Now THIS is Worth a Roadtrip
I love history and I love good roadtrip kitsch. And I’ve been waiting for this place to re-open for 3 years!!!
Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, VA! Civil war reenactments…with dinosaurs! That’s right. What if dinosaurs had been alive at the time of the Civil War? 🙂
It was with high hopes and healthy amount of skepticism that I pulled into the Dinosaur Kingdom II parking lot on opening weekend with friends and family in tow. Massive thunderstorms had been forecast and it was drizzling, but rain wasn’t going to keep me away. Folks walking out proclaimed it was worth every penny, and they weren’t wrong.
A sign at the entrance explains why are the dinosaurs are there. 
The entrance had a little bit of a funhouse feel, but once you hit the woods, the real entertainment starts.
I won’t share all the pictures so I don’t ruin the surprise if you choose to make it down there, but they’re worth seeing!
Good news! The owner of this leg survived…with a vengeance.
The highlight was meeting the creator Mark Cline, who was was willing to pose for a picture and explain the thinking behind some of the exhibits. Like needing to give the dinosaur behind us gatling guns since he lacked sharp teeth or claws. Brilliant!
And be sure to stop in the outhouse on your way out…
If you’re not into creative nonsense, this is probalby not for you. But if you do enjoy kitch, this is one of the best attractions I’ve been to. And if you make it before August 1, be sure to stop by Foamhenge half a mile down the road.
This looks like a fun visit. From Google Maps I see that it’s roughly 100 miles due west of Richmond, VA.
Yep! About 3 hours from DC but makes for a fun weekend trip. (And thanks for reminding I forgot to put the location 🙂 )
Worst idea of our roadtrip 8 years ago when we detoured all the way from DC for the 1st rendition of it. Others in my group might have enjoyed it more, but this stuff isn’t my thing. Hopefully it’s better now.
Now that I live close to this area, I can also recommend some other cool outdoor attractions nearby so you can make nice trip out of it:
There is a hike called Devil’s Marble Yard about 15 minutes from this where you can scramble on rocks larger than your car. (http://www.hikingupward.com/JNF/DevilsMarbleyard/) This is one of the most interesting among the the many good hikes in the area.
The James river also runs through this area and provides a couple of options. You can have a nice float down from Buchanan (http://canoevirginia.net/Riverlevels.html) or kayak from Glasgow to run Balcony Falls, a great beginner run. (http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1949). Ofcourse there are more challenging rapids on other rivers in the area, but more specific training is needed.
Only my friend Mark Cline could get me into an outhouse!
For those not familiar with the area, the previous comments about it’s natural beauty and recreational opportunities are spot on. It’s advisable to spend a few days and when you do – explore the town of Lexington.
In the evening take in Mark and Sherri Cline’s killer ghost tour!