Kids operating real construction equipment? Yes! Right down the road in Katy.
“We started fundraising in 2019. Then Covid hit. We joked, ‘We’re already crazy telling the world we’re going to put four-year-olds on excavators. Now we’re crazy doing that AND trying to build a theme park in the middle of Covid. So, we’re double-crazy!’” –Jacob Robinson, Dig World owner
In Texas, we WORK BIG and PLAY BIG! So, a theme attraction where small children operate actual life-size construction equipment doesn’t seem too crazy, right? Enter Dig World in Katy, which opened in March 2022. The Postcards Team, accompanied by Duke Sherman (our official kid tester of the attractions) took a trip to check out Dig World so we could share firsthand about the park with readers.
For starters, we sat down with owner Jacob Robinson and asked him to share more about Dig World.
“My business partner Rick and I came up with this idea back in 2018. I have a seven-year-old son who has always been obsessed with construction equipment. My son got sick in 2017 with bacterial meningitis, and it left him permanently disabled, with a whole host of special needs. Coming out of that, my desire was to create a place where he, and individuals like him, could participate, have a great experience, and bring families together.
We began a journey to see what was out there. There’s a park in New Jersey like ours. We thought we could bring one to Texas and do it well here. Initially, we planned a larger park with an all-day experience.
After Covid paused our plans, we shifted our business model into the 3.5 acre park you see today. We broke ground in 2021 and opened the doors March 2022.”
Dig World learned that a 2-hour experience is ideal for our target demographic, so they plan to keep the original park plan. Additional locations are being considered in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio areas.
Rides are restricted by height. Children taller than 48″ may operate all attractions by themselves. Children taller than 42″ can operate most of the equipment by themselves. Children between 32″ and 48″ tall may ride and operate machinery with an adult. Children shorter than 32″ may utilize all other attractions in the park except for the machinery. All children under 32″ tall are FREE! For everyone else, a 2-hour pass is $24.99!
Tickets are good for two hours, and customers can do each attraction multiple times (provided they proceed through the line each time). Each person entering the park must purchase a ticket. The reasons for this are many, according to Jacob, but the primary reasons are: 1) an accompanying adult may need to help the child; and 2) most adults end up wanting to operate the equipment, too!
It’s hard for some people to believe the children are actually operating the machines at Dig World. Said Jacob, “I had a parent here last week who was a heavy equipment operator for Fort Bend County. He asked us if we were controlling the equipment with drones. I had a difficult time convincing him the kids were actually running the equipment.”
The staff we encountered on our visit were mostly young, but definitely enthusiastic and competent. Says Jacob of his staff, “We are blessed with some great high school kids. Our kids have bought into what we are trying to deliver–bought into the customer experience and providing a lasting positive experience.” This isn’t by accident, but by design. “It stems from Amanda, our general manager, providing great leadership,” said Jacob, “but also from attitude. Rick and I joke that we want to have ‘Chick-fil-A customer service’ and be ‘Buc-ee’s clean.’ That’s the standard we are trying to build.”
A quarterly Special Needs Night is a great service opportunity. According to Jacob, “We have 100% of employees raise their hand and say, ‘I want to work that night.’ That makes my heart happy. They’re a great group of employees.” Knowing firsthand that having a special needs child can result in financial and environmental restrictions for families, Jacob has made it a priority to partner with community partners and sponsors to underwrite tickets to Special Needs Night so families in which a person has a disability can come for free to Dig World.
Dig World is also a great place for parties. The park had 400 birthday parties during its first year. “We are hosting eight parties today,” said Jacob, “and then we have a military families group of about 100 people coming in later. It’s a busy day.” Jacob also said that Chelsea, their event director, is always looking to improve that process and experience for customers.
A source of pride for Dig World is a partnership with the Texas A&M University Engineering Department. University students designed and created informational “fun fact” signs on display at Dig World, and students also developed a curriculum for school field trips, an aspect of the park Jacob hopes to really grow.
When asked what the most important thing he has learned from building and operating Dig World, Jacob reflected, “This park–we get the opportunity to interact with people from all around the world. We get to employ high school kids–so I can pour into high school kids, and I can deal with grandparents. There are not many jobs where you get to do that on a consistent minute-by-minute basis. In my own way, I get to love on people and show them people care about them. It’s fun.”
Readers may rest easy knowing Dig World was Duke Sherman tested…Duke Sherman approved!
5000 Katy Mills Blvd
Suite 455
Katy, TX 77494
digworldtx.com
Postcards Magazine
936-293-1188
PO Box 690
Huntsville, TX 77342
