Jurassic Forest

Great outing for families and school groups. Very well made. The dinosaurs are quite realistic and fun to watch. Lots of information about the dinosaurs, plants, and other living creatures in the area. Great gift shop with the most reasonable prices I have seen in a tourist shop. Excellent playground and lots of places to sit and eat.
The only thing we were a quite disappointed in was the concession. On the website they mention you may bring your own lunch or purchase lunch and snack items from the concession. We had given our students the option. When we got there we discovered the only «lunch» option was hot dogs. Aside from that it was chips, packaged muffins, drinks, chocolate bars, and ice cream I believe. We ended up having to take our group (special needs students) to a restaurant as not all had packed a lunch.
I highly recommend this place as an outing but bring your own good.

Chances are, if you are going to Jurassic Forest you want to find yourself on the set of Jurassic Park. I know I did! The entrance to the park is pretty grand, clearly they ‘spared no expense’ (sorry). Inside you will find a massive sandy play park where you or the kids can uncover dinosaur fossils or go down the T-Rex’s head slide and come flying out it’s mouth. Careful not to bump your head — I forgot this place is actually for kids.
The wooden walkways take you through marshlands where you will hear roaring, before clapping eyes on the giant mechanical beasts.
Some of the dinosaur sensors were out of order but the majority were working so it didn’t affect our experience too much. For a massive geeky family (like mine) this is a cracking day out.
The only thing stopping this getting 5 stars is the coffee shop didn’t offer much and the coffee was terrible. Take a flask and a packed lunch with you.

What a great place to bring your kids! My family drove out to the jurassic forest for a picnic and adventure in the summertime. It was a really neat experience with animatronic dinosaurs being placed along a board walk with interactive displays and educational facts throughout.
They have a snack shack and a kids play area sand box with a bunch of dinosaur play things that the kids can climb on. The gift shop is nice and reasonably priced for a theme park.
My favorite part of the whike day though is that they provide a picnic area and allow you to bring your own food. What a great way to spend the day adventuring with your kids and not spend a bundle. I think we will make this an annual trip to entertain the kids within an hour drive of edmonton.

I came here by myself and I had such a great time! You drive up and you legit feel like you are entering the park from the Jurassic Park movies. Well maybe not totally but it’s pretty close with the wooden fencing and entrance gate. I came in September during the week and it was not busy at all. It was really cool because I walked the trails virtually alone and it was actually scary! Like yes you hear the dinosaur noises, but this is is a live forest. There are all kinds of real animals in there and it was kind of creepy to hear the twigs breaking in the distance and the rustling in the tall grass. A lady that works there told me that they have an issue with the moose in the area because they go and attack the dinos. Crazy stuff. For animatronic dinosaurs I was impressed, but I think the best part of this place is just the great walk. Being fall it is a beautiful time to go and the mosquitoes weren’t that bad, though I could see how it would be. For the overall experience I give it a 4 because I think that they could have a few more interactive things to do. They have the space for it. Even like an area where you could get close to one of the dinos for a picture or something. They added mini golf this year which is at an extra cost and honestly doesn’t look that exciting. Make it Dino themed! There is one in Niagra Falls– they should just transplant that one here. There are no real traps or hazards and I think the props is what makes mini golf fun!
Still a great way to spend an afternoon. Even as an adult I had fun, you just have to go into it with he right attitude :)

I was pleasantly surprised on my trip to Jurassic Forest.
We got there shortly after 10 am on a Saturday. I expected it to already be pretty busy, but there were only a few other families there when we arrived (it definitely started to fill up afterwards though).
The cost is actually quite reasonable, if you can snag some of their deals and discounts. For a family of 4, admission to the forest was $ 40. We should have bundled it right from the beginning with the mini golf, but we weren’t sure if the kids would be too tired by then. If you bundle it, the total is $ 68, but if you pay separately, the golf is an extra $ 35 ($ 75 total). We also packed a lunch for ourselves, so there were no extra charges throughout the day. The do have a concession on site as well, but I didn’t get to see what the prices were like.
The walking paths were really well maintained. Families with strollers were able to easily navigate through the paths and it never felt too crowded. There was tonnes to look at, also. Aside from the cool robotic dinosaurs. Sometimes the motion sensors were a little tricky to set off, but in the end, we got everything moving.
I like the way it’s broken up in the south trail and the north trail. It allows you to walk one trail, stop for snacks and play time, then head to the other trail. I would say that each trail (if you stop to look at everything and really enjoy it) takes 30 — 45 minutes.
There are two separate picnic areas, so plenty of room to relax and eat.
With the trails, play area, lunch time, and mini golf, we were there for about 4 hours total — a great value, if you ask me.
I wouldn’t go back more than once in a year, but I could see myself going every couple of years. If you’ve got kids, it’s a great way to spend the day.

