Is Bedrock City still there? Here's the latest on the iconic Flintstones park in Arizona

Nostalgia keeps certain things afloat, whether it's snacks from the past like Dunkaroos or, in the case of a beloved Arizona roadside attraction, keeping an iconic cartoon family alive.

In the ever-changing landscape of popular culture, the Flintstones franchise has defied extinction for decades since the original cartoon series ended in 1966. Bedrock City, a roadside attraction dedicated to Fred, Wilma, Barney and Betty, sits on the road to Grand Canyon National Park.

It's been there for more than 50 years and has undergone some changes recently.

Bedrock City has closed and is now rebranded as Raptor Ranch.

But Raptor Ranch isn't closing the door on the site's history. Here's what to know about how Bedrock City became Raptor Ranch.

Flintstones Bedrock City closes: Raptor Ranch is coming. Here's what to know.

When did Bedrock City open?

Bedrock City opened in 1972 to capitalize on the popularity of the Flintstones, that “modern stone age family,” according to the cartoon's theme song.

It became an iconic attraction for visitors to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, the barren desert location providing a picture-perfect backdrop for the fictional town of Bedrock, with its stone-age buildings, the Flintstones' and Rubbles' houses and even a brontosaurus slide, according to the website Roadside America.com.

The years and climate took their toll on the buildings, but the park's nostalgic charm continued to attract visitors.

Originally, there were four Bedrock City attractions in the United States, but only two remain: one in Arizona and another in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The South Dakota park, established in 1966, spans 30 acres.

Why did Bedrock City close?

Bedrock City in Arizona closed and rebranded to Raptor Ranch after a change in ownership and a shift in the park's focus.

“Well, we purchased the property in 2019 and we had the idea of restoring the campground and the RV park and bringing our birds of prey. But the property also happened to come with Bedrock City, which turned out to be still very fond of by people,” said Troy Morris, owner of Raptor Ranch.

Morris' decision to reinvent the park was motivated by the desire to showcase owls, hawks, falcons and other raptors in flight demonstrations and educational experiences.

Is Bedrock City still there?

But in response to strong public sentiment and the enduring popularity of the Flintstones brand, the new owners reconsidered and chose to keep what remained of Bedrock City.

“People turned out to still have quite an attraction for Bedrock City because it's been here for 50 years. So we decided to keep it and we're kind of in the process of actually restoring all of the Flintstone buildings,” said Morris.

Say goodbye to Bedrock City: How this tourist attraction faded into prehistory

What is Raptor Ranch?

Raptor Ranch is the rebranded version of the former Bedrock City roadside attraction. It was created to provide an understanding of the birds and promote wildlife conservation in partnership with the Northern Arizona Raptor Foundation, which rehabilitates and releases eagles and birds of prey that have been injured.

Morris said guests can take self-guided tours of the 2-acre property and watch raptor flight demonstrations throughout the day.

Keeping the aesthetic of the Flintstones, Raptor Ranch also offers Fred's Diner, which serves up pizza and burgers. The property also includes an RV campground, glamping tents, a camp store and gift shop.

He hopes to have a breeding facility in the future where visitors can see the birds in the spring laying eggs and raising the babies.

“We're open seven days a week. Drive up anytime. Everyone is welcome,” said Morris.

Raptor Ranch

When: 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily.

Where: 332 State Route 64, Valle, Arizona.

Admission: $10.

Details: 928-635-3072, raptor-ranch.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Is Bedrock City still there? Update on the Flintstones park in Arizona