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Discovery Cube OC’s reimagined Dino Quest exhibit opens May 25
Orange County May 06, 2024
| Graphic courtesy of Discovery Cube OC
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Discovery Cube Orange County is traveling back in time this month to launch the return of Dino Quest, the reimagined exhibit inviting visitors to embark on an epic prehistoric adventure and come face-to-face with life-sized dinosaurs in the newly remodeled exhibit space.
The all-new Dino Quest invites guests to take a journey through prehistoric times by participating in a brand-new hand-held interactive adventure that transforms young visitors into expert paleontologists. They will explore a dig pit to unearth a replica Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, see new life-sized fully articulated dinosaur skeletons and be awed by a sixteen-foot animatronic T-rex.
“The exhibit also features the very first Quetzalcoatlus to be on permanent display in California. It is one of the most recent Cretaceous specimens discovered and was found along the U.S. Mexico border,” shared Discovery Cube CEO Joe Adams.
“With so much to explore we can’t wait to welcome back our paleontologists-in-training to Dino Quest this summer. This project is $6 million and five years in the making, and it’s pretty spectacular!” Adams continued with excitement. “Along that journey we’ve worked with so many partners and we’re grateful for each and every one of them including the State of California, the California Natural Resources Agency, a number of incredibly talented trades people, artists, special effects teams and our legendary advisor, Jack Horner.”
Guests can explore the grounds of the site on their own or be guided around the exhibit and excavation site as part of one of four missions including, Dino Dig Adventure, Junior Diggers, Adapt, Survive, Thrive or Predator and Prey. Each mission has its own highlights:
Dino Dig Adventure: unearth the secrets hidden in fossils like fossilized bones, eggs and footprints.
Junior Diggers: train to become a dinosaur expert and find a baby Triceratops, a flying reptile called a Quetzalcoatlus, and a giant T-rex.
Adapt, Survive, Thrive: explore the evolutionary journey that shaped these ancient creatures like long necks, hollow bones, and body armor.
Predator and Prey: discover the strategies, adaptations, and challenges faced in the struggle for survival.
“I began my journey to become a paleontologist at the age of eight when I discovered my first dinosaur bone, a discovery that mapped out the trajectory of my life,” said Jack Horner, paleontologist, technical advisor for the Jurassic Park movies and Dino Quest advisor. “Discovery Cube Orange County’s Dino Quest exhibit is sure to inspire young explorers to want to learn more about dinosaurs, how they lived on this earth and how they became extinct. That type of exploration is the basis for what can become a life-long love of paleontology.”
To learn more about Discovery Cube Orange County and reserve your tickets, visit: discoverycube.org/orange-county/. Discovery Cube Orange County is located at 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92705 and is open Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
