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3.9
9 votes

Abandoned Prehistoric Forest

Lake Dr, Onsted, Michigan 49265 USA

  • Independent
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“freaky fiber glass creatures”

This place is on private property. Listing for informational purposes only. Please do not visit without express permission from the land owner. This is private property enter at your own risk! The Prehistoric Forest, built in the 60s and abandoned around 1999, had a safari train that took visitors around the 8-acre property, past a volcano and a waterfall.  There are dinosaur bones, serpents, pterodactyls, a dinosaur egg nest, cavemen, strange giant flowers and cacti, and 15 life-size dinosaurs.  These creations were the work of James Q. Sidwell who also made the statues for the Prehistoric Forest in Marblehead, OH and Dinosaur Land in White Post, VA.  After the ride, there was a dig site with fossils, footprints and bones. There was also a waterslide (added in the early 1980s) and a crazy maze - both now gone.  Although it's been closed for several years it is still there and many of the dinosaurs and whatnot can still be seen from the parking lot.

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Reviewed by
kirk.bennett.50

  • 1 Review
  • 5 Helpful
October 25, 2013
Rated

Don't go to Prehistoric Forest! I know some people who went last year and ended up with trespassing misdemeanors, $375 fine, 40 hours of community service, and 6 months of probation! I doubt it was worth that admission fee.

5 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Tim Balzer

  • 81 Reviews
  • 175 Helpful
July 18, 2014
Rated 5.0

We had to walk probably a mile out of the way an cut through a golf course to sneak into this place. It had recently snowed and it looked like there were bear tracks all over. The silence was deafening. But man, it was an awesome time! Good luck!

4 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
SydneyPhillips

  • 1 Review
  • 1 Helpful
February 27, 2017
Rated

My friend Mel and I went this past Saturday and it was pretty snowy out, around 25 degrees outside. When we first got there, I got a pretty weird vibe from the two large statues out front and this feeling carried on as we got inside by the broken fence. (It's pretty easy to get inside, there are paths everywhere.) But when we got in there, Mel wanted to take a picture in what seemed to be a totally normal photo spot and ended up stepping into a frozen-over pond. So, we went home with little to no experience of the park, and a sopping wet, cold Mel.

We're definitely going back, though! Just, make sure to go when it's warm and sunny out so you don't run into any trouble.​

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Angela.M.Petrey

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 07, 2014
Rated

This place was my brothers first job. After they shut down, we used to sneak back there to party.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Mydearstcreepy

  • 2 Reviews
  • 2 Helpful
November 01, 2013
Rated

why would i go if i cant even explore? thumbs down

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
terrywyse

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 23, 2019
Rated 5.0

I just went past there today never been there never knew it was there but the new owner if you read this let’s try to get this place open again more people are going on vacations more people need stuff to do it’s beautiful fix up there be a lot of volunteers to help I’m one :) ❤️ I would want it open again

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Reviewed by
Lisabisatravels

  • 13 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
July 24, 2018
Rated 5.0

We were able to explore without any problems. Took lots of amazing pics! Totally worth it!

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Reviewed by
markbaladad

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 24, 2018
Rated 5.0

This place is awesome! Seriously! We parked across the street at a business that is partly for sale and partly a yoga studio. There are actually a few different abandoned buildings in this town. It was pretty run down. When we walked across the street (to go to the park) an old man that lived in the tiny blue house right next to it was outside and watching us. He didn’t say anything so we kept walking to it. I was worried because some of the things i’ve read but we had ZERO issues. Another group of about 5 teens came at the same time and explored as well. We got so many cool pics and really enjoyed the place. I hate that people feel a need to destroy everything, but there was still plenty of cool stuff to see! We walked through all of the structures looking at what remained of the dinosaur statues and just enjoying the cool paths through the forrest. We explored for about 1.5 hours and then got in our car and left. No issues and definitely a cool experience! So worth the trip!

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Reviewed by
samantharevoldt

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
March 06, 2017
Rated

I was there Yesterday 03/05/17 and didnt get a chance to go inside as much as i really really wanted to go i didnt know where i could park the car and sneak in. I got photos from the front but really want to get back there soon and get photos of the inside ASAP. if anyone has any tips on how to get inside let me know :)

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Abandoned Prehistoric Forest

Lake Dr
Onsted, Michigan
49265 USA
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    Wheelchair Accessible
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