Indian River Reptile And Dinosaur Park, the short drive-through attraction in Ontario’s cottage country (about 20 minutes from Peterborough) poses dinosaur figures along a short course, so families can tour through the dinos contact-free (with the dinos or other people!)
This COVID-19 safe attraction was developed to help support the Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur Park when it had to close due to coronavirus concerns. The park is Canada’s largest reptile not-for-profit sanctuary and is home to 400 reptiles from around the world. Visitors can usually get a close view of live crocodiles, alligators, caimans, turtles, snakes, lizards and more. The park also has a nature trail, “Croc-Walk” and a mini-golf course.
Photo Adrienne Brown
To support the sanctuary while its indoor facilities had to be closed to the public, the reptile-loving minds behind the park came up with the perfect alternative that’s a destination in its own right. When your kid stares in awe into the wide-open jaws of a T-Rex and lights up at the massive Spinosaurus or the sneaky velociraptors, you’ll feel the thrill everyone was supposed to feel at Jurassic Park – before everything went awry.
A long line of cars with kids ogling life-like dinosaurs (some move and have sound effects) right out their windows was the best review of the attraction I could have asked for. I saw wonder and amazement on every face I got a peek of hanging out a window or sitting in the back of a flatbed.
Photo Adrienne Brown
It doesn’t take very long to get through the loop, but it’s the perfect day trip to break up weeks at home all from the safety of your vehicle. We bought our tickets online and drove straight in, no wait, when we arrived mid-morning on a weekday.
And don’t worry, moms and dads – most of the dinos are identified by small signs near their feet so that you can sound like the dinosaur expert your kids want you to be, calling out the names as you go.
To visit, it costs $20 per vehicle to drive through, and digital tickets are booked by the day-use them anytime between 10 am and 5 pm. If your kiddos haven’t quite had their fill, you can go through again – they just ask for a small donation for the second go-round.
Indian River Reptile And Dinosaur Park Details:
Address: 2206 Country Rd. 38, Indian River, Ontario
Website: www.reptileanddinosaurpark.org
By Adrienne Brown
Adrienne Brown is a freelance writer based in Ontario. She hopes to pass her love of learning and for travelling to new places to her three sons, one adventure at a time. She has a particular interest in exploring Canadian destinations and is willing to try almost anything once.
