Dig World is the first construction equipment-themed adventure park in Texas, offering children and adults the chance to operate real heavy machinery in a safe environment. The concept was inspired by founder Jacob Robinson’s young son, Pierce, who has a deep love for construction trucks and machinery. In 2017, Pierce survived a severe case of bacterial meningitis that left him with significant disabilities, yet his enthusiasm for construction remained undimmed. Robinson and his wife wanted to create a place where all children, including those with special needs, could share in the joy of operating construction equipment alongside their families. After learning of a similar construction-themed park in New Jersey, Robinson felt it was a “no-brainer” to bring the idea to Texas. Teaming up with his college friend Rick Bennett – with whom he had dreamt of launching a business since their freshman year at Texas A&M – Robinson began developing the Dig World concept in 2018.
The Founder: Jacob Robinson’s Background
Jacob Robinson grew up on his family’s farm, where he became familiar with heavy equipment from an early age. This upbringing gave him practical insight into operating machinery safely and confidently. Robinson attended Texas A&M University (TAMU), graduating with a network of peers like Rick Bennett who shared his entrepreneurial ambitions. The idea for Dig World merged Robinson’s personal passions and experiences: his comfort around construction equipment, his business education, and most importantly his life as a parent to a child with special needs. As the CEO and co-founder, Robinson has been the driving force behind Dig World’s family-centric culture and inclusive philosophy. He prioritized making the park accessible and enjoyable for all abilities – for example, planning wheelchair-accessible machinery adaptations so that guests can operate equipment without leaving their chairs. Robinson also instilled a strong customer-service ethos in his team, joking that he aims for “Chick-fil-A customer service” and “Buc-ee’s clean” facilities at the park. This hands-on leadership and clear vision have guided Dig World from a bold idea to a growing business.
From Idea to Opening: Building Dig World
Robinson and Bennett spent about four years turning their idea into reality, researching amusement park logistics, safety modifications for equipment, and operational plans. They began fundraising in 2019 to finance the park’s construction. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced them to pause and rethink their approach. Originally, the founders envisioned a large-scale park offering an all-day experience, but pandemic challenges led them to scale down to a more manageable 3.5-acre design. Construction finally kicked off in 2021, and Dig World broke ground near the Katy Mills Mall in Katy, Texas. By March 2022, Dig World officially opened its doors as Texas’s first-ever heavy-construction theme park.
Opening day validated the huge public interest – perhaps more than the team anticipated. Crowds flooded the park as soon as it opened, eager to let their kids drive and dig. The overwhelming turnout actually caused some operational hiccups. On the first weekend, Dig World had only three mini excavators available, and the demand far exceeded capacity. Some of the machinery’s safety modifications were also not fully completed by opening day, further limiting throughput. Facing long wait times and overrun equipment, Robinson made the tough call to temporarily shut the park back down just after its debut in order to regroup. The team immediately refunded tickets and invited guests to return later, vowing to “press pause” and come back stronger. In the ensuing weeks, Dig World acquired about a dozen additional Caterpillar mini-excavators (on top of the original three) and finalized all safety retrofits. By the next month, the park was able to reopen with a smoother experience and enough machinery to handle the weekend crowds. This responsive fix turned an early setback into a learning experience, proving Robinson’s commitment to customer satisfaction and safety. “I’m choosing to believe the overwhelming response is great…we messed up some plans…and rightfully so…I get that as a parent too,” Robinson said of the opening rush, adding that they expected “smooth sailing” once the issues were resolved.
