Parts of Botanica to be transformed into prehistoric jungle for animatronic dinos
A group of dinosaurs — some more than 27 feet long that have been making their way across Europe and the U.S. for the past few years — is coming to Wichita’s Botanica attraction for the summer.
Starting May 20, when the “Dinosaurs Around the World: The Great Outdoors” exhibition opens, several areas of Botanica will be transformed into a prehistoric jungle to display the 10 animatronic dinosaurs. The exhibition runs through Sept. 17.
One of the distinguishing features of the exhibition, which was put together by Imagine Exhibitions with the help of world-renowned paleontologist Gregory M. Erickson, is that it’s also an exploration of the prehistoric Pangea subcontinent when the North American continent was connected with Africa, South America and Europe, said Nikki Smith, Botanica’s community engagement coordinator.
“All of the dinosaurs are placed based on the geographic region of where they would have lived. And then throughout the garden in the (display) areas, there will be information for families and children to learn about how the continents shifted and divided to create our current continents,” Smith said.
For example, the fish-hunting, bony-crested Ollie the Oviraptor will be placed near the gardens’ woodland stream. At Botanica, each of the 10 dinosaurs was given a name by financial sponsors.
Visitors will also find dinosaurs outside the butterfly garden, and several of the larger ones will be displayed on the Grand Lawn. Petals the Protoceratops will be near the wildflower garden’s gazebo. Along with the ubiquitous T-Rex, the exhibition is also showcasing some dinosaurs that don’t always get a lot of attention like the armored minmi and the bi-pedal predatory herrarasaurus, one of the earliest dinosaurs on Earth.
Botanica is displaying just 10 of the 35 dinosaurs that are available through the traveling exhibition, a decision made in part because the attraction is also a popular venue for special events. Not everyone wants a dinosaur that moves and makes noise for a backdrop.
“People come here to get married or have other events in our gardens where our gardeners have worked very hard on flower beds, so having a 27-foot-long dinosaur is a significant statement. We wanted to be mindful of all the different ways the gardens are used,” Smith said.
Popular event spaces like the main meadow, the Beverly Blue Gardens and the Chinese Garden of Friendship will be among the dino-free zones.
As part of the educational aspect of the exhibition, there will be several related activities throughout the gardens. The barn in the Downing Children’s Garden will become a prehistoric lab, while elsewhere there will be nests with faux dinosaur eggs, fossilized footprints and information on prehistoric insects. The prehistoric lab and bug bungalow activities will be available Mondays through Saturdays.
Families can check out explorer backpacks, which contain dinosaur-related activities that can be done during a visit.
Visitors can also assemble large, sculptural-like 3D puzzles of dinosaurs, ranging from 3 feet long to 7 feet tall, on the Grand Lawn, and view a collection of fossils, loaned by Kansas paleontologist Mike Everhart, in the main building’s lobby.
The dinosaur exhibition allows Botanica the perfect opportunity to celebrate National Dinosaur Day on June 1, Smith said.
Everhart, an expert on late Cretaceous marine fossils found in Kansas, will give a special presentation at 10:30 a.m. followed by a small brunch, which will be included in the day’s admission.
In the evening, Botanica will host Dinos at Dusk, a double feature showing of “The Land Before Time” and “Jurassic Park” movies. Tickets for the movie event are $15 for nonmembers and $12 for members ages 13 and older, $10 for ages 3-12, and free for children 2 and younger.
‘Dinosaurs Around the World: The Great Outdoors’ exhibition
Where: Botanica, 701 Amidon
When: Saturday, May 20-Sunday, Sept. 17; hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with extended hours until 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 1-5 p.m. Sundays. The gardens will be open Memorial Day and Labor Day; closed July 4.
Admission: $10 for ages 13 and older; $8 for ages 3-12, 65 and older and military; free for children 2 and younger and Botanica members
More info: 316-264-0448 or botanica.org
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