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Grand Prairie, Texas: Chromosaurs

A pair of large dinosaur statues were created from automobile chrome parts by artist John Kearney.

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Address:
601 East Palace Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX
Directions:
Ripley's Believe It or Not!, just west of Dallas and near Six Flags, north of I-30, exit north on N. Belt Line Rd. then left/west on E. Palace Parkway.
Hours:
Gates open F-M 11-5 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
972-263-2391
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Visitor Tips and News About Chromosaurs

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Chromosaur and others.

Chromosaurs and Others

Super cool, and now there are other things to see outside Ripley's, including the metal dinosaurs, like a yellow gorilla, crocheted white tiger and a blue baby T-Rex. And a big ball of wire!

[Laura Lason, 11/11/2019]

Chromosaurs.

Chromosaurs

These guys are awesome! The fact that someone took the time to weld together what looks like a ton of metal car bumpers into super rad dinosaurs -- it's amazing! Definitely worth a pit stop to check them out.

[norma beez, 04/08/2013]

Chromosaurs.

Chromosaurs

Zina reported the sculptures were sold to Ripley and that "John" may have loaned them to the Dallas Museum of History for free...

The owner of the Chromosaurs, Dale Fortner, loaned the Sculptures to the museum free from 1998 to 2006, until he sold them to Ripley. The amount may have exceeded $200,000 for each sculpture.

The sculptures were loaned free of charge to the Motor Sports Hall of Fame Museum in Talladega, Alabama from 1995-1998 by Dale Fortner as a gift to former President of Talladega SuperSpeedway, Don Naman.

[Dale Fortner, 01/17/2007]

Chromosaurs.

Chromosaurs

The three Chromosaurs made by John (Jack) Kearney that were in front of the Dallas Museum of Natural History have been sold. Apparently John loaned them at no charge for several years, but the museum couldn't come up with $200,000 to purchase them. So, they have been bought by the Ripley's Believe It Or Not/Tussaud's Palace of Wax Museum in Grand Prairie.

I received this information from a woman at the museum, and sure enough, they are out front of Tussaud's. They are not visible from the interstate due to the embankment. You have to go up the lane and to the front entrance side of Tussaud's before you'll see them. In addition to the three dinosaurs made from chrome bumpers, there is a smaller horse made from them that is around to the side of the building. You can see the chrome sculptures without having to pay admission or for parking.

If you like his art, John Kearney has also created sculptures of the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow that are located in Oz Park in the Lincoln Park suburb of Chicago.

[Zina Bartle, 03/12/2006]

Nearby Offbeat Places

World's 2nd Largest Ball of Barbed WireWorld's 2nd Largest Ball of Barbed Wire, Grand Prairie, TX - < 1 mi.
JFK Assassination House: ToursJFK Assassination House: Tours, Irving, TX - 4 mi.
International Bowling Museum and Hall of FameInternational Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, Arlington, TX - 4 mi.
In the region:
Lee Harvey Oswald's Grave, Fort Worth, TX - 12 mi.

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