Dinosaur Park

 We have been driving the narrow road to Dinosaur Park along the skyline of Rapid City since 1982. It was and still is a free attraction and a good place for kids to expend some energy. Back in the day when the kids were young, we camped at Camp Rapid while Hubby was baking at the National Guard Camp for two weeks each summer. It was economical to find as many free activities and entertainments as possible for the (sometimes) two weeks we would hang out in Rapid City and the Black Hills. One of our favorites was Dinosaur Park. Because of geocaching we revisited the dinosaurs on the hill earlier this week.

We were VERY impressed with the upgrades to Dinosaur Park! The construction is not done, but what is done is a magnificent improvement.

There is now a ramp, a wide cement walk way that goes from the street to the very top of the hill. Prior to this upgrade, it was impossible for a wheel chair to visit the dinosaurs on the hill. This was a much needed upgrade.

In 1936, during the Great Depression, work began on the 80-foot-long brontosaurus and four of its neighboring friends. Emmett Sullivan, among many that worked on the carving of Mount Rushmore, were hired to construct the massive beasts after dinosaur bones and footprints were found in the area. It was an idea that served as a way to capture traffic drawn to Mount Rushmore and marked the beginning of Rapid City’s transformation from pass-through town to must-stop destination. ~ Rapid City SD Things - To Do/Historic Sites/Dinosaur Park

Originally, five dinosaur species were selected to represent the giants that roamed the Western United States. Later, the group became seven when two additional, smaller dinosaurs were added near the park’s gift shop. Sullivan constructed the dinosaurs out of metal pipe frame, wire and concrete and chose to paint them gray. It wasn’t until the 1950s, after the sites dedication that they were given the cartoon-ish color scheme you see today – green and white. ~ Rapid City SD Things - To Do/Historic Sites/Dinosaur Park

The steps are still there for those who want the climb and cardio work out, but they too have been replaced and vastly improved with sturdy hand rails and wide/deep stone steps.

The Grandkids Visit in August 2017

Adventure Lab completed! 5 more geocaches to the count.