‘Saugus-saurus’ saved from extinction
Route 1’s beloved orange dinosaur is moving into a more prominent position — for now.
“Saugus-saurus,” the mega-lizard that once menaced mini-golfers at Route 1 Mini Golf & Batting Cages, has survived a condo development that could have caused its extinction.
Developers are converting the 1.4-acre former amusement site in Saugus into a $120 million development known as Essex Landing with 250 apartments, two hotels, shops and a parking garage. Fears that the dinosaur would ... go the way of the dinosaurs ... caused a public outcry when the development was announced in 2015.
So instead of destroying the tribute to mid-century American tackiness, the developers embraced it. In fact, they made T-shirts featuring the icon and “Saugus-saurus” and sold them for $25 each at Kane’s Donuts on Lincoln Avenue. The effort raised $6,800 in three months that they say they will donate to the town.
“We’re getting a lot of excellent comments on it because people love it on that corner,” said developer Michael Barsamian. “It looks bigger than it did when it was in the lower area.”
The dino has moved to higher ground about 10 feet behind a newly installed retaining wall.
The 20-foot creature weighs 6,000 pounds and is nearly six decades old. Barsamian and his partner, Michael Touchette, a contractor, moved the statue themselves using a mini-crane.
“This is the temporary home,” said Barsamian. “It’s out of the way.”
It has not yet been determined where the dinosaur will end up, but Barsamian said plans include a leisure area with a pitch-and-putt and outdoor swimming pool.
Forty apartment units are currently being built and 48 are expected to be constructed in the next 90 days, said Barsamian. If all goes well, residents will be moved in by November.