Sinclair Dinosaurs
Alamo Sinclair
1 Broadway Street,
Alamo, Nevada
89001
880 Front Street,
Caliente, Nevada
89008
1530 West Texas Street,
Fairfield, California
94533
Bell Plastics
2020 National Ave,
Hayward, California
94541
4005 N Rancho Drive,
Las Vegas, Nevada
89130
2151 North Rancho Drive,
Las Vegas, Nevada
89106
(W. Lake Mead Boulevard and N. Rancho Dr)
5680 S Pecos Road,
Las Vegas, Nevada
89120
14749 North Thornton Road,
Lodi, California
95242
32787 CA-18,
Lucerne Valley, California
92356
940 Morro Bay Boulevard,
Morro Bay, California
93442
1637 South Gaffey Street,
San Pedro, California
90731
570 E Street,
Williams, California
95987
The Sinclair Oil Corporation has been around since May 1st, 1916 when Harry Sinclair combined eleven different petroleum companies into one. In 1930, the corporation chose as its logo a silhouette of a large green dinosaur, at the time known as a brontosaurus. This cute green dinosaur is the company's mascot and it made its first appearance at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933 - 1934. Over the next several decades, Dino, the brontosaurus mascot would make many other appearances, often with his friends, other dinosaurs including a T-Rex and a Stegosaurus, among other dinosaurs species. Some of these dinosaurs are still on display at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas. By the sixties and seventies they had several fiberglass statues made by International Fiberglass of their green sauropod, placing them at various service stations.
International Fiberglass made them in two different sizes - a 12 foot long, 4 and 1/2 foot wide, 85 pound version and an 8 foot, 3 and 1/2 foot, 60 pound version. Since Sinclair did not have an exclusive contract with International Fiberglass, as long as the dinosaur was painted a different color, the company could sell the same type of statue to other buyers, and often did, causing non green Sinclair Dinosaurs to appear in places like miniature golf courses. After International Fiberglass no longer operated and Sinclair decided to make more fiberglass mascots, a mold was taken from an existing statue.
Although pretty common in other states, especially Colorado, these green fiberglass statues, until recently, had very little presence on the West Coast. California only had one Sinclair Dinosaur, a colorfully painted relic probably from a former service station that originally was located at a Shoe Biz store in San Francisco. I'm not even sure he was an actual Sinclair Dinosaur, but he had resided at the store on Haight Street since 1975, often changing colors and declaring that no one sit on him. Sadly he was stolen at the end of January 2016, but was returned anonymously all repainted. The location is a different business now.
California
But luckily for lovers of fiberglass dinosaurs, over the past few years there's been a return of Dino, the Sinclair Dinosaur, to both California and Nevada as both states have seen more Sinclair branded service stations slowly popping up all over the place. For example, in California, in 2013 a Union 76 station in Lodi changed into a Sinclair Station and received a genuine Sinclair Dinosaur. He sits perched up on a rock pile. In 2014, a Shell station in Chico changed into a Sinclair Station and also received a genuine Sinclair Dinosaur. 2015 saw a new Sinclair Station in San Pedro, also with their own dinosaur.
Although now named by science as an Apatosaurus, Sinclair Dinosaurs have also found homes in both Fresno and Fairfield. Although when I stopped by, the top of her head was uncovered, the Fairfield dinosaur has been known to occasionally wear a hat in order to keep the sun out of her face, while over in Fresno, there are actually four Sinclair dinosaurs at four separate stations, one even rumored to be a sweater wearing Apatosaurus! A local group makes clothes for the dinosaur, supposedly covertly dressing him so no one knows when a new outfit will show up. And I think there might be even more Sinclair Dinosaurs in Fresno! Another one hangs out east of Fresno in Reedley
Not surprisingly, Bell Plastics in Hayward acquired a Sinclair Dinosaur in 2016. Bell Plastics is known for its multitude of fiberglass statues including several Muffler Men, Doggie Diner heads, and other fiberglass giants! The owner, Bruce Kennedy, collects fiberglass statues. They have a small Sinclair Dinosaur proudly displayed up on a pole, looming over several other fiberglass statues.
Along Interstate 15 is Hesperia, which once had a Sinclair Dinosaur. Sadly, it wasn't there very long. Their Sinclair Dinosaur was located behind a low white fence in front of the convenience store portion of the service station appropriately called "Dino Mart". It was freshly painted and in great condition. It was the only dinosaur I've seen besides the Bell Plastics one that has the head coming off and to the right, rather than the left. The service station closed in either late 2018 or early 2019. The dinosaur is now gone.
Although the Sinclair Station in Hesperia has closed, 25 miles east of it, in Lucerne Valley, another Sinclair Station has opened. The setup is the same. A Sinclair dinosaur with the head going off to the right located behind a white fence in front of the convenience store portion of the location. It's almost exactly the same as the Hesperia location. I'd almost say that they just moved the dinosaur down the street 25 miles. When I stopped by, the dinosaur was celebrating Easter by wearing some bunny ears on its head. Eggs were also draped on its white fence.
