Dinosaurs will roam Pittsburgh when Jurassic Quest comes to town
After millions of years, dinosaurs are again roaming North America in Jurassic Quest, an interactive dinosaur attraction coming to Pittsburgh in February.
With more than 100 life-like dinosaur replicas, themed rides, live dinosaur shows, interactive science and art activities, a fossil dig, a “Triceratots” soft play area, inflatable attractions, photo opportunities and more, the traveling show will stop Feb. 11-13 at Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Visitors to Jurassic Quest can walk through the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic periods to see the giant reptiles that once ruled on land, and visit the Ancient Oceans exhibit to encounter the largest apex predator that ever existed — a moving, life-size, 50-foot-long megalodon.
The show includes static, walking and animatronic models, along with authentic dinosaur fossils such as teeth and bones.
Guests can interact with Jurassic Quest’s signature dino babies: Cammie the Camarasaurus, Tyson the T-Rex and Trixie the Triceratops.
It’s an out-sized experience like no other, said Marty Hoffman, who portrays one of Jurassic Quest’s star dino trainers, Park Ranger Marty.
“You see the kids come into the show through the arches and their faces light up, and they just go, ‘Wow!’” he said.
And it’s not just the kids who are amazed.
“Most kids are into dinosaurs at some point, and then they get older and forget about it,” he said. “You come to this show and the adults are seeing through their kids’ eyes, and you remember, ‘Oh, yeah — dinosaurs are really cool, and they were real.’”
Entertainment and education
Hoffman is one of five main characters featured in Jurassic Quest, which currently has three national touring shows. He said he may not be in Pittsburgh, but one of the other trainers — Safari Sarah, Dino Dustin, Captain Caleb or Prehistoric Nick — will be on site.
The Indiana native who has been with the show for almost six years said his entertainment background includes improv and stand-up comedy, and “I’ve been a dinosaur nerd my whole life.”
In addition to entertaining at the shows, he also does special appearances in character at outreach events, including children’s hospitals, and staffs the Jurassic Quest “Dino 411” information line.
“One thing I love about Jurassic Quest is that it prides itself in being educational,” he said. “Learning about dinosaurs is a gateway to biology, geology, astronomy and so many other scientific fields. Kids think they’re having fun, but they’re really learning about science.”
Jurassic Quest collaborates with paleontologists to ensure each dinosaur model is painstakingly replicated in every detail, including coloration, tooth size, skin texture, fur or feathers, “drawing on the latest research about how we understand dinosaurs and ancient giants of the sea looked and moved,” according to a release.
“Seeing this show is a great way to put flesh on these giants that were actually roaming the earth — and we would have been their lunch,” Hoffman said.
The Jurassic Quest franchise has grown to be as big as the behemoths it portrays, he added.
It started with one show packed into six trucks. Then it split into two, one with eight trucks and the other with six.
“Now there are three shows with about 16 trucks each,” he said.
Tickets start at $19 and include a 100% ticket refund guarantee, in case a show is canceled or postponed for any reason. Entry is free for children under age 2.
Tickets are for a timed arrival window, and advance ticket purchase is strongly encouraged. Guests can walk through the dinosaur experience at their own pace, and strollers are permitted.
General admission tickets include access to dinosaur and marine exhibits, arts and crafts activities and dinosaur shows. Some rides and activities require a $5 activity ticket available on site; guests can upgrade to a Kids Unlimited Rides ticket. Green screen photography and animal art tattoos are available for separate fees.
For information and ticket reservations, visit jurassicquest.com.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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