Good times had by six year old — walking paths well kept and maintained and good for an umbrella stroller, robotic dinosaurs were interesting (each with different movements), lots of cool facts (especially about running speeds of dinosaurs), and even the hot dogs at the small concession stand were yummy! Mini golf was fun — but not stroller friendly as there were gravel paths between the holes, not paved.

There is a lot to like about Jurassic Forest. The concept sounds very intriguing and would easily bring out the 5 year old in me. I also enjoy the small town atmosphere of the location as there would be no reason otherwise to make my way out to Gibbons. Yay, small town Alberta. So I was pretty energized to check out JF.
Unfortunately, I am not their demographic. The dinosaurs to me looked mechanical and don’t even move until you walked way past them in some cases. The information signs highlighted such things as «flowers», «house fly» and «bumblebee» which to me seemed so petty. And the mosquitos can be merciless. All this isn’t worth $ 14 and a trip to Gibbons from my perspective.
This being said, from a kids perspective, I can totally see the appeal. Moving dinosaurs are fun. And if you don’t want to head out all the way to Drumheller, this is a closer alternative. So don’t let this review deter you from letting your kids roam around for an hour with dinos!

I suppose if I had gone to Jurassic Forest without an expectation of wonder and several hours packed full of fun — I would not be underwhelmed by it all.
The website claims to have enough events and activities to plan an entire day around the concept of Dinosaurs and other menu items (such as archeology digs, cafeteria, dino-​rides, etc) but fell short.
Half of the animatronic dinosaurs didn’t work, or were so far away you could barely make them out. Taking photos is pointless unless your gear has a meg-​zoom on it. My three year old was bored five minutes into the South Trail, which wasn’t an issue as both trails combined took about 35 minutes — INCLUDING reading every single sign posted.
On we pressed, and the more disappointed we became. The din-​rides are equivalent to that of a bigger sized mall car ride for a loonie — only neither of them were working. Caution tape over one and the other ate three dollars before I complained. The «Archeology» dig was merely a sand pit with exposed fossils and maybe one or two brushes for kids to fight over. The cafeteria was stale, overpriced hotdogs which came on questionable buns so hard i could use it as a weapon.
My son enjoyed a few of the dinosaurs, but mostly played with the squirrels in the picnic area (four or five tables by the way, sitting under unkept pine trees) and he refused to eat the food. In his words «this is yucky mommy». And I agreed.
I wouldn’t take him again, or anyone else for that matter. The whole thing took an hour and a bit, and it was a joy when the family finally left. Even my son was thrilled. I see the intent with how fun they were attempting to make it, as an attraction, perhaps for tourists, but they terribly missed the mark.

As I pulled up to the park today, I noticed that we were the only truck in the parking lot besides a couple cars in the back which seemed like employees vehicles. I was a little skeptical upon arriving, but I passed a worker on the way in and asked if they were open. They assured me they were but just having a slow day. I’ll bet we were the only ones there lol. This I have to admit was pretty fun! I didn’t know what I was going to expect as I’ve only talked to a few people who have been here. As an avid drumheller visitor (and a life Long dream of being a palaeontologist lol) I have pretty high expectations when it comes to dinosaur parks and museums. This really lived up to it! There was a ton of Dino’s that roared as you walked by (a few that didn’t but I found the motion sensors and picked them back up that we’re laying in the grass. shhh you’re not supposed to go over the fence lol) and lots of cool blurbs about the plant life and bugs and the dinosaurs. Lots of waking so bring a water or juice. Two things that are a must on a day like today? Bug spray and sunscreen! So many Mosquitos! But if you don’t pay attention and just enjoy the scenery it’s not that bad. Also my son was dropping his cheezies out of the stroller and this adorable little squirrel followed us most of the way to eat them. He became our little friend. I posted a pic, so cute made our day :)

