Bob the Dinosaur

Alpine, California, United States

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Listed, not yet checked · Oct 2026

This Big Thing is recorded as still being here.

Dinosaur Bob is a 20-foot fibreglass brontosaurus, the one survivor of the ten-figure Dinosaur Land attraction that opened in Alpine, California, on 5 August 1962 and closed in 1964. It stands on private property inside a residential mobile home community.

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Bob the Dinosaur

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Site-level location · 32.8351° N, 116.7664° W

FIELD GUIDE

The story

A single fibreglass brontosaurus, 20 feet long, is the one survivor of Dinosaur Land, a roadside attraction in Alpine, east of San Diego.

According to The Alpine Sun in May 2025 and Times of San Diego in June 2026, the park opened on 5 August 1962 and featured ten giant fibreglass dinosaurs, among them the brontosaurus nicknamed Dinosaur Bob. Its founder planned a volcano-themed ride, a petting zoo, a cave restaurant and water rides, but those never materialised. The park, a family-friendly roadside stop, stood on Highway 80, a main route before Interstate 8 redirected traffic through East County, and The Alpine Sun reported that the new interstate hurt its visibility and access.

Dinosaur Land closed in 1964, two years after opening, amid financial struggles and low attendance. Most of the dinosaurs were dismantled, removed or left to decay. The land later became a residential mobile home community, according to Times of San Diego.

Bob remains on the site. Times of San Diego described him in 2026 as standing on private property, tucked into a wooded area behind several homes, and reported that residents have helped maintain him and sometimes decorate him for the holidays. The Alpine Sun noted that his exact location is on private property.

Both papers quote a woman who recalled glimpsing the snout of a Tyrannosaurus rex through the eucalyptus on childhood drives to her grandmother's house.

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PRACTICAL

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WHAT TO EXPECT

A single brontosaurus on private property in a residential mobile home community; it is not a staffed attraction. Times of San Diego (June 2026) described it as tucked into a wooded area behind several homes, and residents sometimes decorate it for the holidays.

ACCESS

Private property in a residential mobile home community in Alpine. It is not open to visitors; do not enter without permission.

COMMUNITY

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Roadside giants

27 km away

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