Please help me i.d. a park near Frankenmuth (Birch Run: to live, vacation)

[SteveMichiganman]

My parents, sister and I vacationed in Frankenmuth many times during the 70s. My aunt, uncle and cousins used to live there and we would visit them frequently. On the way up, my dad would fuel up at a gas station on the outskirts of Frankenmuth. Across the street (kitty-corner from the station) was a park for families to take their children. It had swings and slides and big dinosaur statues. Once my relatives relocated, we didn't visit Frankenmuth as often. When a former girlfriend and I did a daytrip to Frankenmuth (in 1992), we drove past the above-mentioned park. However, more recently (early 2000s), my parents took me to Zehnder's for a birthday dinner. Alas, I couldn't find the above-mentioned park. Perhaps my dad took a different route and we didn't drive past it? Or maybe the park doesn't exist anymore? Is anybody familiar with this park? If so, what was its name? By the way, this park is NOT the abandoned Prehistoric Forest theme park in Irish Hills.

All help will be appreciated!

Thank you in advance!

Sincerely,


Steve.

[jaynarie]

Are you sure they were dinosaurs? Could it have been a statue of a giraffe?
My best guess is that you are thinking of the Wilderness Park on Gera Rd, at the intersection of Birch Run Rd.

Here is a link to the park: Wilderness Trails Zoo

Sorry it is so small:

[SteveMichiganman]

Thanks for responding, "jaynarie!"

Chances are,"my park" had dinosaurs. I was a dinosaur fanatic in the third and fourth grade and vividly remember admiring the statues during this time-frame. Of course, I preferred the dinos at Prehistoric Forest in Irish Hills. They were animatronic and therefore moved and growled. Nevertheless, I enjoyed anything that involved prehistoric creatures. The statues in "my park" caught my eye on several occasions. They were still there as of 1992. I'm not sure what happened to them afterwards.

I'm almost positive the site was not a zoo, too.

Sincerely,


Steve.

[jaynarie]

You will probably find more success asking in the general Michigan forum, then. I've been to Frankenmuth hundreds of times in my life and I do not remember any dinosaurs. However, with the exception of just a handful of times, I've entered town from 83/Gera Rd.

And- there is a park at the 'zoo'. It is not much of a 'zoo'. And there are a few other statues, too, but I haven't been there in a decade and giraffes are my favorite animal.

[SteveMichiganman]

I think I will follow your advice.

Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,


Steve