This small WA city is home to several dozen dinosaurs. Have you gone on the dino drive?

Karlee Van De Venter
·3 min read

There aren’t many reasons a young parent might decide to pack up the car and drive the kids down to Granger. But Hisey Park, affectionately referred to as “the Dinosaur Park” is at the triceratop of the list.

The city isn’t huge, only recently earning the upgrade from a town. It takes about 40 minutes to get there from Yakima and from Tri-Cities, making it a bit of an outing for parents of young children in either area. It’s worth it to spend the day at the park, at at 505 Main St., among giant dinosaurs, though.

But be warned — once you take your kids to this park, they’ll ask if you’re going to the Dino Park every time you get in the car for the foreseeable future.

Stegosaurus is located at Granger Hisey Park where many other dinosaurs reside as well. This was a 1994 Dino-N-A-Day addition.
Stegosaurus is located at Granger Hisey Park where many other dinosaurs reside as well. This was a 1994 Dino-N-A-Day addition.

A Prehistoric park

The large Hisey Park has over two dozen huge, made-for-play dinosaur sculptures. Kids can find entertainment for eras (prehistoric eras, that is) in the variety of dino displays.

The park has plenty of picnic tables and barbecues and a grand amphitheater used for big events. There’s also an artificial pond that gets stocked every year for public fishing. Summer movie nights are held here as well.

With around 30 dinosaurs thus far, the creatures have begun migrating from the park to downtown Granger. The majority are in the park, but you can go on the ‘Dino Drive’ to see every dinosaur in Granger.

Hisey Park’s recent history

The first dinosaur was made in 1994 by the Granger Public Works Department as part of a town rebranding and revitalization effort. Several themes were discussed, according to the Granger Chamber of Commerce, but dinosaurs were eventually chosen. Now, the city’s slogan is “Granger, where dinosaurs roam.”

Tyrannosaurus Rex is located at the Granger Public Works shop. This was the 1995 Dino-N-A-Day addition.
Tyrannosaurus Rex is located at the Granger Public Works shop. This was the 1995 Dino-N-A-Day addition.

Public Works continued to make the giant statues, improving as time went on. Now, most dinosaurs are made of a pipe skeleton, mesh lining and cement. The park is also home to an annual Dino-in-a-Day event, when community members congregate to help create another addition to the dinosaur family.

This year, Dino-in-a-Day is scheduled for June 3, at Hisey Park, of course. Community members will get a chance to help paint the dinosaur from 9 a.m. to noon, then a vendor market and games until 3 p.m.

Styrocosaurus can be found outside of Granger City Hall. This was a 2004 Dino-N-A-Day addition.
Styrocosaurus can be found outside of Granger City Hall. This was a 2004 Dino-N-A-Day addition.

What else is in Granger?

While the dinosaurs may be an obvious fan favorite, there are other things to do in Granger, including some large events.

Cherry Festival

An annual Cherry Festival is held in Granger every April, with vendors, live music and a carnival.

Splash Park

Around mid-June, the Splash Park opens to the public from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cool off in the Main City Park by finding the Splash area around Main and E. 3rd St.

Menudo festival

Each year, the Dino Park hosts the Menudo Festival, usually in early September. The family-friendly event awards money to the winners of its Menudo Contest.

Family fun center

No matter the season, you can close out a day in Granger with a stop at Cherry Hill Family Fun Center, a staple for quality time in the city. The family-owned business is constantly adding new attractions. Over the year’s, its added a dinosaur-themed putt putt golf course, a pizza joint, a go kart track and more. In 2022, Cherry Hill opened the first Ball Park Batting system in the country.