Getting Dirty in Vegas

%embed1%

Las Vegas is home to many hidden treasures if you're able to drag yourself away from the gaming tables and decide to see the town. We're big fans of the Atomic Testing Museum, the Pinball Hall of Fame and the Neon Museum that features dozens of retired signs from the old Strip. Now we can add the awesome Dig This to our next Vegas trip.

Dig This calls itself the "first-ever heavy equipment play arena in the United States." New Zealand-born Ed Mumm hatched the idea after renting an excavator while building his own home in Steamboat Springs, CO. He had so much fun and got so obsessed that he launched a pilot version of Dig This in Colorado before going for the big time in Sin City.

If you visit Ed's YouTube channel, you'll see a lot of promo videos that have zero production value. They all look like they were shot with a primitive smartphone but even the low res images can't hide Ed's enthusiasm for his great idea.

Dig This has a pair of Caterpillar D5 track-type bulldozers and three Caterpillar 315CL hydraulic excavators. For $400, you get to play in the dirt for two hours after a 30-minute safety orientation. If the price seems a little steep, remember Ed has to buy insurance and pay for equipment maintenance.

Let's hope Ed does well enough this summer to round up some investors who'll let him expand the park and eventually build up to the thing we all want: Excavator Jousting.