Image provided by Extreme Sandbox
The Stenger brothers have brought a little bit of Las Vegas to Hastings but while some immediately think casino or stage shows, this is an entirely different Vegas-style attraction all together. Similar to Vegas’ Dig This “Heavy Equipment Playground”, Extreme Sandbox in Hastings looks to appeal to the “kid” in you while letting you play construction worker for a day.
Lazy Lightning spoke with Randy Stenger, owner of Extreme Sandbox, about his family’s new venture opening in Hastings in April 2012 and have shared the Q&A below.
LL: How did you get the idea for Extreme Sandbox and what are your plans for its future?
RS:
I have three boys and several years ago we were driving by a construction site. One of my boys said, “Dad wouldn’t it be fun to go play on those trucks?” Being a big kid at heart myself, I love playing on stuff like that. A year or so later my brother heard of other businesses around the country which had a similar concept and we decided we had to bring this idea to the Midwest.While currently we’re looking to attract single individuals to the site to play on the equipment, for the future we’ll be looking for more groups including corporate team-building, birthday parties, and bachelor parties with 10+ people.
LL: Why did you decide on Hastings as your location for Extreme Sandbox? What other cities/locations did you consider first and what hurdles did you experience while pitching your ideas?
RS:
We looked all over the South Metro including Burnsville, Lakeville, Hastings and Shakopee. We spent time driving around and locating 5 to 10 acre sites which were secluded but not in the middle of a commercial area. We then met with city staff in the various locations to find one which would work best for us and for the cities both.We spoke with John Hinzman (Hastings Community Development Director) and we told him that we’d like to bring in a lot of tourism dollars to the city but start small. We wanted to start as a temporary business and bring in a construction trailer. If the idea takes off we’d turn it into something with more permanent structures. While we never spent a lot of time with the other cities as the start-up costs would have been too high, Hastings created a temporary use permit for us and they have been really great to work with.
LL: Were the start-up costs such as land, equipment or insurance rates higher than you originally anticipated?
RS:
Yes they were greater than expected but still reasonable. Leasing the land from an individual. Not a lot of permanent investment.
LL: How do you plan to market Extreme Sandbox?
RS:
We plan to invest in social media and guerrilla marketing after talking to some of the other owners around the country who said it works well because of the business type. Because it is such an interesting business people are very interested in it. As we get closer to launching we’ll do press releases to get interest going and let people know it’s a fun concept while hoping that word of mouth spreads it even further. In addition to social and local print media we’ll also run some TV ads on various channels.
LL: What equipment will you have on hand for people to play with and do you plan on adding more machinery in the future?
RS:
Starting with a CAT 3150 Excavator, CAT D4 Bulldozer and a CAT 279 Skid Steer. We will bring in additional items on demand especially for larger group events.
LL: Aside from the obvious dirt moving, what else will those playing have to look forward to?
RS:
Giant tractor tires which people can pick up, a timed obstacle course for the skid steer while maneuvering around barriers. One of the skill items will be knocking a tennis ball off the top of a traffic cone with just the teeth of the excavator. We think people will be really surprised at how nimble the equipment can be.We also hope to be an advocate for the construction business. This equipment isn’t simple to use and operate but it is fun and people will leave with a greater appreciation for what it takes to work in that industry.
LL: What else do you have to say about Extreme Sandbox?
RS:
We’re all very excited and hope people come to check it out. We’re running a one-day-only Black Friday special at our Burnsville Center kiosk. Those who purchase gift certificates that day will receive 50% off the retail price! We’ll be at the kiosk starting at 6 AM.In addition we’d love for people visit our website and give us any feedback they may have. It’s a work in progress and finding issues would be extremely helpful.
You can learn more about Extreme Sandbox in Hastings on their website, their Facebook page or by heading over to their kiosk at Burnsville Center Mall (in front of Dick’s Sporting Goods). They’re available mainly on the weekends and by appointment but brochures and general information are always available. Give them a call, toll-free, at 1-855-DIG-4-FUN (1-855-344-4386).
What do you think about Extreme Sandbox in Hastings? Are you excited about the potential for living out your dream as a construction worker using real heavy machinery without having to worry about the day-to-day grind wearing you down? What about the issues experienced by the Stenger’s getting approval for their venture? Do you think cities should be more open to such forward-thinking especially in times of economic upheaval? Do you think you’ll be heading out there when it opens to give the equipment a whirl? Whatever you have to say about this one go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear what you have to say!
Dakota Complaints Map
Dakota Inmate Dashboard
Loading ...
November 21st, 2011 at 8:28 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:55 am
I disagree with you Chapter&Verse. There is a lot of disposable income in our economy right now. Restaurants are more full than empty right now more than ever. Valleyfair continues to attract large crowds all summer and even the State Fair gets close to or sets a record for attendance every year. There is plenty of money out there to be spent for fun.
