The Dinosaurs On Bonita Rd

I run by these pieces of art often when going off the Rohr Park trail. It’s in front of a shopping complex. If you read other Unilocaler’s reviews and the story behind it, this is actually a legacy of a young artist who past away when he was 19 during a traffic accident. His pieces of art live on though. This is a cool little spot the kiddos would probably like to take pics in front of.

Thank you all for your positive comments on the Bonita Dinosaur Sculptures.
I hope someone will sponsor the recreation of Jerry Gauss last Dinosaur he was working on it kinda looks like a pterodactyl, I have photo’s of this taken by Jerry’s sister.
If you know anyone willing to donate the funds needed to recreate the pterodactyl type Glarf Dinosaur Sculpture please contact me

I remember these dinosaurs from the 1970’s and they still make me smile. I like that they hold some secrets and are unique to Bonita.

It’s Rangui and Rumbi!
I love these cuties, they make me smile every time I go by.
They hold memories for me, each time I’m by them I receive a flood of flashbacks from my childhood. I love dinosaurs and I hope they remain in that spot forever. Long live the Dinos!

I love the dinosaurs! It pretty much makes my day every time I drive past them.
thank you, dinosaurs!

What a magical AND whimsical pair :)
I remember that for a while it was just the scary yellow dinosaur all by it’s lonesome. And then like magic, a blue friend appeared!
To add to the history of the dinosaurs, the yellow one was once in some sort of accident. Someone smashed it’s face to bits and it was just rubble. Fortunately it was reconstructed. May the dinosaurs live forever! :D

I wish Chula Vista had some dinosaurs
I enjoy public art and love dinosaurs. This is a wonderful combination. I only wish that these colorful creatures were bigger. If you ever want to see some great dinosaurs along the roadside, check out the dinos placed along I-​40 in Arizona and also the dinosaurs where Pee Wee Herman was filmed in Cabazon, CA
.

I dont understand it but I like it. Adds a nice touch to the area I guess.

I don’t believe.

I must have gone pass the Dinosaurs for over 1,000 times at lease, since I used to live in Bonita (2x a day, 365days/​yr, 3 yrs). I never knew the story behind them, I thought they were just goofy looking version of Dinosaurs.
Glad to learn something on Unilocal today from Richie & Alissandra. Next time I go by, I will be sure to stop and take a closer look.

The dwarf dinosaurs are located in between Willow St and Allen School Rd, along the sidewalk of the plaza.
Here is the story on them:
«Rangui the Glarf
Original created in 1959 by Jerry Lee Gauss
Replication by Kelly Tracy in 2006
Rangui is the original Glarf dinosaur created by Bonita’s Jerry Lee Gauss. The story of Rangui and Rumbi was told in the 2000 Bonitafest Melodrama „When Dinosaurs Roamed the Valley“, in The San Diego Union-​Tribune and on Channel 7/39’s „About San Diego.“ Cast and audience members raised funds to rebuilt Rangui.
Plague donated by Glen Abbey Memorial Park and Morturary.»
«Rumbi the Glarf
1959
Rumbi was created by 15-​year Jerry Lee Gauss. He is a „Glarf“, Jerry’s word for dwarf dinosaur. Rumbi and Rangui guarded the Gass home on Valley Road during the 1960s and was a major attraction. Jerry died at age 19 in a traffic accident. The glarfs disappeared in 1970, but were found in 1993 and relocated along Bonita Road in 1999.
Donated by Tagg Running Events.»
Every time I passed by these guys, I thought «What a strange world this is.» Rangui is the blue one and Rumbi is the yellow one. The story is pretty fantastic. It’s a delicious bite of local flavor.

This is dedicated to Jae, the lover of the Dinosaurs on Bonita Rd.
I’ve passed by these dinosaurs numerous times, I’m sure. I live right up the hill. But, for some reason, I had never actually seen them. It’s right in front of a shopping center, and I’m pretty sure I’ve been in there before, but how could I miss them?
Probably because you don’t usually go looking around for dinosaurs, and it wasn’t until I went «hunting» for them, did I find them.
There’s a blue one and a yellow one. Obviously, the blue dino is the nice one. He (she?) seems a little sad. Blue dino, what’s wrong? Maybe he (she?) is shy, thousands of people pass by these two all day and night. It must suck not being able to move around.
The yellow dino looks mean. Scary mean. Don’t-come-any-closer-or-I’ll-eat-you type of mean. The blue one has the body of a tyrannosaurus rex, and he looks nice. The one that looks like a veggie dino has sharp fangs. Something is not right here.
Eventually, I will come back to name them.