Dinosaur Land Is One Of The Strangest Places You Can Go In Virginia
By Melissa Mahoney|Published October 28, 2020
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Have you ever dreamed of traveling back in time and walking among the dinosaurs? Well, here at Dinosaur Land you can! Located 70 miles from Washington D.C., take a drive to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia to find this whimsical roadside attraction along the Stonewall Jackson Highway.
From the teeth-baring entrance to the array of creatures from the Mesozoic era (and beyond), your imagination will run wild as you walk among the giants!
Once a gift shop called Rebel Korn'r, owner Joseph Geraci transformed it into a roadside dinosaur attraction.
The year was 1963 and, after seeing the giant fiberglass statues at a mini-golf course on a trip to Florida, Mr. Geraci decided to purchase several life-size dinosaurs to place on his store's property. The statues were such a draw that he decided to rename his store Dinosaur Land. Today, more than 50 figures span the course of two acres behind the store.
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A larger-than-life duo (Apatosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex) entice highway passersby to stop for a visit.
You may pretend you are being chased by a theropod and hide in the bushes. Or maybe you would like to hang out with a friendly sauropod looking for some plants to eat. Channel your inner child and enjoy feeling like a kid again!
Among the extinct creatures here are Triceratops, Spinosaurus, Velociraptor, Coelophysis, Corythosaurus, Megalosaurus, T-rex, Brachiosaurus, and Apatosaurus.
Despite its name, several non-dinosaurs roam the grounds of Dinosaur Land.
Fiberglass prehistoric mammal reproductions such as a giant ground sloth known as Mylodon, mammoth, saber-tooth tiger, praying mantis, and king cobra snake can be found here. There is even a Moschops, a bizarre mammal-like creature with short hind legs and long front legs that will make you stop and stare in bewilderment!
While walking around, you may encounter a few battle scenes between dinosaurs.
These scenes are a bloody reflection of what happened back in the Mesozoic era. A couple of these violent scenes include a T-rex attacking a brachiosaur and a Gigantosaurus eating a Pteranodon. You will be grateful you weren't around during the time of these now-extinct creatures!
Visitors can certainly expect the unexpected here at Dinosaur Land.
A 90-foot octopus has arms reaching out in all directions. A 60-foot long shark has an open mouth you can even climb into for a photo op. And then there's the 20-foot tall King Kong, which is neither dinosaur nor ancient animal, but a fictitious character. Feel free to climb onto his hand to take a photo!
Dinosaur Land is a strange place where 1960s roadside kitsch meets the Mesozoic era. A nostalgic step back in time, it’s fun and exciting for the whole family! Whether you stop here along a road trip or take a day trip from the surrounding region, a stop at Dinosaur Land will surely put a smile on your face. And don’t forget to pick up some dino souvenirs at the gift shop!
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