Dinosaurs are Back from Extinction at Roger Williams Park Zoo

Photo courtesy of Roger Williams Park Zoo

Dinosaurs will roam the earth once again at Roger Williams Park Zoo this spring with the Return of the Dinosaurs exhibit.

Open Sunday, April 6, through Sunday, August 10, the family-favorite exhibit allows visitors to travel back 65 million years to the Jurassic era with an immersive walk-through experience featuring nearly sixty life-size animatronic dinosaurs — twenty-five of which have only recently been “excavated”. One of the largest outdoor exhibits of its kind, the giant ancient creatures, as well as some of their babies, are stationed along the Zoo’s wetlands trail.

Photo courtesy of Roger Williams Park Zoo

This is your chance to walk up and say hi to colossal brachiosaurs, sneaky velociraptors and a fearsome T. Rex, along with other well-known species like triceratops, stegosaurus and many more. They’ll even greet you right back: the tech-ran dinosaurs are capable of life-like movements and impressive roars. The Zoo team researched and provided specifications for the dinosaurs to look as “real” as possible. With moving heads, eyes, arms and mouths, this interactive experience will make guests feel like these extinct animals were brought back to life. Along the way you can further discover how scientific understanding of dinosaurs has evolved over time—from groundbreaking research in paleontology to their enduring legacy in popular culture.

But that’s not all: dino-loving families and children will also have the opportunity to enjoy walking dinosaur rides, dinosaur-themed selfie stations, meet and greets with baby dinosaurs and hands-on fossil dig stations. Plus, the Zoo has a few special events in store, including:

Sensory Mornings – April 27 and July 6

Experience special sensory-friendly mornings an hour before the trail opens to the public. This is designed for those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and sensory processing differences and their families from 8-9 a.m. (The Zoo will open to the public at 9 a.m.)

Dinos at Dusk – June 14 and August 9

Families can journey back in time and enjoy an evening at the Zoo from 5-9 p.m.

Though located on the Zoo grounds, the Return of the Dinosaurs exhibit is not included in the price of Zoo admission. A separate ticket is required and can be purchased either online or on-site. Some of the events mentioned above, however, will also require additional tickets and must be purchased online. All tickets and additional information can be found at rwpzoo.org.