Len and Denise Tieman never aspired to be the mom-and-pop owners of a roadside attraction like Prehistoric Forest.

Len was an electrician, working at Uniroyal and Great Lakes Sugar Co. in Port Clinton.

But in 1994, doctors diagnosed him with cancer.

Big believers in the power of positive thinking, the couple decided Len should find a job that would make him want to keep moving forward.

Denise thought Len should build toys. He even sent a few applications to toy companies.

But then, the couple drove by the shuttered ruins of the old Prehistoric Forest on Ohio 163 in Danbury Township.

Turning to Len, Denise said, "'I think we can do this.'"

A month later, the couple owned a dinosaur park.

"When we bought it, it was a disaster," Len said. They found the park overgrown with grass and brush taller than some of the dinosaurs.

They set to work cleaning up the walking path and repairing the park's main attractions. They planned to demolish the old Mystery Hill fun house, but their boys had so much fun playing there, it stayed.

"I'm glad we kept it -- that's half of our business," Len said with a chuckle.

The couple poured love and their earnings into the business and it flourished. They cringed at the major cost of buying new dinosaurs, so Len, who always enjoyed dabbling in art, learned how to create the creatures by talking to other builders.

As you walk through the park, you can see the evolution of his craft.

Some dinosaurs are rudimentary, while the triceratops is a force to behold, its face mottled and eye glaring like it might crash through the woods at any moment.

The Tieman's installed a sound system so roars and chirps and growls of exotic beasts echo through the trees, setting the mood for the next creature around the bend.

The couple hasn't touched the forest itself, allowing trees to fall and nature to take its course.

They clear leaves and sticks only from the walking path. In return, they have wildflowers and a multitude of animals venturing the property, from rare birds to rabbits and squirrels.

Denise keeps the books and takes care of the landscaping while Len builds new creations.

"We each have our things we do here and that make it really work," Len said.

Even though the 15-year-old venture has been immensely rewarding, Len said it's time to retire.

After the park closes in September, he and Denise will head out on a trip.

"We just load up the car and head out," he said. "That's the only way we travel. We'll flip a coin to pick east, west, south. It's more fun that way."

Len has seen other roadside dinosaur attractions in his travels, but they are flashy and new and don't have the same charm of the old forest.

The couple has no plans to sell the park unless the right buyer comes along -- a buyer who will keep the park the way it is and not turn it into a housing development.

The dinosaurs will be packed into storage, and the property will become a big back yard for the Tieman's many grandchildren.

Many of the park's visitors, some of whom have been coming back for decades, dread the park's closing. They've been back two to three times to stumble through the Mystery Hill house and get their fill of the toothy beasts.

One family drove from New Jersey this summer just to see the Prehistoric Forest.

Len said its nice so many visitors appreciate the park, but he doesn't feel sad about the impending closure.

"There are other things I want to do," he said, alluding to a special project he has not yet revealed.

"I'll miss the kids," Len admitted. "It's fun to see their eyes light up when they see the dinosaurs."

PREHISTORIC FOREST and MYSTERY HILL

WHERE: 8232 East Harbor Road

WHEN: Open until Sept. 12

Contact: 419-789-5230 or go to www.mysteryhill.com