Many folks are trying to hang onto the summer of 2011; Cedar Point is already looking to the spring of 2012.Officials at the Sandusky amusement park have released details about next year’s new attraction: Dinosaurs Alive! on Adventure Island.The feature will cost about $1 million to build and will take up 4 acres on a wooded island surrounded by the lagoon at the back of the park. Construction is expected to begin in November.Some 50 life-size animatronic dinosaurs, handcrafted and highly detailed, will move and roar. Four of the dinos will have interactive consoles that allow visitors to guide the movement of their arms, tail, eyes and mouth.The dino exhibit, however, will mark the end of one of the park’s classic rides. The Paddlewheel Excursions boat cruise will make its final trip Labor Day (Sept. 5.)Since 1964, boats have taken visitors on a leisurely trip around the lagoon to see pioneer buildings and animated characters while listening to the captain’s corny jokes. Some features — like Trapper Dan with his bear skin — are still around from when the boat ride was called the Western Cruise.Park spokesman Robin Innes said while families might miss the boats, its replacement will target the same demographic.“Everyone from grandparents to small children will be very impressed with Dinosaurs Alive,” Innes said.The largest of the new park residents will be a ruyangosaurus standing some four stories high and 72 feet long. His buddies will include the vicious tyrannosaurus rex, the plated stegosaurus, the three-horned triceratops, and the daddy of all carnivores, the spinosaurus.A half-mile-long path on the island will offer informational exhibits and fossil displays and veer beneath several of the larger animals so park visitors can get close to the beasts. An excavation site and paleontological dig, as well as a prehistoric-themed gift shop, also are planned.The park intends to market the attraction to school groups, and special group rates will be available.Innes said the park has sought to bring in school groups through specials like Math & Science Week, but “this will open a new area for us” in that the attraction will be available throughout the season and explore new topics like geology.Also new for the main park: Seeing this attraction will cost you an extra $5 per person. While there are additional fees for some activities attached to the main park, this is the first time the park has charged extra for an in-park feature.“This is really a very special type of attraction,” Innes said. “After [visitors] go through, the fee won’t be a factor.”The exhibit will be created and produced by Dinosaurs Unearthed from British Columbia, Canada.Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.