More than 21,000 people have signed an online petition to save Tyra, the 25-metre-tall dinosaur statue that has stood over Drumheller since 2000. The petition follows a decision by the local Chamber of Commerce to decommission the World’s Largest Dinosaur in 2029.
The petition, launched March 27—the same day Drumheller town council held a special meeting—calls on the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce to keep the attraction open beyond the expiry of its current lease.
"Tyra needs us! If Tyra requires upgrades or ongoing maintenance, let's openly discuss solutions. Perhaps another community-led organization can step forward to manage her. Let's explore these possibilities together," the petition reads.
"Best thing Drumheller has going for it," one person wrote.
"Drumheller wouldn't be the same without her. I personally make a point to stop at Tyra every time I'm passing through," another added.
"My parents have pictures with Tyra. I have pictures with Tyra and I’d like my kids to have this moment as well. She is an icon. Something generations will see," said another supporter.
Several commenters referenced childhood memories and Alberta’s tourism culture.
"As an Albertan, visiting this dinosaur was one of my favourite childhood memories, and is such an icon of Alberta culture."
"Tyra is far too special to be torn down with no thought for trying to save her and keep her standing tall in Drumheller," another wrote. "In a world that changes more every day (and often not for the better), the preservation of such innocent wonders feels like passing down a legacy. ... Here's the truth: we can't do anything about asteroids, but we don't have to crater everything left standing."
Council holds special meeting after Chamber’s announcement
At a special meeting held on March 27, the council unanimously passed a motion to begin discussions with Travel Drumheller and the Chamber to develop one-, three-, and five-year plans that could secure the dinosaur’s future.
"As for the motion, we will meet with Travel Drumheller and the Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce to determine the one, three, five-year plan so we can make some concrete decisions for the future," said Mayor Heather Colberg.
The Town issued a statement earlier that day confirming it was not informed of the Chamber’s decision until the night of the AGM.
"This news came as a shock, as the Town was not made aware of this decision until it was publicly announced last night at the Chamber of Commerce’s Annual General Meeting," Colberg said in the release. "Given the significance of the World’s Largest Dinosaur to our community and tourism industry, we will be holding a Special Meeting of Council to discuss the impacts of this decision and explore next steps."
During the meeting, officials emphasized the need for collaboration among the Town, Chamber and tourism agency.
"... This was all a bit of a shock to everyone today," town officials said. "Trying to go through it all and coming up with questions, and I think our administration and the team at all those three organizations are going to be able to have a discussion about this, and that's our goal."
Coun. Patrick Kolafa questioned the terms of the existing lease and whether the Chamber could choose to extend it.
"I just wanted a little bit of clarification in learning about this as such a surprise that we do have a lease with them up until 2029—but they still have the ability to extend that, if indeed they like. It's open-ended, and as such..."
Coun. Tom Zariski said a meeting with the Chamber and Travel Drumheller is essential.
"I think it's obvious that we have to meet with the Chamber and Travel Drumheller over this issue. Tyra has been there for 25 years now, we're not quite sure what the life expectancy of her will be, but we look forward to that discussion."
Colberg asked for patience from residents as discussions begin.
"I ask the patience of the community to allow us time to absorb this, do our homework, and figure out what the one, three, and five-year plan is for the Chamber so that we can do some reacting and figure out what the direction is for the town."
Chamber cites shift in strategic priorities
The Chamber announced that Tyra, along with the attached visitor centre and gift shop, will close when the lease expires in December 2029. The 25-metre-tall, 65-tonne structure has served as a climbing attraction since its construction in 2000.
Chamber president Lana Phillips said the decision reflects a shift in the organization’s priorities.
"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," she said in a statement.
Community calls to relocate Tyra have been ruled out due to engineering constraints.
"Tyra, the World’s Largest Dinosaur, is indeed large. She is 25 meters tall and weighs 65 tonnes," the Chamber stated in its public FAQ. "The steel and aging fiberglass construction makes the dinosaur even more difficult to move. We are not exploring relocation options at this time."
The Chamber said safety inspections and regular maintenance will continue until the decommissioning date.
Economic impact and legacy
Tyra has drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, many of whom also visit the nearby Royal Tyrrell Museum. Revenue from the attraction funds the WLD Legacy Fund, which contributed $40,000 to community projects in 2024 and is set to do the same in 2025.
"Key partners like Travel Drumheller and the Town of Drumheller will be instrumental in driving tourism to the town. The future is very bright," the Chamber stated.
Chamber officials said efforts will be made to preserve Tyra’s legacy in the years ahead.
"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."
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM.
DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app.