New Construction-Related Theme Park is OPEN for Kids & Adults!

A new theme park has opened in Texas that might help get kids, and adults, interested in the construction industry. It's called "Dig World" in Katy, Texas, just west of Houston near Interstate 10. It's designed to provide a real world experience with full-size construction machinery that you see at job sites. Hi, I'm Kathy Fettke and this is Real Estate News for Investors. If you like our podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review. Dig World opened its doors on March 17th, and provides 3-and-a-half acres of construction-related activities. (1) According to Dig World, it's "designed to safely provide a hand-on experience for both children and adults in operating heavy equipment." That includes: full-size Caterpillar Mini-Excavatprs, Skid Steers, and UTVs. What's a Skid Steer? Okay, I had to look a few of them up! Bigrentz defined a skid steer as "a small, versatile piece of construction equipment used primarily for digging. It's light and maneuverable, and its arms can attach to a range of tools for various construction and landscaping jobs." (2) I would say they look kind of like a tractor but more industrial. Or maybe a trip to Dig World would clear up any confusion! What's a UTV? UTV stands for Utility Terrain Vehicle, as opposed to an All Terrain Vehicle. Nationwide.com says they are "built and used more for work than recreation. They are large, powerful, able to seat passengers side-by-side, and built with lots of storage space. They're commonly used to haul equipment and supplies in locations that make using a truck impractical or impossible." (3) So you are basically driving an oversized ATV with room for your friends, and whatever else you need to take with you! Some of Dig World's other attractions include a gem mining station, a playground, and a turf field where visitors can play various games, like Cornhole. Founder, Jacob Robinson told Construction Dive that he was inspired to build the park by his sons who love dump trucks and other construction equipment. (4) He partnered with Texas A&M's Department of Construction Science to create this immersive learning experience. The park is also designed to sync up with the university's curriculum and host students on field trips. Park Safety Features The company has incorporated various safety features to ensure the public's safety. Dig World's website says: "We require seat belts to be engaged before any machine operation can occur. The speeds on drivable machines have been governed, and other equipment utilizes hydraulic limitations to reduce total movement." Dig World isn't the only construction adventure park in the U.S. Construction Dive mentioned a few others including Diggerland USA in New Jersey, Dig This in Las Vegas and Extreme Sandbox in Minnesota and North Texas. But you may soon have access to several Dig World locations. The company says it plans to build ten parks throughout the nation over the next few years. It says the goal is to "create 10 million smiles along the way!" If you'd like to read more about Dig World, you'll find links in the show notes at newsforinvestors.com Also, please remember to hit the subscribe button, and leave a review! You can also join our real estate investor network for free at newsforinvestors.com. That gives you access to the Investor Portal where you'll find information on rental markets and sample property pro-formas. You can also connect with our experienced investment counselors, property teams, lenders, 1031 exchange facilitators, attorneys, CPAs and more. Thanks for listening. I'm Kathy Fettke. Links: 1 - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-texas-construction-themed-amusement-park-dig-world-opens-in-katy-on-march-17th-301499549.html 2 - https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/what-is-a-skid-steer 3 - https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/powersports/articles/difference-between-atv-utv 4 - https://www.constructiondive.com/news/dig-world-construction-equipment-machinery-amusement-park-opens-texas/620784/