As Upstate New York awaits the opening of the new LEGOLAND New York Resort, another theme park proposal has been submitted for a prehistorical playland called Dinosaur Kingdom.
According to the Times Herald-Record, the idea came from Neil Gold, a real estate investor and developer from New Jersey. After taking his grandson to a dinosaur theme park elsewhere, he started making plans for one in the town of Wallkill, NY.
Real Estate In-Depth writes that the project is proposed by Orange County Dinosaur Park, LLC, which operates other dinosaur theme parks like Field Station Dinosaurs in New Jersey and Kansas. The existing park in New Jersey features live shows, dinosaur wranglers, scenic trails, over 30 animatronic dinosaurs, and the chance to get face to face with a T-Rex.
The Times Herald-Record reports early plans for the proposed Hudson Valley park feature both animatronic and static replica dinosaurs, a train around the park to view dinosaur vignettes, a fossil dig area, playgrounds, and more. Gold hopes for the park to be just as educational as it is entertaining, making it an ideal spot for school field trips as well as families.
Town of Wallkill Supervisor Frank DenDanto said final design plans have been submitted and hopes that the early support from the Town Board will continue to bring this idea to fruition without issue. If the proposal is passed, an opening date would still be a ways away.
The proposed site for Dinosaur Kingdom is 137 acres of land just 10 miles away from the LEGOLAND New York Resort in Goshen. There will be some shelters and learning centers, but the majority of the park will be set into the woods with a focus on an outdoor experience.
Want to go back to the land before time without the wait? Head to Dino Roar Valley in Lake George’s Expedition Park. The park, which opened in 2019, transports you to the time when dinosaurs walked the earth with 20 life-sized dinosaurs along a half-mile walking trail.
The Expedition Park also includes the Magic Forest where you can find rides, live shows, and fairytale attractions. The park is set to open on May 29. See more details at the Lake George Expedition Park website.
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