Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1471906
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JUNE 29 - JULY 5 10, 2022 UCW 19 Dinosaurs are back and at it again at Sweet Valley Ranch this sum- mer. With over 40 differ- ent animatronics, a fossil dig, a fossil museum and 350 animals at the ranch, this Fayetteville summer attraction has been at- tracting visitors from all over the country. ShaDonna "Mo" McPhaul, director of public relations, brand- ing and marketing for Surgeon & Associates, Inc., says the interest in Dinosaur World is vast. "You would be sur- prised that most of the people who visited were not even from Fayetteville. ey came from out of town to visit Dinosaur World," McPhaul said. Sweet Valley Ranch launched Dino- saur World last summer, which was a major success for the ranch. Last year, the attraction had 25 animatronics. e dinosaur trail this year is filled with far more, with over 40 moving dinosaurs and creatures. "It was a huge response, and I con- sidered making it bigger just from last year. It's going to get bigger and big- ger because what I think is happening is the world has a new infatuation with dinosaurs," McPhaul said, citing movies like Jurassic World: Domin- ion and Apple TV Plus's new show, Prehistoric Planet. But Dinosaur World is not just dinosaurs this year. Ice Age Animals will be appearing alongside all the prehistoric creatures: mammoths, dodo birds and even our early ances- tors - the cavemen. "I hope people come with their families and just enjoy the peace and the serenity of being on the farm. And of course, I hope they get to experi- ence all of the attractions," McPhaul said. e Sweet Valley Ranch Gives Back Program will also continue during Dinosaur World. e program aims to help charities that help people locally. Six different charities will rotate weekends manning one of the con- cession trucks. ey will receive a portion of the proceeds, and Sweet Valley Ranch will match up to $1,000 from Fred Surgeon and his wife. Participating charities include Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Fayetteville Area Habi- tat for Humanity, First In Families Cumberland Chapter, Let's Talk, Cumberland County School Nutrition Association, Vision Resource Center and Health And Nutritional Develop- ment Empowered ru Education (HAND-EE). By the end of the year, they hope to have given back $50,000. "I want people to know that they can come out in groups, field trips, birthday parties, family reunions," McPhaul said. "We want groups to come out and enjoy the farm." e farm itself is home to 350 animals. at includes horses, pigs, cows, rabbits, peacocks and a camel. Over 30% of the animals homed at Sweet Valley Ranch are rescues. Regular admission tickets will give attendees access to the Dinosaur World Trail, Ice Age, Reptile House, Fossil Museum, exotic bird aviary, fossil dig and a self-guided farm tour. Adult tickets (ages 12 and up) are $30. Children's tickets are $20. Children 3 and under get in for free. Tickets can be bought in-person or online at sweetvalleyranchnc.com/ tickets. ere are add-ons people can pay for, including a guided farm tour, go-kart nature trail rides, catch and release fishing, and ATVs. Dinosaur World will be at Sweet Valley Ranch until August 21. Dinosaurs return to Sweet Valley Ranch by HANNAH LEE EVENTS HANNAH LEE, Assistant Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. A child enjoys an animitronic Dinosaur at Sweet Valley Ranch's Dinosaur World attraction, 2021. e Dinosaur Trail has over 40 dinosaur animatronics to entertain all ages. (Photo by Hannah Lee) Healy Wholesale is pleased to announce the addition of another local Craft Brewery Hatchet Brewing Co is located in Southern Pines and is Veteran owned and operated. You can start looking for their beers in the bars and restaurants very soon. If they don't have it, ask them to bring it in.. SUPPORT LOCAL