Tyra the Dinosaur. (Image Credit: ID 43253356 © Ronniechua | Dreamstime.com)

By The Canadian Press

25 metre dinosaur

“Tyra” deemed safe, but some issues to address

Mar 26, 2026 | 12:59 PM

A structural checkup on Tyra the Dinosaur concludes the mammoth T-rex tourist attraction is feeling her age but is far from extinct.

The engineering firm contracted to analyze the 25-metre beast that towers over Drumheller, Alberta, says Tyra is safe to climb inside but has some issues, particularly with cracks in her fibreglass-metal “skin.”

It also found other issues, like pooling water, poor ventilation, rust and deteriorating grout. The repair bill is nothing to sneeze at, 154-thousand dollars to start with, and a lot more after that for maintenance.

Tyra has been the subject of controversy after it was announced last year she was set to be dismantled by the end of the decade.

That resulted in public backlash, including 25-thousand names on a petition calling for her to be spared, and town council now says it will consider Tyra’s future.

Tyra was erected a quarter-century ago and attracts 150-thousand visitors a year.

(The Canadian Press)