Long a popular attraction of the Cañon City area, the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience has announced that it will be shutting down at the end of the year.

“We are saddened to inform our community that the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience (RGDE) will be closing its doors for the final time on December 31, 2025,” reads a statement from the company. “The RGDE began its wild, near-decade-long run on July 16, 2016, and has had the honor of showcasing and sharing southern Colorado’s rich paleontological past with hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world.”

Over the years, the property grew its collection to 27 life-size fossil casts, also home to a three-story ropes course.

Not many details were provided behind why the closure is taking place aside from that the business climate of the past several years was a factor.

In weeks leading up to the end of the year, the RGDE will remain open and welcoming to visitors – both the museum and the ropes course. Items in the gift shop will be sold with progressive discounts until the last day of operations, with the facility listed for sale, as well.

Per a listing on Crexi, the property was first listed for sale in 2024. Spanning close to 36 acres, the building on the property is 19,000 square feet. In the Crexi listing, it’s priced at $2,250,000.

The Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience is located eight miles from Cañon City and 4.5 miles from the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.

Learn more about planning a visit prior to its closure at the end of the year here.