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Dinosaur Park
Lonnie Coffman's vision of a dinosaur park was initially personal. As a child, he fell in love with prehistoric animals and spent countless hours reading books about them and natural history. That love followed him into adulthood when he dreamed of a place where kids could see life-sized models of ancient animals.
Coffman moved to the desert and carefully created his park on a 17.5-acre plot. He used concrete to craft dinosaur sculptures, relying on his research to ensure the accuracy of their size and proportions. His commitment to detail was so strong that he even corresponded with officials in Washington, seeking precise measurements to incorporate Noah's Ark into his park. This addition was intended to blend his love for natural history with a broader educational narrative.
The park became a labor of love, with Coffman working tirelessly from sunrise to sunset. Despite his quiet nature, he would passionately educate visitors, particularly busloads of schoolchildren, about the lives of dinosaurs. These visits were always free of charge, highlighting Coffman's desire to inspire and educate rather than profit from his creation.
However, the park's upkeep and maintenance were too costly. After over a decade of financing his dream from his pocket, he finally depleted his savings. When Coffman turned to the county for assistance, they said no. He had no choice but to shut down the project, abandoning the park and its model dinosaurs to the desert elements.
Coffman left the area in 1982, deeply disheartened by the loss of his dream. According to his former neighbor, Rose McHenry, he was a broken man. His concrete dinosaurs, weathered by time, stood as poignant reminders of his dedication and the joy they brought to countless visitors. The remains of his park stand quietly today as proof of the man who wanted to share his love for it with everybody when he was facing enormous difficulties.
