If you’re looking for a unique family activity with safe social distancing to finish out your summer, look no further than the drive-through version of Jurassic Quest in Concord, North Carolina. The safari experience runs now through February 21st. Purchase tickets soon as they sell out quickly.
Last year, Kidding Around’s Melanie checked out the tour when it stopped at The Atlanta Motor Speedway. For more information in the Concord, North Carolina area, check out Bethany’s Guide to Concord.
Murder Hornets, Flying Insect Swarms, Taco Bell, taking away our beloved potato taco, this year has been full of unpleasantness. But, hanging out with some dinosaurs brought back from extinction? We can get behind that, what could possibly go wrong?
Jurassic Quest is set up at each stop for just a limited time, but if you are lucky you’ll get to see these creatures before they are extinct again. We sent Melanie to opening day, and despite an issue with a T-Rex, she made it back to tell everyone what she encountered.
If you want to make a weekend of your trip to see Jurassic Quest Atlanta, you can explore or just relax in Dunwoody, Georgia.
Take A Drive Through A “Jurassic Park”
If your family is looking for a socially distant entertainment option, that is not only fun but educational; this is it! Pack the family into the safari jeep (or minivan) and head out to experience some pre-historic family fun.
2020 has brought challenges to so many different industries, and the “bringing-dinosaurs-back-to-life” business is no different. Traditionally guests would enjoy the Jurassic Quest Dinosaur Safari indoors and where the dinosaurs could be controlled & contained. Due to the Coronavirus, the safari was moved outdoors for guests to drive-thru an area of free-roaming dinosaurs. For safety purposes, there are traffic cones separating guests from the dinosaurs. That should be enough protection. We’re told, as long as they feed the dinosaurs several times a day, they don’t try to eat anyone. But you should stay in your car to be safe!
What You Should Know About A Dinosaur Encounter
Before you hop in your safari jeep to leave for your adventure, you’ll need to secure your clearance into the attraction. Tickets must be purchased in advance online for Jurassic Quest Drive-Thru. The entrance ticket covers all vehicles that hold up to 8 “researchers” for $49. I always recommend bringing along someone who runs slower than you, in the event of a rogue dinosaur.
Depending on the age and courage level of your research party, you’ll need to decide what time slot to reserve when you purchase your ticket. The dinosaurs are active for guests from 9 am to 8 pm. If you are interested in doing your dinosaur studies on the weekend, you’ll need to act fast as the first two weekends are completely booked.
To assist you in your research, you can tune into the Jurassic Quest Audio Tour as a guide. If you stop at each of the 80 life-size dinosaurs and listen to the audio tour, driving through (depending on the number of other research vehicles) should take about an hour. The information given in the audio tour is invaluable. I learned things I didn’t previously know from it! For instance, velociraptors are nothing like the creatures you’ve seen in that one movie that made them a household name. They are small, and not quite as scary looking.
My junior research team and I had a fun time with the dinosaurs today, and you have a few weeks to catch them.
Will the lil’ paleontologist in your family enjoy this adventure?