Back in 2000, as the World's Largest Dinosaur (WLD) was being built in Drumheller, summer student Heather Bitz watched the construction.
A quarter of a century later, Bitz now serves as the executive director of the Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce. Just earlier this week, the chamber announced that the WLD would be closing down by the end of 2029.
"We had a previous 25-year lease with the town for the building and the land that the WLD sits on. We were in the process of renewing the lease, and we were offered a five-year lease extension" said Bitz.
"Prior to that we had been working through some decisions on the WLD going forward through our strategic planning process as well, so those both kind of coincided."
The chamber announced that they do not intend to keep the WLD in Drumheller and are not currently looking at any replacements.
"This change is going to allow us to refocus on our core mission of supporting our local businesses, helping to support their growth and success, and being an advocate for those businesses."
Bitz said she never expected to become the executive director of the chamber when she was watching the WLD's construction following the turn of the century.
"It's been an interesting time here to see all sorts of things happen in the community and Drumheller as a whole, but I've been a part of the WLD for many years."
In a five-year average, the chamber saw around 111,000 people visit the man-made tourist attraction every year.
"As of the end of last year, we've had a total of 2.7 million visitors, and we expect to reach the 3 million mark by the end of 2029."
The announcement came as a shock to the community, with Drumheller Town Council holding a special council meeting to discuss the closure, and a concerned resident creating a petition to prevent the WLD from shutting down.
Although the WLD will be closed by the end of the decade, the attraction will remain open until then for residents and visitors to enjoy.