All we hear about is the high unemployment rate even though 93 out of 100 of us are working right now. Things are better than most people think.
I have no idea if this business idea is going to be a great one in Minnesota, but I wish them the best. It sure looks like they have a pretty good idea at how to get the idea out there, and that includes getting a shout on this website along with the mall location thing.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:02 am
I think it sounds like great fun. I dont know if its in my price range, esp as I have grown up driving alot of similar equipment, but I would love to be able to go “play” like that for a few hours from time to time.
Not to take sides on the comments above, but I think the number of us working is far lower than 93 out of 100. More like 89 or 90 out of 100, and thats only of adults seeking employment. It does not capture the people who have quit looking, the young, or the retired. That last class, retired, I think now includes alot of 62 and 63 year olds who may have planned on working for several more years but found themselves unemployed and cant find a job.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:06 am
I love it. I’m sure the price will come down as it’s popularity increases. It is another example of the “think and grow rich” in America where opportunity is boundless for those who pursue their dream, despite all the naysayers. What if there were other sites like this to indroduce youngsters to other career fields too? What if today’s kids actually had a goal to work towards? I wish them well in their endeavor.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:10 am
I’d have to agree with Lefty. I was at Porter Creek last Saturday and it was packed with a 45 minute wait.
What recession?
November 21st, 2011 at 9:16 am
While the unemployment rate (official numbers, not the actual numbers Chad refers to above) for Minnesota is about 6.4% according to October’s numbers: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9R2L9I00.htm, my company just did another 4% layoff last week adding to the 8% they did earlier in the year.
The economic turmoil is still going strong, it’s just that some are less concerned about it or have resigned themselves to knowing it could happen at any time and are living life as they always have.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:29 am
If you can convince your children into operating a “trackhoe” or an excavator, I would do so. It’s expensive to go out and dig holes for fun, but if you work on a job receiving federal dollars (qualifies for Davis Bacon) you can make a good living “Playing”.
OPERATOR: Rate Fringes
GROUP 2…………………$ 31.57 16.85
November 21st, 2011 at 9:33 am
Interesting, there is an indoor motocross track close to this called the sandbox. They rent out ATV’s too. I know places like this struggle. Insurance costs can be pricey. I do wish them success. If prices do go down significantly I’d love to try it.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:43 am
lefty, Oh good, the record foreclosure rates and cities being forced to choose between higher taxes and cutting law enforcement is just an anomaly. Good to know. And next time I ask someone if they want to go have pizza and they decline I’ll know it’s that they don’t want to eat with me, not that they don’t have the money in their budget for dining out.
And, I still wish the Stenger’s well.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:50 am
C&V, they have other options to cut (like Parks and Rec) but like school districts, cities prefer to cut the items which get people most interested in allowing taxes to be raised so they can continue to pay for nice-to-haves instead of must-haves.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:57 am
Bill, I agree, just like school districts cutting transportation, making the kids walk, so the bond bill will pass next time.
lefty, as I reread my first post in which I expressed my feelings about this topic, I’m having trouble understanding with what you disagree with – disposable income availability?
November 21st, 2011 at 10:05 am
Sounds cool. Price is a bit steep for me, but I could easily see corporate team building or other group fun getting involved. It is interesting to see various ways that folks come to get a piece of the disposable cash from those with cash to burn.
There are plenty of folks in the south metro that are doing just fine, even better than fine.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:24 am
For $200 (roughly the cost of a psychotherapist for an hour), I want to open the gates of hell on an ’84 Cutlass Ciera or an old abandoned Winnebago. Where’s the therapeutic value in knocking a tennis ball off a cone? I want to vaporize the tennis ball, the cone, and every other structure within 50 yards. I want those tractor tires flying through the air and smashing into a bunch of donated port-a-potties set up like bowling pins. I want the sweet sound of gnashing metal and glass, the smell of gasoline and exhaust, and maybe even some sort of small to mid-sized explosion. Better yet, piped in sound tracks of women and children screaming and shouting “oh the humanity” over Metallica. I wanna get out of that thing sweaty, arms sore from cranking on the levers, and somewhat concerned with myself about just how much pleasure I derive from obliteration.
Remember the “Most Shocking” TV show, where some guy stole an M1A1 Abrams tank and headed out on the highways, leaving a trail of flattened cars and other assorted smithereens? I want THAT!
(side note to Stengers: you may want to consider some sort of proximity device on those things where if someone tries to leave the premises, the machine shuts off automatically.)
