On Wednesday, 50 people gathered at the feet of Drumheller’s most iconic attraction to celebrate the 10th birthday of the World’s Largest Dinosaur.
Over the last decade, the dinosaur has done more for Drumheller than please the millions of tourists who have climbed the long stairway to the mouth of the quadruple life-sized tyrannosaurus rex.
“What we have given back to the community, financially, is probably the biggest significance,” said Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce manager Heather Bitz.
The million dollar project was never thought to be as rewarding as it became, with the revenue from the dinosaur balancing the costs within five years.
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Bob Davis was manager of the chamber in 1999 when the project had already been decided.
“It felt really good, it felt like something special was happening,” said Davis, who inherited the huge project.
“Ten years ago today, when I watched the final piece put into place, I was skeptical,” said Mayor Bryce Nimmo. “But hope ruled over skepticism, and now we are looking at an icon seen across the country.”
“It’s an example of the ingenuity, thoughtfulness, and forward thinking the people of Drumheller have. It’s a tribute to the foresight of the people who put it together.”
With the one millionth tourist visiting in September of last year, the World’s Largest Dinosaur has given back over $450,000 through the Legacy Fund.
Over the past decade, 15 per cent of admissions and 10 per cent from sales at the gift-shop have been set aside to be injected back into the Drumheller community.
As for ideas for the lovable t-rex’s future, Bitz of the chamber said a paint-job is probably due sometime in the future, although no plans have been made yet.
