Heard Museum in McKinney Opens Animatronic Dragon Trail This Spring

The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney has swapped its familiar life-sized dinosaurs for something more mythical this spring: 12 moving, roaring dragons strung along a half-mile nature trail. The new seasonal exhibition, Dragon Trails, opened March 14 with a Grand Opening Celebration and runs through June 27 at the museum's campus at 1 Nature Place.

The dragons are made by Pennsylvania-based Dino Don, Inc., the same company that created the animatronic dinosaurs that have roamed the Heard for the last 20 years. The company's founder, Dino Don Lessem, is a world-renowned authority on dinosaurs who served as the dinosaur advisor to Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park and has authored 40 books on the subject. For the Heard's spring exhibit, the firm turned its attention from prehistoric predators to creatures of legend.

The exhibit invites visitors to explore the fascinating connections between mythical dragons and real-life creatures that have roamed the Earth throughout history. The 12 featured animatronics include a Basilisk, a Wyvern, a Griffin, a Phoenix, an Ice Dragon and a Cockatrice, among others. KERA News, which sent Morning Producer Alexsis Jones to preview the exhibit, described the Cockatrice's sound as "a mix between a moose, a Northern Loon and a very mad chicken." The creature is drawn from myth as a dragon with the head, legs and wings of a rooster and the body and tail of a snake.

Brittany Kryder, director of development at the Heard Museum, reflected on how the exhibit fits the museum's founding mission. "She might have found it a little out of the ordinary," Kryder said of museum founder Bessie Heard. "But I think understanding that you're opening the idea of spending time out in nature to potentially a new group of people and capturing the imagination and interest of children, so I think she would think that that was a really cool endeavor."

The Dragon Trail is approximately half a mile long and is now paved, making it easier for families to navigate. Jogging strollers with larger wheels are recommended, and closed-toe shoes are encouraged. Because the exhibit is outdoors, sunscreen and insect repellent are a good idea, especially on warmer days. Picnic areas are available for families who want to make a day of it. The museum also offers a photo opportunity on the trail.

Dragon Trails is included in general admission and free for Heard Museum members. Tickets range from $12 to $16, and admission is free for children 2 and under. Regular museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The museum also offers sensory-friendly "Dragons Quiet" events for visitors who prefer a lower-stimulation experience on the trail.

Dragon Trails runs through June 27, 2026, giving Collin County families the better part of three months to make the trip. Tickets and details are available at heardmuseum.org/dragon-trails.