Life-Size Animatronic Dinosaur Stolen From New Port Richey Museum

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — It was only a day ago that Charles Zidar, director of MAPS, the Museum of Archaeology, Paleontology & Science in New Port Richey, was telling someone how impressed he was that nothing had ever been stolen from the museum. He followed up the comment by knocking on wood.

"I guess I jinxed it," Zidar said.

Upon arriving at the museum at 5520 Grand Blvd. Tuesday morning, Zidar discovered that a 60- to 80-pound animatronic baby velociraptor, part of the museum's Dinos & Dragons Exhibit of animatronic prehistoric creatures, was missing.

Valued at between $5,000 and $6,000, the high-tech, life-sized dinosaur along with its "mother" and two "siblings" had been strapped down inside a gated area outside the museum's home at the Harry Schwettman Education Center.

"It looks like they pulled up to the gate, broke in, cut the straps and hauled it off in a pickup truck," Zidar said.

While lifting and moving the 4-feet-tall and 8-feet-high dinosaur would have been difficult, possibly requiring more than one thief, it certainly wouldn't have been impossible for someone who was determined, Zidar said.

"It's probably on display in some teenager's bedroom, though I don't know how they'll explain the presence of a life-size dinosaur to their parents," he said.

Although he filed a report with the New Port Richey police, Zidar said he just wants the dinosaur returned and is willing to overlook its illegal acquisition.

That's because the museum is up against a deadline. On Tuesday, Zidar and his staff were scheduled to begin constructing the museum's largest exhibit since it opened during the pandemic.

The Dinos & Dragons Exhibit is scheduled to open Dec. 9 at the education center and run through Feb. 26. It will feature more than 100 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and dragons, as well as rides, a dino dig pit and other features encompassing the entire field surrounding the Schwettman Education Center. Visitors can also use virtual reality and other dino technology, see a dino dissection lab and check out other hands-on arts and science activities inside the buildings.

"It's very disappointing," he said. "I just hope someone knows something and tells the police."

Anyone with information is asked to call the New Port Richey police at 727-841-4550.

In the meantime, MAPS is going ahead with plans to present a free family screening of the Disney Pixar movie, "The Good Dinosaur," in cooperation with New Port Richey Parks & Recreation.

To kick off the upcoming Dinos & Dragons Exhibit, the museum plans to present the film during Family Movie Night in the Park at Sims Park in downtown New Port Richey on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.