Dinosaur World (Arkansas)
Encyclopedia
Dinosaur World, earlier known as John Agar's Land of Kong, was a tourist attraction in Beaver, Arkansas
. It was a theme park covering 65 acres (263,045.9 m²), which contained a hundred life-size sculptures of dinosaurs, cavemen, and other prehistoric creatures. The park closed in 2005. It was the largest dinosaur park in the world.
The park was started in the 1960s when Ola Farwell built a 40 feet (12.2 m) tall statue of King Kong
known as the "World's Largest King Kong". Farwell's partner was film actor John Agar
(who would later appear in the 1976 version of King Kong
).
The sculptures were created by Emmet Sullivan
, who also designed the dinosaur statues in Dinosaur Park
and Wall Drug
in South Dakota
, and the Christ of the Ozarks
statue in nearby Eureka Springs, Arkansas
.
Along with the nearby Beaver Dam, a few of the park's dinosaurs are featured briefly during the opening scenes of the 1968 horror movie It's Alive.
The tyrannosaurus is featured in the 2005 film Elizabethtown
and is shown on the film's cover.
As of 2006 the park was intact but completely grown over. Oddly all the shelves in the gift shop were still stocked.
On August 3, 2011, a fire destroyed the park's main building. The fire was suspected to be arson
.
Beaver, Arkansas
Beaver is a town in Carroll County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 95 at the 2000 census. Beaver contains the Beaver Store Inn, a bed and breakfast and general store, located next to the waterfront town-operated Beaver RV and Camping Park....
. It was a theme park covering 65 acres (263,045.9 m²), which contained a hundred life-size sculptures of dinosaurs, cavemen, and other prehistoric creatures. The park closed in 2005. It was the largest dinosaur park in the world.
The park was started in the 1960s when Ola Farwell built a 40 feet (12.2 m) tall statue of King Kong
King Kong
King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
known as the "World's Largest King Kong". Farwell's partner was film actor John Agar
John Agar
John George Agar was an American actor. He starred alongside John Wayne in the films Sands of Iwo Jima, Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, but was later relegated to B movies, such as Tarantula, The Mole People, The Brain from Planet Arous, Flesh and the Spur, and Hand of Death...
(who would later appear in the 1976 version of King Kong
King Kong (1976 film)
King Kong is a 1976 American monster movie produced by Dino De Laurentiis and directed by John Guillermin. It is a remake of the 1933 classic film of the same name, about a giant ape that is captured and imported to New York City for exhibition....
).
The sculptures were created by Emmet Sullivan
Emmet Sullivan
Emmet Sullivan, was an American sculptor. He was born in Powder River, Montana, and worked on Mount Rushmore, and later created the five dinosaurs in Dinosaur Park in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1934, his first large scale project...
, who also designed the dinosaur statues in Dinosaur Park
Dinosaur Park
Dinosaur Park is a science-fiction novel by Hayford Peirce first published by Tor in 1989 under the title The Thirteenth Majestral and republished as Dinosaur Park in 1994. The nondescript cover of the original book had no relation to the story...
and Wall Drug
Wall Drug
Wall Drug Store, often referred to simply as "Wall Drug", is a tourist attraction located in the town of Wall, South Dakota, United States. It is a shopping mall consisting of a drug store, gift shop, restaurants and various other stores. Unlike a traditional shopping mall, all the stores at Wall...
in South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, and the Christ of the Ozarks
Christ of the Ozarks
Christ of the Ozarks statue is a monumental sculpture of Jesus located near Eureka Springs, Arkansas, atop Magnetic Mountain. It was erected in 1966 as a "Sacred Project" by Gerald L. K. Smith. He briefly led the Share Our Wealth movement initiated by Huey P. Long during the Great...
statue in nearby Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs is a city in Carroll County, Arkansas, United States. Along with Berryville, it is one of the two county seats for the county. It is located in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 2,350...
.
Along with the nearby Beaver Dam, a few of the park's dinosaurs are featured briefly during the opening scenes of the 1968 horror movie It's Alive.
The tyrannosaurus is featured in the 2005 film Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown (film)
Elizabethtown is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. Alec Baldwin has a small role as a CEO of an athletic shoe company and Susan Sarandon appears as a grieving widow...
and is shown on the film's cover.
As of 2006 the park was intact but completely grown over. Oddly all the shelves in the gift shop were still stocked.
On August 3, 2011, a fire destroyed the park's main building. The fire was suspected to be arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
.