(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young fans check in on the Halloween installation by Ammon Smith, holding his nephew Lincoln Smith, 1, at 1542 S. 900 East in Salt Lake City after constructing a "maturing adult"-size T. rex along with a pair of velociraptors and pterodactyls. The part-time stay-at-home dad, who made a giant King Kong last year, started construction back in August as he assembled recycled wood, chicken wire, foam, aluminum foil and spray paint for the 12-by-32-foot Jurassic centerpiece and companion pieces.
Ammon Smith has gained a reputation of going big for Halloween.
Last year he built a giant King Kong — “It was my wife’s idea,” he says — and this year he’s built her next idea by going all Jurassic on his front lawn. He started building the scene in August, using recycled wood, chicken wire, styrofoam, tin foil and spray paint.
People stop constantly, he says, to get a closer look at the attraction in his front yard at 1542 S. 900 East in Salt Lake City.
Smith knows he will be handing out a ton of candy this year as trick-or-treaters make trips to see the dinosaurs.
After Halloween, the giant T. rex, velociraptors and pterodactyls will get recycled and may become part of next year’s big creation.
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