Inside Prehistoric Forest: Michigan’s Abandoned Jurassic Landmark

Nestled in the Irish Hills, in Onsted, Michigan, lies the remnants of one of Michigan's finest attractions: Prehistoric Forest.

A Childhood Birthday Destination

To some, this now abandoned monument, made of papier-mâché and fiberglass, is just another overgrown vacant storefront. But to me, it was a destination, one that I was overjoyed to host my 11th birthday party.

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Rise of US‑12 Roadside Attractions

Atlas Obscura reports it originally opened in 1963. Around that time, Prehistoric Forest was just one of many attractions (tourist traps) that lined US-12 in Mid-Michigan. A quick trip down the road from this Jurassic era attraction, you could transport yourself into the wild west at Stagecoach Stop (first opened in 1965), or watch water run uphill at the Mystery Hill (1953).

But Prehistoric Forest and its collection of dinosaurs, cave men, and wooly mammoths captured my imagination at a very early age. Maybe it was the 400-foot waterslide, the giant brontosaurus near the front entrance whose head rested upon a palm tree, or maybe it was the gift shop, filled with finds you could only stumble upon in a Michigan tourist trap.

Whatever it was, I was fascinated by The Prehistoric Forest and spent as much time there as I could. I was overjoyed to invite my friends to my birthday party, where we rode the "train" around the attraction and took in the fiberglass animals. There were even large fake rock formations to climb around (although I'm not sure if we were supposed to, but we did).

Could a Dino Reboot Happen?

Why mention it? Well, Jurassic Park is relevant 30 years after the original movie (35 years since the book) with six sequels and counting. Who's to say that Prehistoric Forest couldn't experience a successful reboot after being closed since 2003?

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So the next time you stumble upon an article featuring photos of this once great roadside attraction in Michigan, remember: it's not abandoned. It's filled with the memories of generations of kids who believed that dinosaurs could travel through time and take up residence in the Irish Hills of Michigan.