November 21st, 2011 at 10:28 am
@Twoboot, I can’t tell if you are agreeing with me or mocking me. All I was getting at was that there are an infinite number of career paths today and not everyone can or even wants to be a CEO, lawyer, astronaut, whatever. The schools do a poor job, in my opinion, of exposing today’s students to all the opportunities there are out in the real world. Most students are bored and attend because it is the law. The exceptions are the great students who know where they are going. Any activity that gets them out of the classroom occasionally to see real life jobs is a good thing. Maybe I am old school, but how many field trips to kids go on today. Few to none because of cost and liability. That is sad. Large schools are the cause. I’d like to see someone have a river tugboat as an afternoon of fun learning experience, a half day learning about General aviation opportunities, there is no limit but one’s own imagination.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:28 am
Chapter&Verse,
I disagree with your notion that a company trying to make a go of things should somehow “nag” at you. Usually when a company opens up, they hire people, which is a good thing, even if you think 200 dollars per hour is too expensive for you and your circle right now.
Just because you have a few people in your life that can’t buy pizza does not mean that people are not buying pizza or even playing on tractors and backhoes. Maybe they just don’t want to go out with you as you suggest.
I hope that helps clarify.
lefty
November 21st, 2011 at 10:44 am
Saying “the economy is bad” (or good, for that matter) does not mean that each sector of the economy is in the same shape. I work for a software company and our industry has been doing very well. Manufacturing, on the other hand, has been hammered. So while we’re struggling to find qualified people for open positions as there’s high demand for many of the positions we have open, others find themselves in situations where they are one of 200 equally qualified people applying for the same job.
I’ve seen enough cases of people spending 1-2 years unemployed to know that Chapter&Verse has a point, and I’ve seen enough sectors that are very healthy to know that lefty has a point. Ultimately, I think that many of the unemployed need to figure out a new career path in an industry that is growing rather than trying to hack it as a builder or a librarian at a time when our economy can’t support that and doesn’t have the need for that skill that it once did.
November 21st, 2011 at 11:13 am
To think about it, it would be totally awesome to make a living operating a giant sandbox. I know my husband would give up his job in IT in a heart beat if he could support us working outside. Unfortunately, this economy does limit your choices.
November 21st, 2011 at 11:56 am
The Vikings are averaging almost 63,000 fans in attendance per game.
A stupid movie just sold 130 million dollars in tickets this past weekend.
A terrible Twins team sold 3.1 million tickets this past season.
Entertainment dollars are out there and still in large numbers. People want to entertain themselves. Economy or not, if this new venture can carve out a niche they will do pretty well.
November 21st, 2011 at 12:11 pm
lefty,
You can be puzzled as to why something about this “nags” at me, but it does and with that you can’t “disagree.” And, for the 3rd time, I wish them well. I just think it’s a hell of a gamble in this economy.
And I’m sure there are people who would rather do just about anything rather than have pizza with me. I can be quite acerbic, sarcastic and irritating – people who love me often tell me that. I fully understand life.
November 21st, 2011 at 12:18 pm
I think they’re doing a fairly decent job of going about this in the right way: starting small, making sure things are temporary, and not spending a lot in start-up capital on the machines themselves. They have some money invested in the leased land, the kiosk, their website, etc but they seem to be doing everything else themselves (talking to the news media) do you think that it’s less or more of a gamble to go about it in that way?
People are opening brand new restaurants and other businesses left and right. Do you think those are more or less vulnerable to the economic situations we currently face than Extreme Sandbox?
November 21st, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Ohhh, MSPD has me thinking about how much fun a wrecking ball would be. :)
November 21st, 2011 at 12:56 pm
I hope he does well. Thriving businesses benefit everyone, and more power to him if he can make this work.
Lefty and C&V, you’re both right as far as the economy goes. Lots of people don’t have money or don’t feel comfortable spending it, but some people are still doing fine and there remains a healthy market for luxury goods like this. To Joey’s point about some sectors doing better than others, I’d go farther and say that even within sectors, there can be a lot of disparity. My sector (retail) is seeing this; the top end is doing well and the low end is doing alright, but the middle is vanishing because they are trading down to the low end.
Is something like this extravagant? Sure, but so are lots of things.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:01 pm
HELL YEAH! Now we’re talkin’.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Bill, I wish them all well, including the Extreme Sandbox. They do seem to be going about it properly… but at ~$200/hr it’s not for me.
November 21st, 2011 at 3:02 pm
An excavator will run you $400 a day (rental), a used car will probably cost $800 (they are getting expensive), and you’d need to pay a farmer $200 to “make it happen”.
If you have access to a cheaper car and need to blow off some steam, I’d definitely look into a rental for the day!
November 21st, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Open a gun range on property, staff it with Hooters girls, and this could very well be the perfect business. :)
February 16th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
What an awesome idea! I’m 43 and still wishing I’d had the chance to operate one of these machines. I will definitely try this. You could only dig up so much dirt with the Tonka toys as a kid. Hopefully these brothers make it well.
March 1st, 2012 at 7:56 am
These guys put up a Groupon recently that is still active if anybody is interested. It seems like a good deal, half off for an hour of rental.
May 2nd, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Looking to try it out for free? Click here for information: https://www.facebook.com/events/351328048259155/