Get ready for some dig-in-the-dirt family fun, as Dig World, the brainchild of Houston’s own Jacob Robinson, opens at Grapevine Mills Mall early next year.
The idea for the heavy construction equipment-themed amusement park was sparked by Robinson and his wife, inspired by their son Pierce, who “loves construction equipment, garbage trucks, dump trucks, and all things outdoors.” At the age of two, Pierce became seriously ill with bacterial meningitis, which left him with physical and cognitive disabilities.
A few years later, the Robinsons teamed up with college pal Rick Bennett to build an amusement park that could be enjoyed by all. Despite his challenges, Pierce loves to hang out with his family and the team at the original Dig World location in Katy, Texas, and welcome guests to the park.
Following the opening of Dig World in Katy in 2023, Robinson began looking to build on that success with a second location in Grapevine. In March of this year, Jacob Robinson secured a $200,000 investment in the joyful venture from “Shark Tank” entrepreneur and businessman Robert Herjavec.
At Dig World, kids can hop on a mini-excavator to scoop dirt, tackle a Lego pick-up challenge with colorful blocks, cast a line for pond fishing with toy rods, stack cones in the cone pick-up game, swing clubs in the exca-putter, or grab rubber duckies in the rubber ducky pick-up.
Additional attractions include a skid steer track for mini loader adventures, a UTV course for off-road thrills, a boom lift ride to soar high, a playground full of climbs, yard games like cornhole, a giant sandbox for digging dreams, gem mining for treasure hunts, and a turf field for open play.
Height rules keep it safe —solo drivers need to be 42 inches tall, lap riders 32 inches — with tickets (not out yet for Grapevine but $29.99 for two hours at the Katy location) offering fun add-ons like hard hats and vests; tots under 2 get in free.
Safety is at the heart of the fun, with machinery tweaked by certified mechanics to limit hydraulic moves and speed governors keeping things slow and silly, all with must-wear seatbelts. Trained staff are on hand to guide kids, and adults must tag along for those under 16. Light rain won’t stop the action, but heavy rain or lightning within five miles calls for a cozy break — tickets can be saved for another day.
Partnering with Frisco locals Dude Perfect, the team is adding three branded attractions to the southwest corner of the mall at 2200 W Grapevine Mills Cir, promising laughs and memories in 2026.