Dinosaurs once roamed the Strip. We are not referring to Piff the magical dragon or the once abundant lizardus loungeus. It's not possible to determine with certainty which species were native to Nevada, but paleontologists believe Tyrannosaurus rex may have trampled the area where Las Vegas Boulevard South now intersects Flamingo Road.
Of course, this was hundreds of millions of years ago, long before construction of the first casino on the Strip began. It is only when Dino Safari: a walking adventure opened inside the Horseshoe Las Vegas and that T. rex and company would once again be seen on the Strip, albeit in an animatronic fashion.
Located next to the Cabinet of Curiosities and presented by Imagine Exhibitions, Dinosaur safari is a multi-room educational adventure hosted by Senior Science Advisor, Dr. Gregory Erickson. The Florida State University faculty paleobiologist is an expert on T. rex and has co-named a handful of dinosaurs, including the fully feathered Guanlong, the miniature four-winged gliding raptor Anchiornis and the Ugrunaaluk at duckbill inhabiting the polar regions.
Dinosaur safari takes visitors back in time to when the Earth was one large land mass. The supercontinent Pangea would break up and evolve into the continents we recognize today, but dinosaurs would be the first inhabitants atop Antarctica. It was warmer then, with lush vegetation into which the hadrosaur could sink its 1,400 teeth. Growing up to 35 feet long, it is the first large lizard encountered on the journey.
NOW, Dinosaur safariThe exhibits are not real dinosaurs and they cannot move away from their stations. Sometimes they can get a little close, though, and if one becomes too concerned with capturing the bipedal Herrerasaurus or Leaellynasaura in their natural habitat simulated with cell phone cameras for posterity on social media, they might just make you take a step back when they move.
Larger specimens are more impressive when they wiggle and turn their heads, with a roar that is not too loud to terrify toddlers. Their older siblings can put their hands in boxes to guess what type of fossil is inside before opening the lid to see if they guessed correctly. A nearby dinosaur serves as a slide – adults are not allowed.
Adults who want to learn about large reptiles will not be disappointed. Dinosaur safari is that rare attraction that legitimately informs and entertains. Who can forget an encounter with the enormous carnivorous Spinosaurus, the armored Kentrosaurus or the Camarasaurus supremus?
The exhibit also identifies connections to Nevada, such as when Dr. Erickson's students came across a dinosaur skeleton while visiting Valley of Fire National Park, northeast of Las Vegas. Don't miss the exhibit that showcases the sharp-thumbed herbivore who left bones and teeth behind.
Dinosaur safari will make lasting impressions with its exhibitions dedicated to species that have left traces in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas. T. rex appears again in the climax, so save phone space for the toothiest creatures to stay in Vegas.
Horseshoe Las Vegas. dinosaursafari.com
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