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Dinosaur World Cheers 10th Year

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By DAVE NICHOLSON

dnicholson@tampatrib.com

Published: November 29, 2008

PLANT CITY - An Interstate 4 landmark - a tourist attraction with dinosaur replicas - is celebrating its 10th birthday.

Dinosaur World opened Thanksgiving Day 1998 at the site of an abandoned wildlife park. It now has more than 150 "dinosaurs," including its most highly visible creation, an orange Tyrannosaurus that's 40 feet tall and 70 feet long.

Owner Marlene Svensson said her parents owned similar parks in Europe and were visiting the area when they came across the old Gator Jungle, which closed in 1996 after about 20 years of operation. They decided the location at I-4 and Branch Forbes Road was ideal for a dinosaur-themed park, she said. Since then, two more Dinosaur Worlds have opened, in Cave City, Ky., north of Nashville, Tenn.; and Glen Rose, Texas, near Dallas.

"It's gone so quickly," Svensson said of the decade since the roadside attraction opened west of the city limits.

Besides the T. rex, other eye-catching features visible from the interstate include a brachiosaurus.

The Plant City park includes a display of dinosaur skeletons, a museum and other attractions. Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce President Marion Smith calls it educational and "nicely done."

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the park is offering half-price admission for Florida residents from Monday through Dec. 14. Admission will be $6.37 for adults and $4.87 for children.

The park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

For information, call the park at (813) 717-9865 or go to www.dinoworld.net.

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 865-4432.

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