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T he C oast News
JULY 17, 2015
Escondido dinosaur museum not ready for extinction By Ellen Wright
knick-knacks, or even reESCONDIDO — For cent college graduates. most North County resiFor Keith Roynon, it’s dents a garage is a place become his prehistoric porto house their cars, extra tal offering local school
It has taken Keith Roynon 70 years to amass his collection of fossils and dinosaur skeletons. His museum in his home’s garage is in the process of moving to a bigger venue on East Grand Avenue. Photo by Ellen Wright
children glimpses into a time long before smart phones, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. After 15 years of operation, the nonprofit is finally ready to expand its Pterosaurs’ wings and move to a larger space. “The ceilings are full of Pterosaurs, so we need to move,” said Roynon, found-
er of The Roynon Museum. “There isn’t any room to do anything anymore. We need to expand so we can get large dinosaur material in here.” The museum will be moved to East Grand Avenue and Roynon plans to be open by late September. Currently, the museum, which is located in his
two-car garage, is only open for school and scout groups. Once the museum sets up in its new digs, it will be open to the public. Over the years, Roynon has collected roomfuls of artifacts, including 110 dinosaur eggs, dinosaur skeleton replicas and even prehistoric poop. Roynon said the muse-
um is so popular with children that they won’t miss it, even if they’ve fallen ill. “I’ve had kids pass out on me and fall flat,” Roynon said. He teaches a threehour session to the students and he encourages them to touch the expansive collecTURN TO MUSEUM ON A15
Photo By HUNTER INDUSTRIES, INC.