In 2019, another Sinclair Dinosaur popped up with the head going off to the right. This one on the central coast in Morro Bay. It seems a little light, and may be made out of cheaper materials, howerver, perhaps some sort of light plastic, instead of fiberglass. Regardless, there is a very nice dinosaur sitting there in Morro Bay. It was wearing a little thing around its neck the day I visited, and was in good condition.
Poor Man's Bronze in Jackson has a replica of a Sinclair Dinosaur that hangs out there, possibly also with a giant chicken. In addition, we've also identified Sinclair Dinosaurs in Auburn, Campo, Farmersville, Indio, Livingstone, Placerville, Williams and Yuba City! You can see Cole Lundsten showing off the Williams Sinclair Dinosaur! It is perfectly placed to get the city's name bearing arch in the background.
Nevada
Not to be outdone, Nevada is also getting into the act of harboring Sinclair Dinosaurs. I have found three different dinosaurs in Las Vegas alone, plus I've seen one in nearby Boulder City. One of the Las Vegas dinosaurs appears to have been at the station for a fair amount of time, the others appear relatively new or brand new. I anticipate more appearing in the city soon.
Although most of the Nevada dinosaurs appear to currently be clustered in Clark County, the small town of Verdi, west of Reno, along Interstate 80, near the California border also has one. As does the towns of Alamo and Caliente northeast of Vegas. Alamo's dinosaur is often decorated for the holidays.
So as more dinosaurs migrate into the states of California and Nevada, we'll be on the look out for them! Please let us know if there are more than the ones we've listed below and, of course, we can use pictures of several of them!
California Sinclair Dinosaurs
- 2232 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, California 91901
- 4000 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn, California 95602
- 31471 CA-94, Campo, California 91916
- 2036 Baney Lane, Chico, California 95928
- 1194 South Cloverdale Bouleard, Cloverdale, California 95425
- 1456 Farmersville Road, Farmersville, California 93223
- 1530 West Texas Street, Fairfield, California 94533
- 5792 N Palm Avenue, Fresno, California 93704 (Wears sweaters)
- 1703 W Olive Avenue, Fresno, California 93728
- 4608 N First Street, Fresno, California 93726
- 384 W Shaw Avenue, Fresno, California 93704
- Bell Plastics - 2020 National Ave, Hayward, California 94541 (with several Muffler Men, Doggie Diner heads, and other fiberglass giants)
- 16307 Main Street, Hesperia, California 92345 (Closed)
- 82253 Indio Blvd, Indio, CA 92201
- Poor Man's Bronze - 824 CA-49, Jackson, California 95642 (replica probably)
- 690 Hammatt Avenue, Livingston, CA 95334
- 14749 North Thornton Road, Lodi, California 95242
- 32787 CA-18, Lucerne Valley, California 92356
- 940 Morro Bay Boulevard, Morro Bay, California 93442
- Placerville, California
- 22012 E Manning Ave, Reedley, CA 93654
- 1637 South Gaffey Street, San Pedro, California 90731
- 570 E Street, Williams, California 95987
- 1499 Market Street, Yuba City, California 95991
Nevada Sinclair Dinosaurs
- Alamo Sinclair - 1 Broadway Street, Alamo, Nevada 89001
- Dale's Sinclair - 1625 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, Nevada 89005
- 880 Front Street, Caliente, Nevada 89008
- 1360 South Carson Street Carson City, Nevada 89701
- 5680 S Pecos Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89120
- 2151 North Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89106
- 4005 N Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130
- 121 South Falcon Ridge Parkway, Mesquite, Nevada 89027
- 320 3rd Street, Verdi, Nevada 89439
Sadly there exists Sinclair Gas Stations that DON'T have a dinosaur. We do not understand the point of such a station. I mean who would want to fill up their car with gas and not get to enjoy a small green dinosaur? Additionally, Dino was seen in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in 2015, the first time since 1976! And remember that comedy television series in the early 1990's called "Dinosaurs" which starred a family of dinosaurs called the Sinclairs? Well, I'm sure you can guess where their name originated from.
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Comments:
- Grace Clark of Folsom , CA on 2018-08-05 said:
- In Chowchilla, CA, there is an old mini mart on Robert's Blvd., aka Highway 233, that has an old Sinclair dino. The next time we are down there visiting my dad, we will get a photo. We forgot last time because we couldn't wait to get home as the kids were out of control.
- Mike Garland of Hillsboro, Oregon on 2018-07-21 said:
- There is a Sinclair dinosaur located at the station in Goldendale, Washington.
- Alli of Paso Robles, CA on 2017-05-29 said:
- I love those Sinclair dinosaurs. We just got a Sinclair in Paso Robles, CA, however, our location does not have a dinosaur..but we want one!
Last Edited: 2019-09-21
