs in the exhibit are built from compound rubber and house a moving steel armature, which adds realistic movement to each display.
Daniel Griffiths, Marketing Manager, said, “Work initially started on the £2.5m project in 2012. It led the Park’s design team on trips around the world to investigate exactly how the exhibit could be achieved, before various manufacturers were engaged to develop the dinosaurs. Meanwhile, the 1000 metre square site for the new, open-air display was being created on a parcel of reconfigured land between the four-mile, drive-through safari and the existing Discovery Trail. The exhibit has been designed to transport visitors back to a forgotten era, when powerful forces and mayhem ruled the Earth, to a time when only the biggest, strongest and fiercest survived. We are all extremely pleased with the result”.
“Land of the Living Dinosaurs” is included in the standard admission charge of £19.99 for adults, £14.99 for children aged 3-15 years and £17.99 for concessions. Children under the age of 3 years are admitted free of charge. Prices also include admission to the four- mile, self-drive safari, Discovery Trail exhibits, animal encounters, African Village, live shows and a free return ticket. Theme Park rides charged extra in all cases.
West Midland Safari Park and the Adventure Theme Park are open every day until Friday, 6th November 2015.
Further information by phone 01299 402114 or website www.wmsp.co.uk
