Remember those halcyon days of breakneck development and nonstop growth? Ever wish you could have been a bulldozer operator during those heady times of quick loans and insta-homes? A new adult sandbox called Dig This! lets you relive that era -- with you in the driver's seat. Or you can just scoop up dirt without having to make that "bbbrrrrm!" sound with your mouth:
Las Vegas just opened up a new playground, but it's not for children. It's called Dig This, and it claims to be the first heavy-equipment playground — as in construction equipment. Before riding, participants attend a safety and equipment orientation. The park is also staffed with instructors like Phil Chavez, a former construction worker. Chavez can communicate with riders over a wireless headset, and just to be extra safe, he has a kill switch in case a machine gets out of control. Employees take no chances at Dig This, which is a good thing — owner Ed Mumm says he has more than $1 million invested here. "Y'know, my original business model was to go with just smaller equipment," Mumm says."And that certainly would've reduced the cost for the experience, but man, Americans love big stuff."
Hear for yourself -- not the brrrmmm!, but the masterminds behind this concept -- on this "KNPR's State of Nevada" segment.