Invercargill breaks ground on digger-based theme park
New Zealand is about to get a digger theme park.
Invercargill is taking a leaf out of Las Vegas' tourist strategy – with the announcement of a new digger-based theme park.
Based on the popular Las Vegas attraction, Transport World will open its own version of Dig This in Invercargill.
The digger park is to open in spring 2017 on a one-hectare site on Otepuni Ave.
"Dig This" Invercargill manager Lex Chisholm and SouthRoads driver Brad Fallow, get to work preparing the site of the new transport-based attraction, on Otepuni Avenue, Invercargill.
As well as excavators, ticket-holders will also be able to try their hand at driving bulldozers, skid steers, and other heavy machinery.
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Dig This Invercargill manager Lex Chisholm at the site of the new transport-based attraction.
Transport World director Scott O'Donnell said the new attraction was part of an overall plan to bring new visitors to Invercargill.
"We are trying to create new and unique reasons for people to not only visit Invercargill but also stay longer.
"Whether it be new attractions or events, we really want to see Invercargill's tourism and the inner city flourish."
Dig This in the US, which the Invercargill version will be based on, is rated the number three "fun and games" attraction on the TripAdvisor website for Las Vegas.
Transport World tourism operations manager Hannah Whyte said the digger park would provide a point of difference compared to other themed attractions in New Zealand.
"Dig This Invercargill is a pretty unique offering – we are not aware of any other place in New Zealand where visitors can operate heavy machinery.
"We know from both Bill Richardson Transport World and Classic Motorcycle Mecca that people are interested in wheels, so we believe this can only enhance the reasons why someone would want to travel to Southland."
Former Southland rugby representative Lex Chisholm has been appointed as manager to oversee the project.
Chisholm said there would likely be about 12 machines in total once the park was up and running.
"It's pretty daunting for me, but once it's up and going it will be great.
"Playing in a giant sandpit – isn't that every boy's dream?"
The American Dig This, which the Invercargill version will be based on, is available for both adults and children (aged 8 years and over), and has been rated the number three "fun and games" attraction on the TripAdvisor website for Las Vegas.
Chisholm said many of the activities, such as excavator basketball, had been adapted from the Las Vegas park.
"It's very much based on what they have in Las Vegas, although we will have stuff suitable for even younger kids – down to about three or four years old."
The Las Vegas franchise also offers a "dig and destroy" package – combining operating heavy machinery with firing automatic weapons, including Uzis, AK-47s, and M-4s.
Chisholm said the package would not be replicated in Invercargill.
- Stuff
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