Dinosaur center planning underway

by Mark Dykes

Back in January, the Wyoming Dinosaur Center took a big step in terms of relocating and renovating the current facility, purchasing the business park south of town. Executive Director Angie Guyon said the process is now in the architectural phase.

The center recently switched to a non-profit entity, allowing them to have a fundraising campaign to help build the new facility south of town. Guyon said they are getting all of the plans and design together, noting they are shooting for a Leadership in Energy an Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum building. What this means is the building will be “green.”

“They’re energy-efficient,” Guyon said. “We’ll recapture any rainwater. We’ll do, hopefully, ground source water, heating and cooling.” There’s a lot of different aspects that go into a LEED building, she said, and that is what’s taking the architectural process a little longer.

“We’re going to break ground in April 2017,” Guyon said, “and we’ll be in construction for a couple years. We’re hoping to open in April 2019.”

The new center, expected to be about 75,000 square feet, will be very hands-on and engaging, Guyon said, including computer signage at displays to allow people the opportunity to learn as much as they like. There will also be classrooms and convention space. The back of the museum will have an outside deck area with magnified viewers, to allow people to see the dig sites. Guyon also hopes to have a dinosaur themed splash park for children and a restaurant.

Those who would like to make donations can bring them in to the center at 110 Carter Ranch Road, mail them in or call 864-2997.