Field Station: Dinosaurs

Field Station: Dinosaurs is a new outdoor family attraction that opened in Secaucus, NJ that features 31 life-sized, life-like dinos.

Special Effects

The dinosaurs are animatrons, which are like robots, but they’ve been designed by artists to have genuine-looking features, and they’re computer programmed to move in a more natural, realistic way. Three of them will even be able to respond to sound and focus on a child. They’ve been constructed in partnership with New Jersey State Museum scientists, who ensure that the creatures reflect the latest theories and discoveries in paleontology.

The Set-up

The Field Station is an outdoor exhibit set on 20 wooded acres and against the backdrop of a 150-million-year-old rock formation. Visitors walk on set, stroller-friendly trails, much as you would at a typical zoo. On either side, behind a rope fence, are the dinosaurs, including kid favorites like the T. Rex, weird ones like the pachycephalosaurus, and the 90-foot long Argentinosaurus, the largest animatronic dinosaur ever made.

The Activities

Interactive workshops, games, and shows are a huge part of the Field Station experience. You’ll get a schedule of events when you arrive. Make sure to check out the times of each activity so you don’t miss anything.The Feeding Frenzy show gives kids a chance to watch a T. Rex enjoy a meal and learn about animal survival (for fourth-graders and up). They have birthday parties too.

The Tickets

Tickets are $20 for adults, $17.50 for kids, and free for those 2 and under. You can buy them online or by phone (800-291-9264), or you can take your chances and buy them when you get there. The Hours: May 26 to July 1 Monday-Friday: 10 am–3 pm Saturday and Sunday: 10 am–5 pm. July 2 to September 2 Daily: 10 am–7 pm. September 3 to November 12 Monday–Friday: 10 am–3 pm Saturday and Sunday: 10 am–5 pm. Laurel Hill Park, 1 Dinosaur Way, Secaucus; 973-748-4561. The park opens to the public on May 26 and closes for the winter on November 12. You can drive there and park in the on-site lot for an additional $15, or you can take the train (it’s a 10-minute walk from the Secaucus Junction NJ Transit stop, and there will also be shuttle buses) for an extra adventure.