Attractions, Safety, and Experience
Dig World provides a hands-on, two-hour construction adventure where guests can operate heavy construction machinery under careful supervision. Upon entry, each visitor (children and adults alike) purchases a two-hour pass that grants access to all rides and activities during that session. Children under 32 inches tall enter for free, though they are too small to use the machinery and can enjoy the other play attractions. For safety, children between 32–48 inches in height must operate equipment together with a parent or adult, while those over 48 inches can control the machines on their own. This policy means parents often join in – a design decision that ends up delighting adults as much as kids. In fact, Robinson noted that many adults initially come just to supervise their children but end up eager to take the controls themselves. The park has even had a grandmother who insisted she wouldn’t ride end up happily digging with an excavator 30 minutes later. Dig World truly caters to “kids of all ages,” allowing anyone young or young-at-heart to experience construction equipment firsthand.
At the heart of the park are its real, full-size construction machines. Visitors can drive and dig with Caterpillar 303.5 mini–excavators, skid steer loaders, and UTVs (utility terrain vehicles) on guided courses. There are multiple excavator stations for different activities – from digging pits of dirt to a “pond fishing” game where operators use the excavator arm to scoop objects out of water. A skid steer track allows guests to rumble around a winding path in a Caterpillar loader, and a UTV course lets them navigate an off-road style trail. Beyond the heavy equipment, Dig World offers additional attractions: a custom playground, a gem mining station, and a turf field with yard games like Cornhole and TowerBall. These extras give families more to do during their visit and make the park a well-rounded destination for group events or school trips.
Safety is a top priority in every aspect of the experience. Each piece of machinery at Dig World is specially modified to limit its speed and range of movement for safe use by young operators. For example, the excavators are fixed in place and only rotate within a restricted arc, so kids can dig without the danger of driving the vehicle around. All drivers must wear seat belts, and any drivable machines have governors to cap their speed. Hydraulic controls are adjusted to reduce the power and total range of motion, preventing any risky maneuvers. These precautions ensure that “no matter how little Timmy tries to maneuver the machine, most of it has been disengaged” for safety, as Robinson explained. Trained staff are present at each station to guide users and can remotely shut down equipment if needed. Thanks to these measures, even first-timers and young children can confidently and safely enjoy operating real construction gear. Dig World’s emphasis on safety has helped reassure parents – many of whom are amazed when they realize the kids truly run the machines themselves and it’s not just a simulation.
Business Model and Customer Experience
Dig World’s business model centers on providing a unique interactive experience while also driving group sales and repeat visits. The park operates primarily on a session-based ticketing model (two-hour admission blocks), which encourages a high turnover of guests throughout operating days. This format has proven ideal for the target demographic – young kids tend to get happily tired after a couple of hours of digging and driving heavy equipment. It also allows Dig World to accommodate multiple waves of visitors in a single day. The company generates revenue from ticket sales, group event packages, and ancillary purchases. Birthday parties have been a particularly popular offering: in its first year alone, Dig World hosted around 400 birthday parties for children. The park provides dedicated event spaces and an on-site events coordinator to handle birthdays, corporate outings, and field trip groups – a growing part of the business. Corporate team-building events and even just adult friend groups have also taken to the park, demonstrating appeal beyond the preschool crowd. In addition, Dig World earns income from extras like the gem mining activity (where visitors can purchase a bag of sand to sift for minerals) and a gift shop with branded merchandise and snacks.
Dig World has attracted partnerships and boosted its public profile through its educational and community-oriented programs. The park partnered early on with the Texas A&M Department of Construction Science to integrate educational content into the fun. Informational signage around the park, designed by A&M students, highlights fun facts about construction and engineering, turning a day of play into a learning opportunity. More formally, Dig World worked with A&M faculty and students to develop a curriculum for school field trips. When student groups visit on weekdays, part of their visit includes lessons about construction careers and the science of building. Robinson coordinated with the City of Houston Mayor’s office as well to bring local schools to Dig World as an exciting field trip destination that might also spark interest in the trades. In fact, Dig World deliberately operates mainly on weekends for the general public and reserves weekdays for field trips, ensuring that large groups of students can attend during the school year. The underlying goal is to use the thrill of operating equipment to inspire the next generation of construction workers, addressing an industry skilled-labor shortage by engaging kids early. “The goal is to get kids excited about the construction industry,” Robinson says – breaking down stigmas and showing children the many rewarding opportunities in building and engineering. Local construction companies and industry organizations have taken notice, seeing Dig World as a creative way to expose young people to the field.
