The Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber) today announced that the iconic World’s Largest Dinosaur (WLD), known affectionately as Tyra, along with its adjoining gift shop and visitor information centre, will close at the end of the current lease term in December 2029. This decision follows a strategic planning process conducted by the Chamber.

For 25 years, Tyra has been a towering symbol of Drumheller’s rich connection to dinosaur history and tourism, attracting visitors from around the world. Tyra weighs in at 65 tonnes and stands at 25 metres, more than four times bigger than a real Tyrannosaurus Rex.

“While this announcement is a difficult one, it’s also an opportunity for the Chamber to refocus on our core mission: supporting local businesses, advocating on their behalf and fostering economic growth in Drumheller,” said Lana Phillips, President of the Chamber. “We invite the community and visitors to make the most of the remaining years to create lasting memories with Tyra.”

Over the coming years, the Chamber will work with Travel Drumheller, The Town of Drumheller, businesses and residents to commemorate Tyra in the community and work to ensure that visitors continue to come to Drumheller and support local businesses.

A dinosaur statue with blue sky with World's Largest Dinosaur in the background AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Tyra, the World’s Largest Dinosaur, located in Drumheller, stands at 25 metres tall and weighs in at 65 tonnes. Photo: Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce.

Preserving Tyra’s Legacy

Since its construction in 2000, the World’s Largest Dinosaur has been more than a tourist attraction—it has been a community cornerstone. Through the WLD Legacy Fund, proceeds from admissions and gift shop sales have been reinvested into local community projects, with $40,000 contributed in 2024 alone. The Chamber is committed to working with partners to explore ways to preserve this legacy even after the attraction’s closure.

“Tyra’s story isn’t ending—it’s evolving,” said Heather Bitz, Executive Director of the Chamber. “We’ll be looking for ways to honour the memories, stories, and community impact that Tyra has created over the years.”

The Chamber will ensure that Tyra’s legacy continues to benefit Drumheller long after her final visitors. The Chamber will explore ways to memorialize Tyra’s impact through community initiatives, storytelling and potential commemorative projects. By preserving the stories and symbols tied to Tyra, the Chamber aims to create lasting reminders of her role in shaping Drumheller’s identity, growth and support for local businesses.

For updates and FAQs regarding the closure, please visit www.drumhellerchamber.com.

Drumheller Curling Club is hanging up its brooms and has dissolved following the demolition of the Drumheller Curling Centre in 2024 and unable to raise the funds required to build a new facility.
It was announced in March 2022 that the Town of Drumheller would not be renewing the club’s lease beyond June 30, 2022 due to significant repairs needed on the aging facility.
Following this announcement, a meeting was held between the club’s executive and members, representatives from the Town of Drumheller and Curling Alberta, as well as members of the public. The Town agreed to complete some minor repairs to extend the life of the curling rink and extend the club’s lease until the end of June 2024.
With a new deadline in place, the club looked at the possibility of a new facility using a high performance tensioned membrane structure, commonly used for curling rinks, called a “sprung structure” in 2023. This was estimated to cost approximately $3 million, and the club continued its ongoing fundraising efforts to make the possibility of a new facility a reality.
A proposed location for the new facility, not far from the original rink, was even included in berm designs for the Centennial Park area in February 2023.
However, the club hit a rough patch when a leak was discovered in the roof of the curling rink which prompted air quality concerns, and the decision was made to cancel the 2023-2024 curling season.
In April 2024, the Town awarded the contract for demolition of the facility to Roadbridge Services with a complete project budget of $500,000. During demolition of the building it was revealed that there was soil contamination, resulting in the need for asbestos abatement and mould remediation, along with extensive environmental testing.
The Mail reached out to Drumheller Curling Club President Debra Walker for comment regarding the dissolution of the club; however, she declined to comment.