About Prehistoric Gardens
A twenty-foot Tyrannosaurus beside Highway 101 is only the warning. Beyond the entrance, a trail disappears into dense coastal forest where enormous prehistoric reptiles stand among sword ferns, moss, spruce, and other plants that make the entire place look suspiciously well suited to them.
Prehistoric Gardens opened in 1955 and was created by E. V. “Ernie” Nelson. The attraction contains twenty-three life-size sculptures of dinosaurs and other extinct reptiles positioned throughout the rainforest. The figures were constructed around steel frameworks and shaped with metal lath and concrete.
The surrounding forest is not artificial scenery. Southern Oregon’s wet coastal climate produces thick vegetation that gives the sculptures a far more convincing backdrop than a parking lot ever could. The contrast also creates a wonderfully strange roadside experience because scientifically inaccurate geography becomes visually perfect theater. Land dinosaurs did not roam prehistoric Oregon, which was largely underwater during much of the Mesozoic Era.
The attraction remains family operated and uses a short self-guided trail. Hours vary seasonally and extreme weather can close the path, so visitors should check the official site before driving the coastal highway.