SANTA ANA, Calif. (May 2024) — Discovery Cube Orange County, Southern California’s leading children’s science museum, is traveling back in time to launch the return of Dino Quest, the reimagined exhibit showcasing the ancient mysteries of Dinosaurs. Starting on Saturday, May 25, visitors can embark on an epic prehistoric adventure and come face-to-face with life-sized dinosaurs in the newly remodeled exhibit space.

The all-new Dino Quest experience is bigger, bolder, and more thrilling than ever before. Guests are invited to take a journey through prehistoric times by participating in a brand-new hand-held interactive adventure that transforms young visitors into an expert paleontologist. They will explore a Dig Pit to unearth a replica T-rex fossil, marvel at new life-sized fully articulated dinosaur skeletons and be awe-inspired by the star of the show, a sixteen-foot animatronic T-rex!

“The exhibit also features the very first Quetzalcoatlus to be on permanent display in California. It is one of the most recent Cretaceous specimens discovered and was found along the U.S. Mexico border,” shared Joe Adams, CEO, Discovery Cube. “And we’ll have it here on display at the Cube for all to see!”

“With so much to explore we can’t wait to welcome back our paleontologists-in-training to Dino Quest this summer. This project is $6M and five years in the making, and it’s pretty spectacular!” Joe shared with excitement. “Along that journey we’ve worked with so many partners and we’re grateful for each and every one of them including the State of California, the California Natural Resources Agency, a number of incredibly talented trades people, artists, special effects teams and our legendary advisor, Jack Horner.”

Guests can explore the grounds of the site on their own or be guided around the exhibit and excavation site as part of one of four missions including, Dino Dig Adventure, Junior Diggers, Adapt, Survive, Thrive or Predator and Prey.

• Dino Dig Adventure – Unearth the secrets hidden in fossils long like fossilized bones, eggs and footprints
• Junior Diggers – Train to become a dinosaur expert and find a baby Triceratops, a flying reptile called a Quetzalcoatlus, and a giant T-rex
• Adapt, Survive, Thrive – Explore the evolutionary journey that shaped these ancient creatures like long necks, hollow bones, and body armor
• Predator and Prey – Discover the strategies, adaptations, and challenges faced in the struggle for survival

“I began my journey to become a paleontologist at the age of eight when I discovered my first dinosaur bone, a discovery that mapped out the trajectory of my life,” said Jack Horner, paleontologist, technical advisor for the Jurassic Park movies and Dino Quest advisor. “Discovery Cube Orange County’s Dino Quest exhibit is sure to inspire young explorers to want to learn more about dinosaurs, how they lived on this earth and how they became extinct. That type of exploration is the basis for what can become a life-long love of paleontology.”

To learn more about Discovery Cube Orange County and reserve your tickets, visit: https://www.discoverycube.org/orange-county/.

Discovery Cube Orange County is located at 2500 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705 and is open Monday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

About Discovery Cube

Established in 1989, the Discovery Cube is one of Southern California’s leading children’s science museums. With locations in Los Angeles and Orange County, the Cube’s focus is to INSPIRE, EDUCATE and IMPACT young minds through engaging science-based programs, activities and exhibits. Discovery Cube was named one of the “10 Most Trusted Brands” in Orange County and awarded the National Medal of Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Last year, Discovery Cube adopted a digital-first approach to STEM education with the launch of Discovery Cube Connect, a digital platform for the development and distribution of interactive STEM educational offerings, activities and gameplay. For more information, visit discoverycube.org and discoverycubeconnect.org.