Dig World is focused on inclusivity and giving back to the community. Robinson’s family made it a priority that the park be accessible to those with disabilities or special needs, just as they envisioned it for their own son. Currently, guests who use wheelchairs can participate with assistance, and Dig World has been investing in technology (such as equipment with adaptive controls and ramp systems) to allow wheelchair users to operate machinery more independently in the future. Every quarter, the park holds a Special Needs Night, a private evening where families of children with disabilities can enjoy the park at no cost. Community sponsors help underwrite these events, and Robinson notes that every single employee enthusiastically volunteers to work those nights. This inclusive atmosphere has made Dig World a beloved destination for many families who might not otherwise get to share such activities. The company’s focus on customer experience is also evident in staff training – most crew members are local high school students imbued with the mission of creating memorable, positive visits for every guest. By blending entertainment with education and community service, Dig World’s business model extends beyond just selling tickets; it builds loyalty and a strong brand reputation as a place that families trust and value.
Key Milestones for Dig World
2018 – Concept Development: Jacob Robinson and Rick Bennett conceive the idea for a construction theme park. They conduct research and visit existing parks (like one in New Jersey) to evaluate how kids could safely operate real machines. Robinson’s personal experiences – from farm life to his son’s inspiration – shape the park’s inclusive concept.
2019 – Initial Fundraising: The founders begin raising capital to build Dig World. They pitch the concept of “putting four-year-olds on excavators” to investors and partners. Early enthusiasm is strong, validating the market for a family construction attraction.
2020 – Overcoming Challenges: The COVID-19 pandemic delays construction plans. Robinson and Bennett use the downtime to refine their business plan and scale the project appropriately. They decide to start with a 3.5-acre park (rather than a larger complex) to minimize risk amid uncertain times.
2021 – Construction Begins: Dig World breaks ground in Katy, Texas, adjacent to the Katy Mills shopping mall. The project involves modifying real Caterpillar equipment, building out the site with attractions, and forging partnerships (such as with TAMU’s Construction Science department). Robinson, an Aggie alum, secures support from his alma mater for educational features.
March 2022 – Grand Opening: Dig World opens to the public as Texas’s first construction-themed amusement park. Massive crowds on opening weekend temporarily overwhelm the park, leading the team to close for a short period to add capacity. After acquiring more machinery and fine-tuning operations, Dig World quickly reopens and finds its footing.
Summer 2022 – Rapid Growth: Within months of opening, Dig World experiences high demand for group events and parties. The unique concept proves a hit for birthdays – roughly 400 parties are booked in the first year. The park also welcomes a steady stream of field trips once the school year begins, thanks to its educational programming. By late 2022, Dig World reports tens of thousands of visitors.
2023 – National Buzz: Dig World’s story and videos begin to go viral online, amassing over 100 million views on social media, which drives even more visitors. Annual attendance reaches approximately 75,000 visitors – an impressive figure for a single-location startup park. The company formalizes a franchising program via its website, inviting interested entrepreneurs to open new Dig World locations in other cities. Robinson emphasizes finding partners “to build something special across the country,” highlighting the brand’s nationwide potential.
Late 2023 – Partnerships and Plans: Dig World announces a partnership with Dude Perfect, the famous family-friendly entertainment group known for their trick-shot videos. This collaboration will allow future Dig World parks to feature Dude Perfect–branded attractions, tapping into the group’s massive fan base and adding another layer of fun for visitors. Meanwhile, Robinson’s team identifies target markets for expansion, focusing on Texas and beyond. Locations in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio are evaluated, as well as out-of-state markets.
