Located in the grounds of the billionaire's Palmer Coolum Resort, the park, dubbed the "world's largest dinosaur park", officially opened for business over the weekend.
The 160 semi-moving, life-size dinosaurs rub shoulders with guests of Palmer's luxe resort. Separated by a flimsy wire fence and green mesh, some of the installations are situated just metres away from guest accommodation, who must now endure audible roars that can be activated at the touch of a button.
But has the realisation of Palmer's dinosaur dream created a nightmare for the resort?
Earlier this year the boss of the Australian PGA championship Brian Thorburn announced they were pulling out of hosting the prestgious tournament at Palmer's Resort.It was reported the PGA and Palmer had several disagreements closely linked to the dinosaur park.
Sunshine Coast councillor Russell Green said last month he feared putting the dinosaurs in view of the resort's golf course would turn it into a running joke.
"It's almost turning into a scene out of (comedy film) Happy Gilmore, where you putt down the fairway, you bounce the ball off T-Rex's left leg and get it into the 18th hole - it's quite bizarre."
The response from members of the public has been equally lukewarm.
"Absolute disgrace. This makes Aussie World look like a class establishment. Now you know why the PGA pulled The Open from Coolum. They weren't going to subject world class golfers to this kind of ridiculous folly. And you morons elected him to run the country? Words fail me at this point," said one angry commenter on a local news website.
The major PGA golf event has been lost and the hundreds of people who flocked to Coolum is a thing of the past. The course is now downgraded to a second rate course. The resort is dying a natural death and will probably never recover," said another.
Admission to the park will set a family of four back $100, but throw in an extra $75 and you score discounted tickets to Palmer Motorama, Palmer's collection of vintage cars.
