https://www.wndu.com/2024/07/12/indiana-dinosaur-museum-opens-public/

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - Start your economic engines… Friday brought a fossil-fueled addition to the local tourism industry.

Lines formed, a ribbon was cut, and the Indiana Dinosaur Museum opened its doors to the public at 7102 Lincoln Way West in South Bend.

“I woke all my friends up at 6 a.m., we drove here. I live in Fishers, we all live in Fishers,” said Matthew Sullivan. “This has been on my radar for a while.”

Museum President Mark Tarner said about 60 people were in line when the museum opened.

“We’re going to interview them on the way out and see If they’re satisfied and keep improving our product,” Tarner said. “It’s not a normal dinosaur museum.”

While some museums may take a “look, don’t touch” approach, you can use your hands in the sands of the U-Dig Fossil Quarry.

“We have over 10,000 in here, but some of the ones you can find, crinoids, sea cushions, we have shark teeth, I’ve heard there’s some megalodon teeth in here,” said museum worker Addaline Trycko. “So, this is kind of my first real job, so it’s kind of a cool one. It’s not McDonald’s.”

The new museum is located at 7102 Lincoln Way West in South Bend.(WNDU)

At the museum, you can also get a look at how fossils help us see how dinosaurs looked.

“You can tell a lot about what he looked like in life from what his fossil suggests, and if I spin this guy around for the camera, you can see his actual skull. So, there’s lots of holes throughout this similar to birds,” said Jeremiah Victor Fruk, museum Artist in Residence as he worked on a sculpture of a dinosaur.

When asked where he would be working, if he wasn’t working at the Indiana Dinosaur Museum, Fruk replied,” Hopefully, at the Smithsonian sir.”

“People are fascinated by them. All the major museums in the world have dinosaurs so, and we think it’s going to be the best small dinosaur museum in America,” Tarner stated.

While Dinosaurs are the main attraction, they’re not the only attraction. Guests can also tour the South Bend Chocolate Factory and explore the 90-acre Continental Divide Park where you’ll find draft horses and bison.

“What an addition. This is just incredible to have an amenity like this that’ll be open 12 months a year, seven days a week that will experience all the seasons,” added Jeff Jarneke with Visit South Bend, Mishawaka. “That’ll lure people near and far. A local amenity that’s just different than almost anything else we have available in the market.”

It’s hoped that the new tourist attraction will draw about 100,000 visitors a year.

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. It stops selling tickets at 4 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for adults, but $23 for South Bend residents and students with ID. Seniors ages 65+ get in for $22.50, children ages 3-17 are $20, and kids ages 2 and under are free.

For more information, head to the museum’s website or Facebook page.

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