Construction-themed park lets kids move some earth

5/22/2014

WEST BERLIN, N.J.  — A theme park opening next month in New Jersey will let kids, and adults, move some earth with excavating equipment.

Diggerland USA outside Philadelphia said it’s the first theme park of its kind in the U.S., though many of its plans are based on four similar parks in the United Kingdom. Unlike a more intense heavy equipment playground in Las Vegas called Dig This, Diggerland caters to both kids and adults.

The New Jersey park is owned by Ilya Girlya and his family, who also run an adjacent indoor/outdoor water park. It’s set to open June 14, and tickets are $35.

Many of the rides are repurposed from heavy construction equipment.

Besides letting customers do some digging, the park also has ride where passengers can spin at high speed strapped into the bucket of a specially designed earth-mover or go around more slowly in a digger-themed carousel.

Other attractions include standard carnival games reimagined, including a duck pond and a bowling game using excavators.