Jurassic Quest brings dinosaurs to SW FL: What to know about exhibit coming to Lee County
Everyone loves dinosaurs. That’s why dino show Jurassic Quest is back this weekend for yet another visit to Lee Civic Center.
“Dinosaurs are sort of universal to all people,” says Jurassic Quest dinosaur expert Nick Schaefer (aka “Prehistoric Nick”). “We have over 165 million years’ worth of dinosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the touring show.
Lots and lots of dinosaurs
Jurassic Quest features about 80 life-sized dinosaurs ― from a baby dino "petting zoo" to the 80-foot-long Anklyosaurus and the sprawling, two-story Spinosaurus. Many of them are giant, animatronic beasts that move, roar and glare at passers-by.
The dinos were created by Texas company Jurassic Quest, which consults with paleontologists to make the creatures as realistic as possible and reflect current thinking about how the giant lizards looked and acted. Some — such as T-Rex relative Yutyrannus — even have feathers.
When will Jurassic Quest come to Fort Myers?
The show arrives Friday, June 16, at Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers.
Show hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, June 16-18.
Tickets for Jurassic Quest (and how to get a discount)
Admission is $22 for ages 2-64. Senior tickets (age 65 and older) are $19. Free for ages 1 and younger.
Parking at Lee Civic Center is $6.
Rides and activities cost extra (prices vary). But a $36 Kids Unlimited Admission ticket includes admission and all rides, activities and most inflatables, plus one visit to the Excavation Station fossil dig. It’s limited to ages 2-10 only.
Want to save a little more money on tickets? Schaefer has a tip: Use the promo code “raptor” to get 10 percent off online ticket purchases.
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Why do people love dinosaurs?
Schaefer says he’s thought about that a lot.
Dinosaurs are similar to 21st century creatures in some ways, but they're also “radically different from any animal we have alive today,” he says.
“They lived on this very planet,” he adds. “But at the same time, the planet was so different that it’s completely alien to us.”
Dinosaurs: A gateway to learning for kids
Dinosaurs are often kids’ first experience with science, Schaefer says. That’s why Jurassic Quest encourages children to come to its shows and learn more about the prehistoric beasts.
“I say it a lot: Dinosaurs are a gateway science,” Schaefer says. “Kids who have an interest in things like dinosaurs often even do better in STEM fields and other scientific endeavors. So fostering a love of dinosaurs at an early age is really important.”
But if you can’t attend the show, that’s OK. Jurassic Quest offers a dinosaur text line where people can ask questions and get answers from a “park ranger.” Just text 844-DINO-411 or 844-346-6411.
Realistic dinosaurs are Jurassic Quest’s goal
Jurassic Quest takes great pride in having the most accurate representations of dinosaurs possible and keeping up with the current science, Schaefer says. The company works with leading paleontologists to make sure each dinosaur is replicated in every detail, from color to teeth size to textures skin, fur and feathers.
The Spinosaurus, for example, has changed a lot over the years.
“It’s fossils were lost during World War II, and it’s only been in the last couple of decades that we’ve started to get better and better models,” Schaefer says. “Because we’ve been finding more fossils.
“But it’s also sort of incomplete, so every couple of years a new paper comes out and says, ‘OK, we’re going to change everything that we knew about Spinosaurus.’”
Schaefer admits they’re still catching up with the science, but they frequently modify their dinosaurs to keep up-to-date.
The newest version of the Spinosaurus, for example, boasts a flatter tail similar to a crocodile’s tail. Scientists think it might have helped them swim, although there’s some contention over how much time they actually spent in the water, Schaefer says.
What else can you do at Jurassic Quest?
In addition to the animatronic dinosaurs, the touring show includes:
Dinosaur rides where you can climb on top of a moving, walking dinosaur (as long as you weigh 150 pounds or less);
Dino-shaped inflatables;
A baby dinosaur petting zoo;
A “Triceratots” soft play area for small children;
An expanded Excavation Station fossil dig;
Real fossils such as full-sized T-Rex skull and a Triceratops horn;
And science stations where you can test your dino knowledge.
Learn more about Jurassic Quest
For tickets and more information about Jurassic Quest, visit jurassicquest.com.
— Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. For news tips or other entertainment-related matters, call him at 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Dinosaurs roar for Jurassic Quest at Lee Civic Center in N. Fort Myers
