Leonia’s Field Station: Dinosaurs is closing — and its animatronic dinosaurs are up for sale
In preparation for its fall closure, Field Station: Dinosaurs in Leonia is offering its more than 30 life-size animatronic dinosaurs to the public. The park’s proprietors have listed the creatures for sale on social media, charging several hundred dollars for smaller versions and several thousand for larger ones. Each dinosaur comes with a control box and speaker, ready to show motion and sound, according to several postings.
Families, collectors, schools, and small museums can buy fully operating animatronics like the roaring T. rex. Price examples include a flying quetzalcoatlus at $850, juvenile figurines in the low thousands, T. rex at $2,700, and spinosaurus at $2,800. Park staff hope the dinosaurs go to “good homes” instead of scrap or storage.
An old New Jersey attraction has a new home in Leonia. Field Station: Dinosaurs began near the New Jersey Turnpike in Secaucus in 2012, relocated to Overpeck County Park in Leonia, and opened a Derby, Kansas facility. Leonia announced a last season with weekend hours until early November and a permanent gate closure on November 9. Park leaders have discussed donating, selling, or moving some dinosaurs to Kansas if possible.
After years of financial struggles and an appearance on a business reality show, the closure was announced. The Fox series garnered attention and expert guidance, but it wasn’t enough to save Leonia. That’s why owners promote the animatronics directly to the public rather than move the entire operation.
Field Station arranged fall programs to give families one more chance to see the dinosaurs before closing. A “Jurassic petting zoo” weekend, a dogs-and-dinosaurs day, and Halloween-themed “Dinosaurs After Dark” activities were offered. These events and the last weekend are part of the park’s goodbye season.
A buyer of an animatronic dinosaur has particular duties. The massive steel, rubber, and foam figurines require space, shipping, and maintenance. Schools, theaters, museums, and themed enterprises may employ them creatively, while individual collectors may consider them as one-of-a-kind items. The park welcomes “best offers” and encourages buyers to confirm and pick up through its sales listings.
A popular Bergen County family attraction that provided participatory science education and entertainment for over a decade has closed. Some of its dinosaurs may find new homes around the country, but the shutdown shows how seasonal attractions struggle financially. These mechanical giants may never be available again for New Jersey’s unique entertainment history enthusiasts.
Sources
Yahoo News
NJ Field Station: Dinosaurs official announcements
NorthJersey.com
WMTR AM local reporting
Facebook Marketplace posts
