The 100-foot, 60-ton Sauroposeidon animatronic at Field Station: Dinosaurs in Derby, Kansas, was destroyed after a lightning strike on April 25. Firefighters contained the blaze and prevented damage to other exhibits, and the park opened the next day so visitors could "pay their respects." Operations manager Steven Howe said a full rebuild could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and would require rare hand-sculpted foam work and new wiring; the park may opt to replace only the head and leave the steel frame exposed.
Lightning Destroys 100-Foot, 60-Ton Animatronic Sauroposeidon at Kansas Dinosaur Park
Fire at Field Station: Dinosaurs in Derby, Kan.Credit: DerbyFireRescue/Facebook
On the evening of Saturday, April 25, a bolt of lightning ignited and destroyed a 100-foot, three-story Sauroposeidon animatronic at Field Station: Dinosaurs in Derby, Kansas. The replica—one of the park's largest attractions at roughly 60 tons—caught fire around 8:30 p.m., according to posts from the Derby Fire Department and the park.
Field Station: Dinosaurs fireCredit: DerbyFireRescue/Facebook
The Fire and Emergency Response
Derby firefighters arrived to find "heavy fire" coming from the massive structure but were able to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading across the park's 10 acres. Crews gained access to the site and protected other exhibits, with the department quipping that the action spared the park from an "extinction level event" and joking it was "the first dinosaur fire Derby has experienced in 65 million years." Photographs shared by first responders and the park showed the animatronic engulfed in flames and the charred remains after the fire was extinguished.
Aftermath of the fire at Field Station: Dinosaurs in Derby, KansasCredit: Field Station: Dinosaurs Derby, Kansas/Facebook
Damage, Recovery Options and Cost
In a post the day after the fire, Field Station: Dinosaurs said it would open from noon to 5 p.m. so visitors could "pay our last respects to Sauroposeidon (2018-2026)." Operations manager Steven Howe told local station KSN that restoring the dinosaur would be costly and technically challenging. "We're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars," Howe said, describing the likely expense to fully rebuild the figure.
Fire crews putting out the fire at Field Station: DinosaursCredit: DerbyFireRescue/Facebook
Howe explained that the animatronic's exterior was created by attaching foam to a steel frame and hand-sculpting every wrinkle and nodule—artisanal work that is increasingly rare. A full replacement would also require rewiring the internal systems. As an alternative, the park is considering replacing only the dinosaur's head and leaving the scorched metal frame exposed to show guests how the attraction was constructed.
About the Park
Field Station: Dinosaurs is an outdoor attraction that spans roughly 10 acres and features more than 40 life-sized, moving dinosaur models, live shows, games and a fossil-dig area for visitors. Park officials have not announced a timeline for restoration or replacement, and they did not immediately respond to additional requests for comment.
Quick Facts: Sauroposeidon replica: ~100 ft long, ~60 tons; struck by lightning on April 25; fire contained by Derby Fire Department; park remained open the next day for visitors.
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