Dino The Bayville Dinosaur Slated For A Makeover In The Near Future

BAYVILLE, NJ - Dino the Bayville dinosaur will have a new head and a new look, hopefully sometime in the near future, members of the iconic landmark's restoration committee said.

"The committee would like to thank everyone who got behind this effort because it could not have succeeded without the backing of the thousands of people from the community and beyond who have supported the restoration effort with kind words and donations to the cause..." according committee Chairman Steve Baeli and Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr.

Dino now sits in front of the newly-renovated Heritage Square Professional Center on Route 9 South. It's been his home for more than 80 years. He is covered in fraying shrink wrap. His head was removed several years ago after a crack developed in his neck. His head now rests securely in front of the Berkeley Township Historical Society on Route 9 South.

Baeli recently met with Anthony and Lisa Zangari, the new owners of the renovated 10,000 square-foot center and former Bayville resident Shannon MacDonald, the artist charged with Dino's redesign.

"The consensus was that the rendering was excellent, both artistically and historically, as it balanced and melded those two vital elements in a way that complimented each other," Baeli said. "The current vision will address the positioning of the head in a very artistic and majestic manner that will bring it back off the highway and out of the line of traffic."

Dino has a long history in Bayville. He's been perched in various incarnations in front of the building since 1935, when William Farrow bought him for $5 and set Dino up as an advertisement for his taxidermy business.

But he had a life before that. Dino was built as part of the 1925 silent film, "The Lost World," which makes him about 92 years old, Baeli said.

Dino's insides consist of a wooden frame covered in chicken wire and plastered cement. He was covered with plastic shrink wrap a few years ago as protection from the weather.

There have been various renovations to Dino over the decades. Sometimes he had spikes, sometimes he didn't. In 1961 a previous owner changed the look of his head and even added lit green eyes and a red mouth. But he'd been whacked too many times by passing trucks as traffic on Route 9 increased over the years.

"All of this led to the head being knocked loose time and again to the point that it needed to be replaced, which again changed the look as each generation gave it its own character, some good, and some not so good looking..." , Baeli said.

The Committee to Restore the Bayville Dinosaur is a joint effort represented by Mayor Carmen Amato and Councilman James J. Byrnes Berkeley Township Historical Society President James Fosbre, Baeli, who represents the Berkeley Township Citizens Group. and Detective David Burker, a member of the Berkeley Township Policemen's Benevolent Association.

Baeli wrote a column from Dino's point of view several years ago. To read it, click here.

Photos: by Patricia A. Miller