I was told that Vermontasaurus was a “must-see” as I made my way through Vermont — one of those roadside detours that locals swear by and tourists roll past without knowing. It was a gloomy travel day and this pit-stop turned out to be a genuine bright spot. It’s quick — maybe 20 to 30 minutes — but it’s the kind of stop that stays with you.
We pulled off the road toward the Post Mills Airport and there they were: a family of massive dinosaur sculptures built entirely from salvaged lumber. Artist Brian Boland has created something genuinely astonishing here. The sheer scale of the structures stops you cold. His creativity is inspiring and it’s one of those unexpected places that reminds you why it pays to pull off the road.
Note that they ask you not to walk under the structures. You can read about it in a display of photos at the largest dinosaur.
Missy’s Honest Take
Who this stop is perfect for: Anyone on a road trip through Vermont who wants a five-minute detour that becomes a talking point for the rest of the trip. This is for the curious, the spontaneous, and anyone who still believes the best things aren’t on the itinerary. Kids will be delighted. Adults will be quietly amazed. It costs nothing.
The thing nobody tells you: The scale genuinely surprises you. Photos don’t capture how large these structures are until you’re standing next to them. There’s a display of photos at the largest dinosaur that tells the story — worth reading. And they do ask you not to walk under the structures, which the signage makes clear.
Worth combining with: If you’re passing through this part of Vermont, Treasure Island is just down the road. And if you are looking to get more stamps in your National Park Passport book, check out Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park.
Basics
Location: Thetford, VT (adjacent to the Post Mills Airport)
Parking: The display is in an open field. You can pull off the side of the road and park in the field.
Bathrooms: None available
One More Thing – Catch Yourself Smiling moment
I’ve stood in front of a lot of extraordinary things in a lot of extraordinary parks. Vermontasaurus is different. It’s not grand or solemn or historically significant. It’s just one person’s completely unnecessary, absolutely magnificent decision to build giant dinosaurs from scrap wood in a Vermont field next to an airport.
I drove away smiling at nothing in particular — which is, it turns out, the whole point. Joy doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes it just appears next to the Post Mills Airport on a gloomy Tuesday.
What’s your unexpected roadside joy moment? I’m collecting these.