Dinosaurs invade Santa Clara County Fairgrounds – East Bay Times

Roars from children and dinosaurs can be heard at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds: Jurassic Quest Drive Thru rumbled into town last week.

Jurassic Quest features 70 life-sized dinosaurs, which are located in the parking lot just north of the fairgrounds. Visitors choose one of three guided audio tours: “The Original Audio Tour,” “The Adventures of Nick & Marty” or “Safari Sarah’s Big Day.”

According to Tommy Bennett — also known as Tour Guide Tommy, who travels with the exhibit — about 250 cars per hour have been driving past the prehistoric creatures.

Ticket prices are $54.50 for a regular-sized vehicle of up to eight people, or $85.50 for an extra-large vehicle with nine to 15 people. COVID-19 precautions are in place, as employees have been vaccinated but are wearing masks.

The dinosaurs will be heading out Sunday. The tour launched in June and still has stops in Atlanta, Houston and New Orleans, among other cities.

Organizers recommend that guests purchase tickets in advance at the Jurassic Quest website.

Photographs by Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group

Christian Grayson, center, 3, with mom Sharron and father Corey, makes his mean face while Tommy Bennett, far right, also known as Tour Guide Tommy, holds an 11-month-old Tyrannosaurus rex at Jurassic Quest Drive Thru at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. It was Christian’s birthday. 
Visitors drive past a Tyrannosaurus rex. 
Tour Guide Tommy holds an 11-month-old Tyrannosaurus rex for, from left, Jacob Benton, 6; Jeremy Brant, 7; Crissy Benton, 5; and King Garcia, 4. 
Visitors drive past a Tyrannosaurus rex. 
A light illuminates a Parasaurolophus as the sun sets. 
Ryder Bonsall, 2, smiles as he watches Tour Guide Tommy. 
Visitors drive past dinosaurs at the Jurassic Quest Drive Thru in San Jose. 
Farah Vignesh, 8, interacts with the 11-month-old Tyrannosaurus rex held by Tour Guide Tommy. 
Visitors drive past an Apatosaurus. 
Lizzy Lomeli holds a 6-week-old Triceratops for visitors at the entrance to Jurassic Quest Drive Thru. 
Visitors drive past a Carnotaurus at Jurassic Quest Drive Thru. 
Visitors Crissy Benton, from left, King Garcia, Jeremy Brant and Jacob Benton marvel at a dinosaur. 
Tour Guide Tommy jokes around with a Carnotaurus while holding an 11-month-old Tyrannosaurus rex. 
Visitors drive past dinosaurs. 
Inflatable dinosaurs are among the gifts for sale at the drive-thru store. 
Employees Klaire Kailimai, from left, Tommy Bennett and Mason Rothschild joke around with each other at the drive-thru store. 
Klaire Kailimai, left, giggles while getting a nuzzle from the 11-month-old Tyrannosaurus rex being held by Tour Guide Tommy. 

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