"Dig This" in Steamboat Springs

Luckily my 4 year old son Alden doesn’t know about this YET. He is an absolute nut for heavy equipment to the point that the other boys call him Mr. Dump Truck. I think that is cheaper for me to just rent the equipment and use it on one of my projects but this is a cool concept and a great thing to do on a vacation if price is not an issue. I will be curious to see how well it does so drop me a line if you get the chance to go out and dig with them.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Co. – Dig This™ will offer 20 tons of year-round fun in an authentic construction setting with structured full and half-day courses including corporate and custom programming for adults in a safe, fun, supervised environment. Participants will operate brand new full-size Caterpillar hydraulic excavators, track-type bulldozers and skid loaders at individual work sites to construct roads, build dams, design bridge abutments, and dig trenches or wherever their minds take them. Dig This is scheduled to begin operations during the fall 2007.

Dig This’ inspiration came to New Zealand native and Dig This owner and founder Ed Mumm, while he was operating heavy equipment to construct his home in Steamboat Springs, CO. After clearing trees and scrub oak, constructing a road, building a pond, and digging foundations he realized how much fun he was having. He imagined those who don’t have the opportunity to operate excavators and bull dozers may want to relive their childhood sandbox days, this time with life-size equipment.

“Now operating heavy machinery can be about fun. I’m excited to be the first to offer this truly unique alternative recreation activity to the general public”, said Ed Mumm, Owner and Founder of Dig This. “Throttling up a powerful engine and sculpting mounds of earth is very empowering. We’re proud to provide this experience as you test your skills behind the controls of some of the world’s largest earth moving machines at Dig This”.

After an operational and safety orientation, participants will get behind the controls in climate controlled, radio monitored cabs and operate equipment in their individual work area. Half-day sessions are $400.00 and include two to three hours of total operating time on one piece of equipment. Full-day sessions are $750.00; include lunch, and four to six hours of total operating time on two pieces of equipment. All dig sessions conclude with worksite reclamation. Operator certificates will be presented to each participant certifying that they dug it at Dig This.

Dig This also provides an exciting alternative to the corporate training model. “Working with teams of corporate employees, our training staff provides a new and typically unfamiliar venue to bring the challenges of planning, and cooperation to peak performance”, said Chad James, Dig This corporate program director. “From project planning through execution and evaluation, trainees work together to coordinate activities and support each other through successful completion of their project.”

Dig This is located two miles west of downtown Steamboat Springs, CO on 20 acres of leased property on a plateau with 360 degree views of the Continental Divide and Yampa Valley. Shuttle service to the Dig This worksite will run from the mountain ski village and downtown Steamboat Springs. Back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page for more.