Ben-Voyage: Diggerland USA (West Berlin, NJ)

Just a heads-up, this post is going to be chock full of photos!

I -almost- want to keep this place a secret, but I can't deny any child the sheer joy that my 4 year old son had today. Let me tell you about NJ's newest gem: Diggerland USA.

 

What is Diggerland USA? It is a construction-themed amusement park where children and their families drive, ride, and operate heavy machinery in a safe family-friendly environment.

Fun Fact: 4 existing Diggerland parks exist in the United Kingdom, but West Berlin, NJ is home to the United States' first park! How cool is that? 

The Deets: 

Diggerland USA

100 Pinedge Drive
West Berlin, NJ 08091 

(856) 768 – 1110

Diggerland USA

Full Day Tickets

Online: $29.95

Walk Up: $34.95 

After 3:00 Tickets

Online: $24.95

Walk Up: $26.95

(Prices are subject to change at any time, please confirm in advance)

There are also other special discounts you can take advantage of such as AAA, Military and First Responders, Good Grades. Check http://diggerlandusa.com/admissions/discounts/ for the latest discount information.

Everyone over 36″ is required to purchase an admission ticket. Non-participating guests over 65 years in age are free.

Tip:  Buy your ticket in advance online to save a few dollars, or check if any of the aforementioned discounts apply to you! 

Parking is free and plentiful! That's right- FREE PARKING! Unlike other places where you sometimes have to walk far to get from the parking lot to the park (and pay for the privilege of that trek), Diggerland USA's parking lot is very conveniently located not even a stone's throw away from the park.

Attractions:

The really nice thing about Diggerland USA is that there are rides for all comfort levels and ages.

 For little ones under 36", fear not! Not only do they get free admission, they can also play in the KidZone, the Excavation Center Arcade, or check out the stunt show! Let me tell you, the KidZone is a great get-all-the-energy-out-sleep-in-the-car activity. The slides are awesome! 

Tip: I do recommend visiting the Arcade and KidZone last. Where else are you going to play with construction vehicles? Make some memories!

The Barrel Train located right at the entrance of Diggerland USA kicks the fun right off the second you step foot into the park. 

Barrel Train (Photo from Diggerland USA)

KidZone: 

 Kids have a place of their very own in the Kids’ Zone! Packed with activities to keep them busy, mom and dad can relax and know that their child is safe and having fun in a place built just for them!

The Excavation Station Arcade:

Although we did not catch the stunt show, we heard the cheers of the crowd from across the park! Here is some more information on that: Diggerland hosts a daily machinery stunt show featuring heavy equipment acrobatics under the operation of Backhoe Brandon. Brandon is highly skilled equipment operator capable of maneuvering JCB 3CX Backhoes in ways you previously thought might be impossible.

(Photo from Diggerland USA)

 For children 36" and up, there are several rides to enjoy! Some require a parent/guardian to assist. 

There's Operation Battle Truck:

Take on Diggerland terrain during our Operation Battle Truck adventure! Don’t be intimidated by the size and bulk of these odd-looking cruizers, because once you’re on, you’re not going to want to get off!

Ben really enjoyed the Mini-Land rovers:

 Drive your very own Mini-Land Rover around this kid-friendly designed course. The Mini-Land Rover will create boundless excitement for kids who can finally do something that only mom and dad have been able to do—drive their own car! I was extremely impressed with Ben's driving ability! He stayed on the course the whole time, and handled the car like a pro! I think he quite enjoyed driving. What do you think? 

 

Another one of Ben's favorites (really, everything was...), were the Mini Diggers! There were a few different ones to pick from: bowling, fishing for toy Ducks.. but the one that we chose to do was digging for treasure! Look at the concentration on his face!

 

Dig up treasure in the JCB 8018 CTS mini-excavator. You’ll be in control of 4,017 pounds of pure diesel power as you move the earth in front of you! Will you be the first to find all of the loot hidden in the sea-dredged pit?!

Pure Joy on the Big Digger:

Kids can learn to operate a real digger! Weighing in at a whopping 7,092 pounds, and with a powerful 26.8hp engine, kids can dig until their hearts are content. This supervised attraction offers kid-friendly machinery and the chance to really get down and dirty!

For kids a minimum of 42", they can enjoy:

The Groundshuttle:

A reimagined JCB 540-170 Telescopic Handler, scoots its passengers 25 degrees in all directions while 6 ½ feet off of the ground. This amazing machinery weighs 26, 587 pounds and features 109hp at 2,200rmp! Are you ready to ride?

I, of course, did not go on the next ride. FOR ADVENTUROUS TYPES ONLY! Dun dun dun... The Spin Dizzy: 

The Spin Dizzy (Photo from Diggerland USA)

Are you brave enough to conquer the Spin Dizzy as it lifts and spins you at Not-For-the-Faint-of-Heart degrees? The specially designed 3 ton high, torque JCB JS220 will give adrenaline junkies just the fix they need. Strap in and hold on!

Here's a preview of the impressive ropes course. Although we did not go on, it sure looked like a lot of fun!  

 

The world’s tallest ropes course is right here in Diggerland! At 4-stories tall, this attraction is not for guests with a fear of heights. Suit up with your safety harness, take a deep breath, and try to make it to the top. But once you get there, are you brave enough to look down?!

...And MUCH much more. These are all just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to rides! For a full listing of the rides and requirements, please visit: http://diggerlandusa.com/attractions/rides/.

Food:

 

 

As you can see, there is a varied selection offered at the full service cafe, The Dig-In. From Salad to Funnel Cake, the menu at Diggerland USA covers pretty much all of the bases. It is especially appealing to kids, with favorites such as Pizza and Chicken Fingers. No outside food or drink is permitted, which wasn’t an issue for our group, however, I encourage you to check the menu if you have special dietary needs. The price of the food offered was on par with other amusement parks we have visited, and all things considered, wasn't terrible for the value we got out of Diggerland USA. Various vending machines are also stationed throughout the park for your convenience.

Tip: Check out the Family Dig Bucket value meal for extra savings!

Worth visiting? YES! YES! YES! A thousand times YES! Diggerland USA is fun for kids of ALL ages (I use the term kid loosely-I had a ball!). It never felt super crowded. I know Ben will never, ever forget Diggerland USA! The clouds and overcast actually worked out perfectly for us because it wasn't so terribly hot! Speaking of hot... you should know that Diggerland USA has the same owners as Sahara Sam's Oasis (an indoor water park located in West Berlin...think of the staycation possibilities!). Although Ben and I have not yet visited Sahara Sam's, we certainly intend to, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I will write a review about it!

They also do birthday parties! I will have to keep this in mind for when Ben turns 5!

More Tips: Remember to charge and bring your camera because you WILL take tons of pictures! Make sure to wear comfortable sneakers (if you wear flip-flops, you won't be able to climb the rock wall attraction). Wear bug spray/sunscreen. Bring some extra spending money for the adorable gift shop (where they had lots of one-of-a-kind branded construction goodies and toys at very reasonable prices)!

To see the frequently asked questions about Diggerland USA such as weather conditions and height requirements, please visit http://diggerlandusa.com/contact-us/frequently-asked-questions/. 

Also... this was his first nap in about a year! Post Diggerland bliss.