If you want to see dinosaurs, this is as close as you can get around here. Great for kids, but my senior dad loves going here as well.
There are two different wooden paths to walk along, and it is set in a normal Alberta country setting. You’ll see, hear, and see mechanical dinosaurs that look real, and you will learn a lot of information about them along the way.
In fact, there is information about plants, bugs, and other animals along the way too.
They have a new section with prehistoric animals, and they even have a saber-​tooth tiger in one section.
Lots of mosquitoes as there is a lot of swampy places when wet, so bring the repellent.
You can bring your own picnic. They have lots of picnic tables that are shaded, probably about 10 – 15. They also have some that are right by the sand/​play area that are more open and susceptible to sun.

Fun for kids… the trails take about 20 min to cover and there’s a sandy park area to play in as well. Bring a picnic lunch and go early to beat the crowds.
Bring lots of bug spray!

I always thought I needed to go to Drumheller to get my dinosaur fix. Turns out I only needed to head 30 minutes out of Edmonton!
This affordable park provides a self guided tour of animated dinosaurs in their natural habitat. You are limited to a walkway, but the dinosaurs are close enough that young kids are still able to get a good look. I went with a couple and their toddler, so the wooden pathway was a plus for easy stroller use.
The guides are simple, and not too information dense, which can be tiresome after a while. I also like that you can learn about the local plants and animals as well.
I strongly recommend bringing a picnic lunch. The concession is extremely limited (hot dogs, popcorn, pop) and kind of over priced. There are plenty of seats to take a break between trails and enjoy a snack.
The children’s playground is large, with fun dinosaur themed equipment and activities. I felt they could also benefit from a few traditional playground items, like swings, as there was a lot of open space (and a lot of kids eager to play!).
The staff at Jurassic Forest are kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely seem interested in being there. While we were finishing up our lunch, a couple staff members came out, one of them dressed up as a dinosaur suit. The kids just LOVED being able to get up close to a dinosaur.
Overall, this is a fantastic option for a day trip for a young family (or child at heart grown up like myself!).

Im so pumped about arriving here, mechanical dinosaurs walking through the forest, how can this be a bad experience? Well lets see:
Onto the first path I can here dinosaurs roaring, oh man were getting close, theres something moving in the forest, its gonna be a dinosaur… WAIT…I cant really tell because its about 50 ft away. Maybe it’ll come closer… NOPE… and again and again.
Why are all the dinosaurs located so far away??? I cant even get pictures next to them to make it look like Im being chased, eaten or stomped on?
My overall verdict is .MEH…I guess if you show up with your family, with little kids then it might be worth your time but honestly the dinosaurs kinda sucked, they moved yes but just there little arms or mouth.
I wasn’t too impressed but then again I don’t impress to easily.

As I parked the car and we began our walk to the entrance gates of the Jurassic Forest, my inner child began to emerge and I became ecstatic at the thought of all the amazing sights that would be seen and how cool it would be.
My excitement soon became that of disappointment a quarter through the South Discovery Trail as the majority of the sensors that would bring the dinosaurs to life were having issues; you literally had to wave furiously and continuously at them for them to work. Not to mention most of the dinosaurs «habitats» had bed sheets covering the sound boxes and other mechanical boxes, which were fairly noticeable as the majority were odd floral colors and extremely dirty; which is obviously understandable as they are out in the elements but they could have at least invested in camo, which in my opinion may be less noticeable.
We continued on through the North Discovery Trail with the same situation as the South Discovery Trail and emerged about a half hour or so later wondering if that was it. We ended up at the gift shop to grab a few small souvenirs for the roommate and simply left; disappointed and $ 40 less richer.
Honestly, I was expecting a lot more and was extremely disappointed. I really don’t think I’d ever waste my money to go back.

My husband and I finally went here after two summers of meaning to. I thought it was pretty cool but it would probaboy be ten times cooler for a kid which we don’t have yet. The dinosaurs were pretty realistic looking except that their movements were kind of repetitive and robotic but I guess that is to be expected. There were two trails to explore and in total it took us about an hour to walk both, stopping periodically to read some of the information signs. There is a dinosaur themed playground and a small gift store as well as a small snack bar. It wouldn’t be worth going back until we have have kids but I’m glad we finally got to see what it was all about.

