See California’s Famous Cabazon Dinosaurs

Mr. Rex of Cabazon, California © Sam Howzit | Flickr

On the edge of the Mojave Desert, just west of Palm Springs, stands two enormous structures — the Cabazon Dinosaurs. The first is “Dinny The Dinosaur,” a 45-foot tall, 150-foot long, 150-ton Apatosaurus, created by craftsman Claude K. Bell in the 1960s. Its original purpose was to drive business to the nearby Wheel Inn Diner. The second is a Tyrannosaurus Rex, or “Mr. Rex,” built in 1981. Since their birth, these enormous reptiles have gained national popularity and were featured in classic movies like Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and Paris, Texas.

Inside Mr. Rex’s Mouth, Cabazon, California © Mike Souza | Flickr

The roadside attraction is open seven days a week and admission is a mere $9. Inside Dinny is a gift shop and museum. The museum is home to a variety of models and educational information. Bell’s original evolutionist paintings and sculptures still exist, and stand side by side with the new owners’ creationist displays that promote the idea that dinosaurs were created 6,000 years ago and walked alongside humans in the Garden of Eden — representing a sort of microcosm of the religious and educational conflicts present in modern California. The area features a “Dino Dig,” where children can excavate fossil replicas.