Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/335708
trucks, until now, we could only envision being be- hind the wheel of a real-life piece of construction equipment. Kids who are playing with Tonka trucks can come to Diggerland USA and actually drive one, the JCB model, and parents who played with them as children now have the opportunity to fulfill the same childhood fantasy." In addition to the rides, visitors can also get behind the controls for attractions like skid steers, Backhoe Adventure, Mini Land Rovers, Dumper Trucks and Mini Diggers. On the machines, the guests can dig, go bowling, pick up ducks and other fun activities. Girlya says he enjoys "being able to see children of various ages drive real diggers and the expres- sion on their faces and parents." There's a 36-inch height require- ment for most of the rides, but children shorter than that get in free and can still enjoy a play area, called the Kid- Zone, and an indoor arcade. Park visitors don't go through formal equipment training, but there are park attendants at each ride to give them instructions, says Sharon Rushen, mar- keting manager of Diggerland USA and Sahara Sam's Oasis. For Diggerland's rope course – which is the tallest in the world at four stories high – and a 32-foot-tall rock wall, park visitors will have to receive more guidance from trained staff. While this concept is new to the United States, the first Diggerland Adventure Park opened in April 2000 in Kent, United Kingdom. So, the attractions have been safely tested and operated before bring- ing the concept to New Jersey. But like with any project, there were hurdles the Diggerland team had to overcome. Girlya says the biggest challenge was getting approval from the governing bodies that oversee amusement park rides. As far as opening other parks, Rushen says the company wants to focus on the one in New Jersey before opening additional locations. Full-day admission tickets are $29.95 online or $34.95 at the park. J U LY 2 014 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m 5 Park guests can operate equipment like excavators and backhoes or enjoy rides like the Dig-A-Round (bottom left), which resembles a carousel. fieldreport: