Drumheller's landmark attraction, the World’s Largest Dinosaur — affectionately known as Tyra — will permanently close and be dismantled when its lease expires in December 2029, the Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce confirmed Wednesday.
For 25 years, Tyra has been a towering symbol of Drumheller’s rich connection to dinosaur history and tourism, attracting visitors from around the world.
The 25-metre-tall, 65-tonne structure, alongside the adjoining visitor information centre and gift shop, will cease operation at the end of the lease period. According to Chamber officials, the decision aligns with long-term strategic planning and refocuses resources toward local business advocacy and economic development.
"While this announcement is a difficult one, it’s also an opportunity for the Chamber to refocus on our core mission: supporting local businesses, advocating on their behalf and fostering economic growth in Drumheller," said Lana Phillips, Chamber president, in a news release. "We invite the community and visitors to make the most of the remaining years to create lasting memories with Tyra."
The Chamber's lease, recently extended by the Town of Drumheller, will not be renewed past 2029. Future plans for the land, located in a prime spot downtown, fall under the town’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The Chamber advised directing land-use questions to municipal officials.
Relocating Tyra elsewhere is impractical, officials noted, due to the dinosaur's steel frame, aging fibreglass construction and sheer size — 4.5 times bigger than a real T-Rex.
"Tyra, the World’s Largest Dinosaur, is indeed large. She is 25 metres tall and weighs 65 tonnes," stated the Chamber's FAQ. "The steel and aging fiberglass construction makes the dinosaur even more difficult to move. We are not exploring relocation options at this time."
Constructed in 2000, the dinosaur has been managed by the Chamber from inception, alongside the visitor information centre, under a longstanding fee-for-service agreement with Drumheller. Management of the facility was historically aligned with the Chamber's mandate of promoting local commerce.
"Our primary purpose is to promote and advocate for local businesses who call Drumheller home, and we are looking forward to spending more time on that focus," the Chamber stated.
Tyra remains safe for visitors to climb, with ongoing maintenance and regular safety inspections scheduled to continue until closure.
Since its construction, the World’s Largest Dinosaur has been more than a tourist attraction—it has been a community cornerstone. The Chamber confirmed it does not plan to sell Tyra nor seek another operator.
"As the owners of the World’s Largest Dinosaur and gift shop, and operators of the visitor information centre, we have secured a land lease extension through to 2029. We are not interested in continuing the lease beyond that time," the Chamber said.
"At the end of the lease in 2029, the Chamber will be decommissioning Tyra and vacating the gift shop and visitor information center," it continued. "Inquiries about Tyra may be made but we are not actively pursuing another home for the dinosaur."
The Chamber emphasized that community members will have ample opportunity to commemorate Tyra before her dismantling. Plans to share memories, photos and community stories are currently underway, with further details expected before the lease expiry.
"We’ll be looking for ways to honour the memories, stories, and community impact that Tyra has created over the years," said Chamber executive director Heather Bitz. "Tyra’s story isn’t ending—it’s evolving."
The Chamber is committed to working with partners to explore ways to preserve this legacy even after the attraction’s closure through community initiatives, storytelling, and potential commemorative projects. By preserving the stories and symbols tied to Tyra, the Chamber aims to create lasting reminders of her role in shaping Drumheller’s identity, growth, and support for local businesses.
Addressing concerns over potential impacts to Drumheller tourism, given the attraction's popularity alongside the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the Chamber emphasized ongoing collaboration with Travel Drumheller, local businesses, and the town to ensure continued economic growth.
"Key partners like Travel Drumheller and the Town of Drumheller will be instrumental in driving tourism to the town. The future is very bright," officials stated in the FAQ document.
Regarding the possibility of replacing the attraction, the Chamber advised that it is premature to speculate and deferred tourism-related inquiries to Travel Drumheller and municipal authorities.
Tyra’s admission fees and gift shop sales support local projects via the WLD Legacy Fund, which invested $40,000 into the community in 2024.
The Chamber confirmed plans to maintain this commitment with another $40,000 contribution in 2025. Adjustments and future planning for the fund will be discussed as closure approaches.
In response to questions about why Chamber membership wasn’t broadly consulted on the closure, officials clarified that strategic planning and ongoing board-level discussions led to the decision.
"Remaining on the current site past 2029 did not align with our strategic planning process," the Chamber explained. "Given the likelihood of redevelopment of the site, the Chamber felt it should explore other options for its offices and operations after 2029."
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