Bayville, New Jersey: The Bayville Dinosaur
RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
Heritage Square
- Address:
- 510 US-9, Bayville, NJ
- Directions:
- Heritage Square. On the west side of US-9/Atlantic City Blvd, four miles south of Toms River, and just north of a church graveyard.
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
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Concrete thunder lizard has stood here since 1935 -- the midpoint between New York City and Atlantic City. Frequently decapitated by trucks. Most recent makeover in Dec. 2018.
Roadsideamerica.com Report... [03/07/2021]Visitor Tips and News About The Bayville Dinosaur
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Although still headless (and tailless, and footless) the Bayville Dinosaur has been returned to its base along Route 9, where it's stood since the 1930s. The body has been cleaned and repaired, and the next step is for a trio of artists to re-form the saurian's various appendages, attach them, and then give the entire dino a paint job that will give it the look of aged bronze. This final work will take place next to the highway. No completion date has been announced yet, but the evolution in the dinosaur's appearance seems to have avoided its near-brush with extinction.
[Anthony Zangari, 10/05/2018]And it's gone!
[Joe Orost, 08/15/2018]
The green dinosaur is now a light purple with white and red hand prints all over it.
[Steve Mc, 09/25/2009]
If you have a thing for the giant champagne bottle, be sure to go a half mile further south on Route 9. On your right you will see a approximately twelve foot sculpture of a green dinosaur. It's a landmark here.
Someone crashed into the dinosaur a few years ago. Once it was repaired they painted it purple to give it a new, modern, Barney look?! I believe they painted it green again, because no one could give proper directions without the "green" dinosaur -- the purple dinosaur just didn't cut it.
[Gail Hickey, 12/21/2004]April 2007: The concrete dinosaur has been in Bayville along Route 9 since at least 1935, according to the local historical society, and has stood in front of the House of Paints since 1957. It was recently renamed "Virginia" as part of a local student naming contest. As reported in the Ocean County Observer, "Virginia" is now covered with red, white and blue painted handprints.
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The dinosaur is currently being restored. It's supposed be back some time in September.