This place Rocks! Not only is this an amazing place to take kids, it’s also adult friendly.
It is about a 25 minute drive from Edmonton (depending what side of the city you live on) and totally worth the drive! Once you pull into the grounds, if you find that the main parking lot is full, drive a couple more minutes and you are greeted by friendly staff ready to whisk you away in a golf cart to the main entrance.
Jurassic Forrest did an amazing job on the entrance! The tall pillars and fence really reminded me of one of my favourite childhood movies, Jurassic Park! Before you even enter the forrest, there is a interactive learning centre for the kids. I am not going to lie, I had a blast playing in there!
The facility did a great job putting this place together. The paths leads you through a forrest that brings your imagination into the prehistoric times. It showcases gigantic, life sized, realistic dinosaurs. When I say realistic, I mean the move. They even scared the S@%! out of me a few times. The paths are wheelchair friendly and very wide, so there is lots of room to maneuver if it is busy. The Forrest is filled with educational signs not only about dinosaurs, but also about the vegetation, trees, bugs, animals and more! One thing I learned today: A moose grows its antlers in the spring and loses them in the winter, and only male moose’s grow them!
There are two trails; North and South. I noticed that there were some blocked off path in both trails as the Forrest is currently expanding. It took us about an hour and a half to walk through both trails. Please note I had 4 of my nieces and nephews with me all under the age of 8, with one falling down accident that required a team meeting about running on the trails and two bandaids!
A great end to the day is the adventure play area! The Forrest did a great job with this. There is an interactive dig site where the kids can use brushed to dig out the fossil buried in the sand. The play area is very kid friendly. There are picnic tables and benches all around the play area so the kids can take a break to have a snack and run back so they won’t miss a thing. I highly recommend bringing a picnic as there is a very limited selection of food and snacks there.
Overall my nieces and nephews and I had an amazing time here at the Jurassic Forrest. it is very educational, fun and its not something you run into on a daily basis.

Very impressed with this facility. Good display of prehistoric critters and very good interpretive signage (plants, animals, birds and insects). Very nice natural setting. The dinosaur motion and sounds are maybe a bit repetitive but the grandkids loved it. The boardwalk and play area are very well maintained and clean (lots of garbage and recycling bins throughout).
There are several tables near the play area where you can enjoy a picnic or snack (bring your own or purchase a hot dog at the concession).
Would highly recommend this to anyone looking for an interesting way to spend an afternoon. A big bonus on our visit was a cow moose and young calf enjoying one of the little meadows.

Located just a few minutes North of Gibbons, AB, this place is actually pretty neat — for a first time visitor or a small child (I say that only because now that I have seen it once, I doubt I would go back this year unless I had a small child to take or there was some sort of expansion). Not to say that I didn’t have a good time because I did; so much so that I would have liked for it to be at least double the size.
It’s not too far out of town at all (half hour to 45 min drive) but far enough out so that it is secluded and a nature-​y (why, for the life of me, can I not think of a better word than nature-​y??). Being that we had chosen opening weekend to make our first visit, I was pretty nervous that it was going to be packed — but no, not at all. Maybe not so good for business but definitely good for Manda +1! As we slowly strolled through first the North loop and then the South loop, we rarely ran into any sort of crowds at any of the displays. The animatronics were neat — a little corny but would you expect anything less?! How can you not laugh watching the dinosaurs sway awkwardly as the squeaking of the gears and motors can be heard. The displays are motion activated and were a little finicky at a few of the displays (but since there were no crowds there was no one to point and laugh as we scurried back and forth past the sensors or waved frantically trying to activate them). Most of the time just as we are about to give up — ROOOAR and they come to life — LOL, typical!
Ok so the very best part of the entire experience for me was not one of the displays — as we are approaching the T-​Rex display we start to hear a most peculiar noise. As we get closer it gets louder — is it ducks; some type of bird??? Nope — just the frogs gathering for a good old fashioned… croak off??? HAHAHAHA! I think I spent most of my time watching and listening to those funny little guys — they definitely made an impression.
This would be a great place for a family outing — small children will surely appreciate this place and there is a large sand box type set up that I am sure they would get a kick out of! For me, this would be a once (maybe twice) a year type outing. We spent about 1.5 hours wandering around — at $ 14/​adult the price isn’t too bad. I would pack a lunch though, there is a VERY limited selection at the snack stand (pretty much hot dogs, chips, and pop). There is also a cute little gift shop.