A Dino Surprise in Michigan You Probably Didn’t Know

The Dinosaur Gardens, located in the eastern Michigan town of Ossineke, “has been open for 90 years. Despite their long history, many residents in western Michigan may not be familiar with them.

Step Back in Time at Michigan’s Dinosaur Gardens

Dinosaur Gardens is an affordable, family-friendly destination featuring a park filled with dinosaur exhibits. It is located along U.S. Highway 23 between Black River and Alpena in Ossineke.

Dinosaur Gardens offers more than just its 27 life-sized dinosaurs. Visitors can also enjoy activities like a round of putt-putt golf, fossil and dinosaur digs, and other hands-on experiences.

Dinosaur Gardens sits along the shores of Lake Huron, which can make it an appealing reason for families to head to the east side of the state for a staycation. The park offers a variety of packages that can keep a family entertained for an entire day, while still leaving time to enjoy the nearby lake.

Dinosaur Gardens recently posted on their Facebook page that even though they are currently flooded, they plan and hope to open on May 23rd.

Michigan Attraction Flooded, Dinosaurs Now Wading

If you’ve experienced the flooding in West Michigan, you may understand what the Dinosaur Gardens is currently going through. A park spokesperson shared on Facebook, “With full transparency, the damage is far worse than we initially expected.”

The park sits along the Devils River, and as shown in the photos above, flooding has caused the river to overflow into Dinosaur Gardens, washing out several trails and damaging the mini golf course.

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They still plan to continue sharing updates on their progress through Facebook and are aiming for an opening day of May 23, 2026.

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