Photo:
Wow the kids with a Tyrannosaurus rex sighting. Photo: Meredith Charaba
“I hear them, Mom! I hear the dinosaurs!” my daughter exclaimed as we walked down the path toward Woodland Park Zoo’s Habitat Discovery Loop. We expected to see the dinosaurs as we approached the exhibit, but no one had warned us we would hear their roars first.
My 3-year-old was thrilled by the sound, picking up her pace to reach the entrance of the “Dinosaur Discovery” exhibit. Grandma and I followed closely behind, delighting in her enthusiasm.
What to expect at ‘Dinosaur Discovery’
The “Dinosaur Discovery” exhibit opened at Woodland Park Zoo on May 1 and runs through Sept. 1, 2025. Taking over the Woodland Park Zoo’s Habitat Discovery Loop, this temporary exhibit includes 26 life-size animatronic dinosaurs and carefully chosen foliage. We felt as if we had stepped right into Jurassic Park — thankfully without the fear of being eaten.
Two dinosaurs greeted us as we entered: a juvenile Triceratops and a Rugops. My daughter stopped short, staring up in awe at the Rugops as it roared.
Signs in front of each dinosaur include the dinosaur’s name and pronunciation, its size, what time period and region it lived in, and at least one fun fact. Did you know, for example, that the Troodon was named for its razor-sharp teeth? Or that the Citipati had a tall crest on its head made of keratin?
We followed the path, stopping at each dinosaur to read more about it and delight in the incredible detail. They are truly brought to life here — from sharp teeth and long talons to realistic movements. Watch for blinking eyes and turning heads!
Our favorite dinosaurs
My daughter hopped from dinosaur to dinosaur, shouting “Mom, look at that one! Look at that one! Look at these ones!” along the way.
More than once, she returned to the Quetzalcoatlus standing guard over its nest of recently hatched “flaplings.” Much to our delight, the Quetzalcoatlus lowered its head, opening and closing its mouth, as we took a closer look at its family.
My daughter, who loves rainbows, was thrilled to see “A Dinosaur for Everyone.” Designed in a coloring contest by a local 8-year-old named Mabel, this custom Baryonyx in the exhibit features all the colors of the rainbow so that everyone can see their favorite color represented. It holds a rainbow-colored fish in its mouth, water dripping as it roars.
The Utahraptor — named for the state where its fossils were found — was one of my favorites, with a feathered crown on its head, long claws and straight tail. It stood dramatically between the trees, growling as we passed.
Perhaps most delightful was the towering Brachiosaurus, its head peeking above the branches as we continued down the path. My daughter was suddenly knee-high to a dinosaur, staring up, up, up, to see its long neck and friendly face. (However friendly the dinosaurs looked, though, it was important to remember not to touch them.)
Interactive elements at the dinosaur exhibit
Halfway down the path, we found two fossil digging stations, both filled with sand and dinosaur bones. One station was under a tent, with dry sand that we could easily brush away to uncover the fossils. The other was out in the open, and after a morning of rain, held wet sand that packed around the bones. It made digging with the brushes more difficult — but perhaps more realistic — for us as we pretended to be paleontologists.
The last dinosaur on the path is a Stegosaurus. While at first glance, it looks like an unfinished addition to the exhibit, it’s actually a chance to see the mechanics that bring these dinosaurs to life. The dinosaurs are constructed of steel, foam and silicone, and they move with the help of electrical wiring and air compression. (The dinosaurs are created by Billings Productions, with a focus on accuracy and incredible detail. The resin dinosaur teeth, for example, are made using silicone molds of actual dinosaur tooth fossils.)
Dino-themed treats
If you work up an appetite walking through the prehistoric forest, you’re in luck. Dinosaur-themed menu items await at the zoo’s Jurassic Bites snack shack. Choose from a Dino Dig Cup, with layers of chocolate pudding and cookie crumbs topped with gummies (and ready for digging); round cookies with giant dinosaur footprints; green dino-shaped Rice Krispies treats; and brightly colored popcorn balls. My daughter couldn’t resist a footprint cookie for a quick energy boost — we headed to the zoo’s 1899 Grove for sandwiches and soup later on.
More fun at the zoo
We loved our morning with the dinosaurs, but after about 40 minutes of wandering along the path and meeting all the dinosaurs, we were ready to explore the rest of the zoo. (Since you have to also buy zoo admission tickets to access “Dinosaur Discovery,” you may as well make a day of it!)
Our first stop outside of the dinosaur exhibit: the flamingoes, dipping their beaks in the water and showing off their bright pink feathers. Up next was a charming red panda, high in the trees. My daughter delighted in seeing her favorite stuffed animal (from a prior zoo gift shop purchase) in real life, and we watched as it climbed across a branch. Then it was time for birds aplenty, from red-legged seriema to white-naped cranes.
After a couple of aviary stops, I was happy to spend a few minutes watching a small-clawed otter dip and dive in the water. Then we heard about the sloth bear and her cub, Bowie, so we hurried through the Banyan Wilds to see. While the two were curled up in their den, we spotted Bowie’s little paws as she rolled under her mom, Kushali.
Still in the Banyan Wilds, we came up to a large glass window with a sleeping tiger pressed against it. It’s the closest we have ever been to a tiger! My daughter quietly stood at the window, watching as the tiger flexed its paws and flicked its ears.
Then we trekked through the Reptile Realm, where we saw turtles, snakes and Komodo dragons up close. It was just as thrilling as seeing the dinosaurs — a Komodo dragon even scaled the rocky wall in front of us.
Every time we visit the zoo, I think we could stay another few hours and still not do it all. We saved a few favorites for our next visit, including the historic carousel, indoor play space, and the family farm where you can pet animals.
Also new to the zoo this year is a virtual reality experience called “Zoomersion.” It’s an immersive film experience with different wildlife migrations — yet another way to learn more about incredible animals. We’re already planning our return visit!
If you go to ‘Dinosaur Discovery’ at Woodland Park Zoo …Location: “Dinosaur Discovery” is on display at Woodland Park Zoo, located at 5500 Phinney Ave. N. in Seattle. Enter through the zoo’s west or south entrances. Dates: The exhibit runs from May 1–Sept. 1, 2025, and is open daily from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The zoo’s seasonal hours (May 1–Sept. 2) are 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Cost: Tickets to “Dinosaur Discovery” must be purchased in addition to zoo admission and cost $10 for non-members, $8 for members, and are free for children 2 and younger. Proceeds from “Dinosaur Discovery” tickets go toward animal care and wildlife conservation efforts at the zoo. General zoo admission ticket pricing varies depending on the day, starting at $26.96 for adults ages 13–64; $16.16 for children ages 3–12; and $25.16 for seniors ages 65 and older. Toddlers ages 2 and younger enter free. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the zoo. Parking: Parking in the zoo lots costs $8 for the first two hours and $3 for each additional hour, with a $12 maximum daily rate (plus taxes and fees). There is free street parking around the zoo. |
Editor’s note: This article was published on May 6, 2025, replacing an earlier version written by JiaYing Grygiel, who covered the exhibit when it came to Woodland Park Zoo in May 2021.
