The addition of a second ADA required hand rail is the last piece in the construction puzzle that began two months ago. The result is a small scale replica of a dinosaur dig says Chaffee Zoo Director Scott Barton, "We wanted to give kids the experience of discovery ... of exploration."
Chaffee Zoo Director Scott Barton can't wait for little zoo visitors to uncover the 35-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex hidden beneath the sand.
Scott Barton said, "They can explore and find the skull and find the feet or the head find the tail ... the main activity area will be down here where kids will have some tools to dig with and brushes to brush off the dinosaur bones and to discover."
Two large tents and an old Land Rover will offer shade, a place to learn and for parents to watch their kids. Nearby zoo staff is preparing for dig site extras -- seating, storage and even trash bins. They'll be nestled into tents and near the Land Rover.
Scott Barton, "And we're really looking forward to seeing children in here having fun."
The zoo's staff landscape architect expects his kids to love this place, too. Greg Garby, Chaffee Zoo Landscape Architect said, "We wanted it to feel like this was an actual dig site. We selected our plants and the boulders all these things so you feel like you're in an actual Montana dig site."
You'll find the Dino Dig just east of the food court. And staff is already answering questions from parents whose youngsters are ready to 'dig in'. Special needs kids included.
Scott Barton said, "We built it to be accessible for wheelchairs for strollers and they can come down to this area ... we wanted to give kids the experience of discovery ... of exploration" At 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning "Dino Dig" will officially open for kids to try their hand at digging up the T-Rex buried here.
