Former Truck Driver Opens Amusement Park: Diggerland

Diggerland, a new 14-acre theme park designed by an ex-trucker, is a fantasy land designed for both kids and adults alike.

If you’ve ever stood in awe at a  construction site, marveling at powerful equipment and imagining getting behind the controls, this park is your dream come true.

Real construction equipment – backhoes, excavators and tractors – have been integrated into the theme park and modified into actual, family friendly rides. Other machinery is also available for visitors to ride and operate as if they were construction workers themselves.

CEO and owner of Diggerland, Ilya Girlya, unsurprisingly, loved all things construction as a kid.

When he found out about Diggerland in Europe, he worked to bring it to America wanting to give construction-obsessed kids the same authentic, construction feel.

With experience as a diesel mechanic, a truck driver and sanitation engineer, Girlya brought a comprehensive knowledge about how to meet U.S. safety standards and how to integrate the equipment into operable rides. Of the 23 attractions, highlights include:

• Dig-A-Round: Diggerland’s version of a carousel. Visitors sit in the bucket of an excavator and get lifted up as they go around.
• Spin Dizzy: The giant bucket of this three-ton excavator lifts patrons high in the air then spins them in both directions.
• Diggers — Giant/Big/Mini: Whatever size, the goal here is the same, dig stuff up like a real construction worker on site. (The minis offer game options — knock over the bowling pins, pick up the ducks or dig for treasure.)
• Dumper Trucks/Skid-Steers/Turnpike Tractors: Operate any of these vehicles around an obstacle course.

Additional attractions include a rock wall, a four-story high ropes course, a playground and an arcade. During your visit, expect to also be entertained by trucks “dancing” to music and stunt shows. Tickets are $29.95 online or $34.95 at the park. The number of tickets sold are limited to make sure the lines aren’t too long. Anyone under 36 inches tall or over 65 years old is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday through August 31st and until 7 p.m. weekends only in September. The address is 100 Pinedge Drive, West Berlin, New Jersey. For more information, check out www.diggerlandusa.com Source: www.northjersey.com Photo credit: Diggerland