The uproar of Drumheller residents and dinosaur enthusiasts who were rocked by the announcement of the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce during its Annual General Meeting in March 2025 that it would not renew its lease with the Town of Drumheller, putting the future of Tyra the World’s Largest Dinosaur in peril, has been sated as the Chamber, Town of Drumheller, and Travel Drumheller have come together to make a collaborative plan for the future of the renowned and beloved attraction.
Following the announcement, which took Drumheller Town council members and residents alike by surprise, the Town held a special meeting of council on Thursday, March 27 where council moved to discuss the future of the World’s Largest Dinosaur (WLD) with partner agencies Travel Drumheller and the Chamber.
“We’re looking forward to working on lockstep with our partners to research and consider options for the WLD,” says Town of Drumheller Chief Administrative Officer Darryl Drohomerski in a press release. “This is the start of a process grounded in collaboration and shared purpose.”
Strategic next steps will be identified by the three groups. This will involve conducting a physical examination of the steel and fibreglass structure to get a better understanding of its longevity and overall lifespan, and future planning.
“The World’s Largest Dinosaur is deeply tied to Drumheller’s tourism identity,” says Travel Drumheller Executive Director Julia Fielding. “We’re committed to keeping her memory alive while ensuring that our community continues to thrive as a destination well beyond 2029.”
Since opening in 2000, Tyra has welcomed some 2.7 million visitors, with 132,600 visitors making the climb to the lookout within Tyra’s mouth in 2024 alone; the record year for highest visitation was in 2001 with a total of 145,517 visitors.
Along with attracting visitors, proceeds from both admissions and gift shop sales have supported numerous community projects throughout Tyra’s lifetime through the WLD Legacy Fund. In total, $842,629 has been reinvested back into the Drumheller region since 2000, with over $40,000 in 2024 to projects such as the outdoor ice-skating trail pilot project by Badlands Trail Society and the Midlandvale Community Hall Association outdoor accessible rink project.
