You may have passed it along a trip into the Interior, but soon that large old Dino billboard will be torn down. Dinotown, “North America’s only cartoon dinosaur town”, located just off Highway 1 near Bridal Falls, is counting down the days remaining in its final season. The family-owned theme park is “closing forever” on September 6th.
However, according to staff from the park, offers have been made to move Dinotown into Surrey. An interested investor has reportedly approached the owners of Dinotown to either build a new version of the park in Surrey, or to possibly even licence the characters and brand.
The park was first built in 1985 as Bedrock City by the Ell family after inspiration from the Kelowna version. A skilled artisan, Bob Ell fabricated “stone pedal cars and flat-rocked buildings,” just like those from The Flintstones. Coasting on the release of the feature film, Bedrock City experienced its most successful seasons in the mid 90′s. Unfortunately, the Hanna-Barbera characters were soon thereafter acquired by Warner, who ended the theme park licensing contract with the Ell family. The Ell’s devised a family of dinosaurs as replacements and reopened as Dinotown in 1995. Rob Ell, Bob’s son, sold the property earlier this year following a battle with a brain tumour. The 18 acre piece of land is to be developed into an RV park.
Despite Rob’s health concerns, the family appears to maintain a deep connection to the park, its history, and its characters. It is possible to imagine the Ell’s coming out of retirement to reimagine Dinotown for a new generation. If the drive to build a whole new park isn’t there, licensing the park as a concept is another great opportunity, removing a lot of the work for the Ell’s, and allowing new blood to carry on its spirit.
In any case, a location in Surrey would surely be beneficial for both a future Dinotown and for the City. A local theme park would definitely be a boon to the small tourism industry in Surrey. Additionally, for the owners of Dinotown, a regional market full of families looking for easily accessible day trips is a fortune the park simply didn’t have in Chilliwack. No matter which way you read it, whether the Ell’s involvement is extensive or simply an advisory role, bringing Dinotown to Surrey would surely be a big success for all parties.
I’ll be hoping this actually comes here to Surrey. It would be great here with how many young kids are in the lower mainland
It’s sad that the park would be leaving the Chilliwack area. It’s been a huge draw to the area for the past 35 years – it actually opened in 1975. The park would be a benefit for any city. The employment opportunities for teens are amazing, it’s an incredibly fun place to work while learning responsibility.
I would love for dino town to come to surrey, and so would my kids and husband and nephews and nieces and family.