By Gina Yarbrough
DEL MAR–Don’t be alarmed if you see dinosaurs roaming the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Jurassic Quest is back and bigger than ever!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jurassic Quest will be transformed into a drive-thru interactive dinosaurs exhibit at the fairgrounds’ Tropicana field.
For two weekends, the Jurassic Quest Drive Thru will run through January 10. Don’t wait! Tickets will sell out.
The exhibits feature over 70 moving and life-like dinosaurs, as well as a 50 foot-long Megalodon and a 80 foot-long Spinosaurus. It also includes an online audio tour which is accessible from your cell phone.
The Jurassic Quest Drive Thru is the only place to encounter some of the largest dinosaurs to ever roam the earth, and some of the eeriest marine creatures to ever lurk the ocean’s depths, from the safety of your vehicle.
The audio tour is available in both English and Spanish for the convenience of all guests and special accommodations can also be made for the hearing impaired.
“Families should expect to see a lot of dinosaurs they’ve never heard of before! However, it’s okay! We have an audio tour that accompanies the drive thru,” said Dustin Baker, Jurassic Quest Public Relations Specialist. “That way, everyone will be properly introduced to these prehistoric strangers!”
Jurassic Quest has taken extra precautionary measures to provide a clean and safe event. Guests will remain in vehicles and wear masks in the event they exit the vehicle in allowed areas. Social distancing rules will be requested of all guests and maintained by the Jurassic Quest crew. The crew will be sanitizing equipment, dinosaurs, and workstations more frequently and thoroughly throughout the entirety of the event. Employees will be applying hand sanitizer and washing their hands regularly throughout each day, in addition to wearing masks.
“Everyone can see these dinosaurs in the safety of their vehicle with minimal interactions. This is a big pivot for us because Jurassic Quest was primarily an indoor event previous to the pandemic,” Baker said.
In addition to the life-like dinosaur exhibits, there will be opportunities to visit one-of-a-kind baby dinosaurs and a team of dino trainers, as well as the chance to capture the moment with a safari-style photo of the Jurassic setting complete with a dinosaur backdrop. All guests will leave with the same bragging rights, “We Survived Jurassic Quest 2020!” One photo per family is free and included in ticket purchase.
“When you get to the end of our Drive Thru experience, you will be commemorated with a photo with cameos from some of our dinosaurs! This photo is redeemed online by a QR ticketing system. It’s easy and our Jurassic Quest staff will guide you if you have any questions,” Baker said.
For $49 per vehicle (8 people or less), guests can time-travel and enjoy about an hour-long ride back in time. The public can purchase tickets in advance online at www.jurassicquest.com.
In the event of a show cancellation or postponement for any reason, ticket purchases are automatically refunded for the full purchase amount. Guests must travel through the drive-thru in the comfort of their own vehicle – no rentals or golf carts will be provided and walkers are not allowed. Trailers are also not allowed on the tour. Oversized vehicles and vehicles with 9 or more riders are allowed but will need to contact customer service at customerservice@jurassicquest.com. The tour is closed Monday and Tuesday, January 4 and 5. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
