Drumheller 'World's Largest Dinosaur' Structure Marks Two Million Visitors

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

The "World's Largest Dinosaur" structure in Drumheller. PHOTO COURTESY THE DRUMHELLER & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A Drumheller structure billed as the World’s Largest Dinosaur is celebrating a milestone after reaching two million visitors this week.

Heather Bitz, executive director of the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce, said a visitor from Israel was the two millionth person to climb the 106 stairs to the mouth of the dinosaur and take in the view of the surrounding landscape.

The attraction, which is owned and operated by the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce, was built almost 18 years ago, in October 2000. It is more than 26 metres tall, or four times as large as an actual Tyrannosaurus rex would have been.

“Our attraction was a big undertaking for our organization,” Bitz said.

“It was a brain child of a group of Drumheller business owners and took many volunteer hours and funding from a variety of sources to get the project complete. Back in the day, it cost just over $1 million to build, and we’ve been operating it since.”

The “World’s Largest Dinosaur” structure in Drumheller. Photo courtesy the Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce.

Fifteen per cent of the proceeds from admission fees and sales in the gift shop are returned into the community through the chamber’s legacy fund, Bitz said.

“To date … we’ve reinvested over $600,000 back into the community,” she said.

The two-millionth visitor, who climbed the stairs of the dinosaur on Monday afternoon, was rewarded with a package that included family passes to the Royal Tyrrell Museum and other local attractions, two nights of accommodation at a Drumheller hotel, and World’s Largest Dinosaur merchandise.

Source: https://calgaryherald.com