For Immediate Release: August 10, 2026
Embark on a globetrotting expedition to the Age of Reptiles as a fan-favorite traveling exhibit returns to the Botanical Garden!
Columbia, SC, August 2, 2026 — Riverbanks Zoo and Garden presents Dinosaurs Around the World: The Great Outdoors from Thursday, September 17, 2026, to Monday, January 4, 2027. In this specially constructed outdoor version of the popular Dinosaurs Around the World exhibition, visitors will be whisked back in time on a dinosaur adventure and a tour of an Earth that’s very different from the one we inhabit today. Guests can ride the Saluda Skyride to soar above the river and treetops on their way to the Botanical Garden, where towering dinosaurs, soundscapes, and immersive storytelling create a prehistoric adventure.
Travel back to the time before the continents as we know them existed, when arid deserts covered Brazil and polar darkness was the norm in Australia! With advanced animatronics, a multi-layered narrative, cutting-edge research, in an outdoor environment surrounded by nature, you’ll experience the Age of Reptiles brought back to life!
Dinosaurs Around the World invites you to the supercontinent of Pangea to discover how plate tectonics, land bridges, and volcanic activity allowed dinosaurs to disperse to all corners of the globe, giving each of today’s continents its own unique selection of these giant reptiles. During their 172-million-year reign, dinosaurs adapted into a variety of forms due to the different environmental conditions each continent possessed. The exhibition includes 10 animatronics such as the mighty T. rex of North America, the bi-pedal predator Herrerasaurus, one of the first dinosaurs to appear on Earth, and the bizarre, bony-crested Oviraptor from Mongolia!
At Riverbanks, the Age of Reptiles doesn’t end with the animatronics. Guests can continue their journey with encounters from the zoo’s own modern-day reptiles, from American alligator and Komodo dragon to Galapagos tortoises, king cobras, iguanas, and more, connecting prehistoric giants to the species that still roam our planet today.
Dr. Gregory M. Erickson, a world-renowned dinosaur paleontologist, serves as Senior Scientific Advisor for Dinosaurs Around the World. His research focuses primarily on dinosaur growth, life history, and feeding biomechanics, and he has participated in over forty expeditions across the globe. Dr. Erickson is working with Imagine Exhibitions as an advisor, writer, and editor of the paleontology copy for the Company’s Dinosaurs Around the World exhibition.
Riverbanks President and CEO, Tommy Stringfellow shared, “Dinosaurs Around the World was a fan favorite when it first visited Riverbanks, and we’re delighted to welcome it back. This exhibit brings prehistoric history to life in our Botanical Garden, and when you pair that with a ride on the Saluda Skyride and encounters with our own living reptiles, it’s an experience families will remember long after their visit and one that connects the past to today’s conservation challenges.”
“Dinosaurs Around the World will transport visitors back in time to the unrecognizable landscape of Pangea in a playful and educational way,” said Tom Zaller, President & CEO of Imagine Exhibitions. “I am proud of all that our team at Imagine Exhibitions has accomplished with our partners to achieve that goal.”
Come explore Dinosaurs Around the World: The Great Outdoors, open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a limited engagement through Monday, January 4th. The exhibition is included with general admission and membership; tickets are available at riverbanks.org and at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.
For Media Inquiries
Matt Perron | +1.803.602.0840 | mperron@riverbanks.org
For Business Related Inquiries Including Hosting the Exhibition
Debbie Donohue | +1.404.808.7578 | ddonohue@theimagineteam.com
| Dinosaur Images |
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About Riverbanks Zoo and Garden: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to more than 3,000 magnificent and fascinating animals and one of America’s best public gardens. The Zoo opened on April 25, 1974, and for over five decades, has connected individuals, families and school children with the natural world. Riverbanks is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is recognized as a global leader in animal care and welfare, education, recreation, science and wildlife conservation. It is the mission of the Zoo and Garden to create meaningful connections and inspire actions that will have a lasting impact on wildlife and wild places. For more information, visit riverbanks.org.
About Imagine Exhibitions: Imagine (formerly known as Imagine Exhibitions) is a global leader in immersive storytelling and experiential design, specializing in the development of world-class exhibitions and attractions for museums, studios, IPs, brands, and leisure destinations worldwide. Through its four core services—Exhibitions, Studio, Retail, and Operations—Imagine created visitor experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire.
Imagine’s Exhibitions division creates, tours, and operates award-winning traveling experiences like Harry Potter™: The Exhibition and Titanic: The Exhibition, captivating audiences and driving attendance worldwide. Its Studio plans, designs, and produces both traveling and permanent experiences, offering comprehensive creative services for clients seeking unique, story-driven experiences. The Retail division enhances guest engagement and drives revenue through bespoke product development, store design, and operations, while the Operations team provides extensive consulting, marketing, and operational support, ensuring the seamless and profitable management of visitor experiences across various venues.
Imagine is currently producing, presenting or operating more than 40 unique experiences around the globe, spanning museums, science centers, zoos, botanical gardens, integrated resorts, and non-traditional venues. For more information, visit theimagineteam.com.