Extreme Sandbox: Unleash Your Inner Child and Take Playtime to New Heights

There is no greater story than the person that takes a great idea and brings it to life. In this case, that person is Randy Stenger and that idea is Extreme Sandbox, a 10-acre site that allows all ages to play with life-size Tonka trucks! A dream come true for many, Randy says he’s “just a big kid at heart.” Stenger said that he got the idea from his son who, when they drove by a construction site when he was about 8- or 9-yearsold, said he wished he could get behind the wheel of a bulldozer. Stenger’s adventure concept got the attention of Shark Tank where he was able to not only make it on the show, but even received a deal from Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary. With so much attention it is not a surprise that Extreme Sandbox has guests traveling from around the world to try their skill behind these huge machines.

The Ultimate Play Experience

During our visit to Extreme Sandbox in Hastings, Minnesota, our host, Nate Reinhart, got behind the wheel of a 36-ton excavator and had fun digging. Of course, as with most over-the-top experiences, onsite training is a must, especially when safety is the number-one goal at Extreme Sandbox. Once training is complete, guests quickly learn that Extreme Sandbox even makes learning how to drive heavy equipment fun. They also incorporate a number of challenging activities that make for the perfect outing to test your skills and compete with friends, family or corporate teammates. They even offer certified industrial training.

Whether you are enjoying a family outing or corporate team building, Extreme Sandbox truly delivers a “bucket list” experience. Drive a bulldozer, crush a car, dig a pit and more, this place lets you get behind the wheel and have some big-time fun! But don’t take my word for it, check out our interview with Randy and hear it first-hand.

Check out our full visit to Extreme Sandbox on YouTube!

Beyond the Extreme Sandbox

After our Fun Across America visit, we learned they have recently opened up a nearby construction-themed restaurant called the Quarry Taphouse. Expanding on their concept with an additional food and beverage platform, the new addition serves delicious food and a large variety of beverages. It even serves up its own attraction: the Rock Range. Guests get to grab a large buck of rocks for $5 (or small bucket for $1) and start throwing at various targets like hubcaps and cowbells. No glass house here, so go ahead and throw all the stones you want!

Excerpt adapted from Barry Zelickson’s special report for RePlay Magazine.