Giant orange dinosaur survives extinction of miniature golf course

SAUGUS, Mass., Sept. 15 (UPI) -- A giant orange dinosaur will remain on a street in Massachusetts, despite the closure of the miniature golf course that served as its home for almost 60 years.

The Route 1 Miniature Golf & Batting Cages and the surrounding properties will be demolished before the end of September to make way for several new buildings, but one partner in the project told Item Live the iconic dinosaur will remain.

"It's like the Citgo sign," Michael Barsamian said. "Everyone knows it and we plan to use it on the site."

Golf course owner Diana Fay said several interested parties contacted her about the dinosaur but hoped it would remain in Saugus.

"I would love to be able to leave him right where he is, if they can put him in their plans," she said. "People want to pick him up and move him to this town or that town. The Saugonians want to see him stay put. They feel like he's a part of the town and our history."

Barsamian's business partner Michael Touchette told the Boston Globe the dinosaur will either stay put or be incorporated into one of the hotels.

"The dinosaur will stay where it is, or go into one of the hotels and have a pitch-and-putt," he said. "It's definitely going to stay."