Today we are recognizing the Vernal City public facilities crew for their efforts to restore, renovate and maintain two of our most famous roadside landmarks – T-Rex and Dinah. The three members of this crew show us how to commit to beautifying our hometown: Wayne Smith, Danny Anderson and Rhett Whitmire.
Pink Dinah was born in 1958. She was the creation of local entrepreneur Goerge Millecam. Pink Dinah’s first job was to hold the sign for Dine-A-Ville Motel and she remained at that location until the motel went out of business. Dinah was later moved to her current location at the curve on highway 40 and now holds a sign welcoming visitors that reads “Vernal – Utah’s Dinosaur Land”.
Dinah has become a famous roadside attraction and is featured in thousands of vacation photos. In 2023, Pink Dinah, was added to the National Register of Historic Places – only one of two dinosaur structures with such a designation.
Just recently, Dinah hit the news again. In May, a driver missed the turn on Hwy 40 and severed Pink Dinah’s tail. Fortunately, the driver walked away from the accident. Then the attention focused on the pink dino’s missing tail. Thanks to the swift actions of the dedicated crew being recognized today, Wayne, Danny and Rhett, Dinah’s tail was repaired and the statue was repainted head to tail in its signature “Dinah Pink” paint.
In 1969, George Millecam created another dinosaur sculpture out of a deep love for Vernal and dinosaurs. George constructed a life-size green Tyrannosaurus rex statue. T-Rex was not alone. He was accompanied by other dinosaur statues at the motel, all aimed at attracting visitors and sparking imaginations.
George donated the T-Rex to Vernal City, where he now proudly stands on Highway 40 near the curve by the post office, greeting visitors and residents alike.
Over the years, T-Rex has become a beloved community icon, particularly due to his festive costumes. In the past, during holiday seasons, T-Rex wore various costumes—from a pilgrim hat and turkey leg for Thanksgiving, bunny ears for Easter, graduation hat in May, red, white and blue for the 4th of July, to a Santa outfit for Christmas. The decorations have turned the T-Rex into a favorite spot for photos and a symbol of community spirit. Some day, a few of the costumes may return.
A few years ago, like all of us, T-Rex started showing signs of age and began to crumble on his edges, raising concerns about its future. The community faced a tough decision: repair T-Rex at a cost or let him go extinct.
To determine the fate of our beloved green dino, an online survey was sent out to the public. The response was overwhelming—our community shared a strong desire to save and repair T-Rex with a willingness to donate funds. This led to a community fundraising effort, raising an astounding $30,000 through the generous donations from residents and local businesses. The response was amazing and speaks to our wonderful giving community and the attachment to TRex.
The restoration project kicked off in 2022. TRex’s rough edges were repaired and he received a complete skinlift of stucco. The paint job was spearheaded by Ninty1 Designs with the generous donation of paint from Jones Paint and Glass. The final touches were completed in the spring of 2023. The city’s budget funded the bonus projects of a new sidewalk and grass, enhancing the statue’s surroundings and making it more welcoming and safe for visitors.
Today, we recognize three individuals who were a key component of these repairs and restorations for our larger than life dinosaur icons. Wayne Smith, Danny Anderson, and Rhett Whitmire from the Building Facility Crew at Vernal City went beyond their work duties to initiate and manage these projects.
We thank the “behind the scenes” crew for all of their hard work, expertise and attention to maintaining our famous dinos and beautifying Vernal. Through their creativity and dedication, they restored T-Rex and repaired Dinah to their former glory. The restoration of our dinosaur statues is a testament to the strength of our community, commitment to beautification and the enduring legacy of George Millecam.
These statues are more than just landmarks; they are symbols of our town’s history, creativity, and collective spirit.