Early 2025 – Shark Tank & Expansion: Dig World earns a spot on ABC’s Shark Tank in March 2025, which marks the park’s national TV debut. It comes as Dig World is gearing up to expand outside Katy: new locations in North Carolina and additional Texas cities (including Dallas) are planned to launch in 2025. The Shark Tank exposure could accelerate franchise deals, funding, and brand recognition for Dig World’s coast-to-coast growth.
Expansion and Industry Impact
From the outset, Jacob Robinson envisioned Dig World as more than a one-off park – he saw it as the start of a new genre of family entertainment with a real-world impact on the construction industry. Now, just a few years after launch, Dig World is moving aggressively to expand its footprint. The company has outlined plans to establish 10 new Dig World parks across the U.S. in the coming years. As of 2025, several locations are already in the pipeline: in Texas, a second site in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is being developed, and talks are underway for Austin and San Antonio markets. Beyond its home state, Dig World is targeting other regions – notably the Carolinas – with Charlotte or Raleigh, NC mentioned as potential destinations for a new park (indicative of the “several North Carolina…locations” slated to launch in 2025). To fuel this growth, Dig World is leveraging a franchise model. The company’s franchising program seeks local owner-operators who are passionate about the concept and provides them with a turnkey package: rights to the Dig World brand, the established park design/attraction blueprint, training, and even built-in marketing boosts like the Dude Perfect partnership. If Robinson secures an investment deal from Shark Tank’s panel of “sharks,” it could inject significant capital and connections to accelerate these expansion efforts. Even without it, the national TV appearance itself is expected to increase interest from potential franchisees and visitors alike.
As Dig World expands, its impact on the construction industry’s future workforce is a point of pride and focus. Industry leaders have been concerned with a persistent shortage of skilled construction workers, and Robinson believes venues like Dig World can help spark early interest in these careers. By giving children a thrilling first taste of operating real construction equipment, the parks plant seeds of curiosity that might later grow into vocational passion. “We can familiarize kids with the construction experience, break down any stigmas about being in construction, and inspire them to explore the industry’s many options,” Robinson explains of Dig World’s educational mission. The park’s partnership with Texas A&M’s Construction Science program and coordination with school districts is directly aimed at channeling youthful excitement into learning about construction science and engineering. There is even a bit of poetic irony in how Dig World came to be: during its construction, the project itself faced delays due to difficulty finding enough contractors and subcontractors – the very workforce gap it now hopes to help remedy for the next generation.
Beyond workforce development, Dig World’s expansion carries an industry impact in the equipment and rental sectoras well. The park works closely with manufacturers like Caterpillar and equipment rental companies to source and modify machinery. Its growth into multiple locations means more partnerships and business for those suppliers. Additionally, Dig World’s success has validated a niche in the entertainment market, paving the way for similar attractions or offshoots. It joins pioneers like Diggerland in New Jersey or Extreme Sandbox in Minnesota and Texas, but differentiates itself by focusing on younger kids and family participation. This family-oriented formula combined with franchising could spread the concept widely. Each new Dig World location also becomes a local tourism draw, often opening near shopping malls or mixed-use developments to mutual benefit.
Ultimately, Jacob Robinson’s venture is leaving a mark on both families and industry. On the consumer side, Dig World has given thousands of kids (and plenty of adults) an unforgettable opportunity to play, learn, and bond over something totally different – driving a bulldozer or digging with an excavator beats an arcade or playground for many visitors. “Seeing the joy on kids’ faces when they operate real machinery is what makes this all worth it,” Robinson says. On the industry side, Dig World is helping reshape perceptions of construction work by showcasing it in a fun, positive light to the public. As the company grows, it continues to follow Robinson’s original mission: bring families together for a one-of-a-kind experience, create lasting memories, and maybe even inspire future builders in the process. With its innovative business model and heartfelt origin, Dig World has not only built a thriving company, but also a community that celebrates the spirit of construction and play.
