Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience
Everyone should visit this small, unassuming location for their wonderful dinosaur specimens, the tour guide, and the animatronics This was the first attraction we visited and even though we arrived 5 minutes before they opened, we were not the first ones there.
I’ll be honest, I did not have high expectations for this ‘roadside attraction.’ This location has several animatronic dinosaurs on site and was in the news back in 2018 when their T-Rex burned down due to an electrical issue (the pictures were great).
When we arrived, we were greeted by a newer looking building in the southwest style. Although small, we discovered later that it housed great beasts. They offer a museum, ropes course and ‘wild walk’ (where you go outside and admire the animatronic dinos). We decided to browse the museum and the wild walk.
I wanted to see the location of the tragedy of the T-Rex. Upon entering the museum, we were greeted by several, full-scale skeletons of dinos and a ‘tour guide.’ She asked if we would like the guided tour that came with our admission price, or if we would prefer to wonder on our own.
Another in our party piped up that they would like the guided tour; I internally rolled my eyes. To my surprise she was sweet, funny, knew her stuff and actually had a passion for paleontology (illustrated by her excited when telling us of the event discovery of mammoth bones nearby). She regaled us interesting tidbits such as how to tell the difference between bone and rock when you are out looking for your own dinosaur bones….you lick them of course!
Most the of the bones housed here were found in Colorado and some even in Canon City itself. We were educated on the fallacies of Jurassic Park and how scientists were sure what exact animals a predator ate.
After our tour, we wondered out to the Wild Walk to see the animatronic versions of some of the skeletons we saw inside. These animals moved, roared and blinked their eyes. There is also a 3-story ropes course and a play area for kids with a patio area under an awning to get out of the sun. Back inside they offer a snack bar with seating, a nice gift shop, and clean restrooms.
I will say that my expectations were exceeded and I really enjoyed the guided tour of the museum. It was educational but also fun. This attraction was definitely worth the time.
Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
I had been to this area many times as a child, but hadn’t been back since everything but the bridge burned down in 2013. They rebuilt in under a year according to the informational movie at their theater on the other side of the gorge. Although the admission price seemed pretty steep at $28/person, it did include rides on the gondola.
My advice? Do exactly what the cashier told us to do: head out the main doors to the gondola, ride across, walk down the hill to the theater, watch the 15 minute video on the history of the park and bridge, and then walk back across the bridge when you’re ready.
Did we do that? No.
The reason you want to do it in that order is because many times in the afternoons in CO there are thunderstorms and wind at which time they will shut down the gondola. Did they have to shut down the gondola while we were there? Yes. Had we ridden the gondola? No. But it looked fun and like the views would be amazing.
This attraction has other things to offer besides the aforementioned gondola and theater. There’s also a carousel, panning for gold, play area, zip line, sky coaster, snack areas and, often times, a live band.
When you go be sure to wear sunscreen as there is no shade (it all burned, remember), and if you’re not from around here, make sure to stay hydrated to ward off altitude sickness.
Skyline Drive
During our dinosaur tour earlier in the morning, the tour guide mentioned dinosaur tracks that could be found on Skyline Drive, a local one way street along a steep ridge with views of Canon City to the left and the valley to the right. I had driven this many times and never saw any preserved tracks, so on our way back I made a left and we drove along the ridge.
Sure enough, about half way was a plaque that marked the location of the tracks. Once we arrived at the parking area (there is no where to park along the drive; it’s too narrow), we walked back to the plaque and investigated the tracks. Here I realized why I didn’t know about them as a child; they weren’t discovered until 2001.
Fair warning: this drive is a one way road along a razorback with steep drop-offs on either side. There are no guardrails and no way to turn around if you change your mind. But keep in mind, since it is one-way there will be no oncomings car. Take your time and just keep moving forward. You can do it!!!
After you’ve come down, reward yourself with a hand dipped milkshake at Big Daddy’s Diner in Canon City.
Headed to Canon City, Royal Gorge or Colorado any time soon? Send me a note, I’d love to hear from you and the places you plan to explore! Also happy to provide travel recommendations, if they’re needed.
Thanks for reading,
-Michaele
