Dig'n Zone Theme Park
Rating
Family of 4
$40-$70 (admission per child with parent supervision; pricing tiers by age)
Duration
1.5-3 hours
Best Ages
Best for ages 2-10
About
Dig'n Zone Theme Park solves a problem every parent of a 3-7 year old knows: your kid is obsessed with construction equipment and has been narrating every passing excavator since they could talk. This is the place where that obsession becomes a two-hour activity. Scaled-down but genuinely functional hydraulic excavators, bulldozers, and other construction machines sit in a large sand pit, and kids operate them themselves — not a simulation, real movement controlled by real levers and pedals.
The first few minutes are always the same: the child approaches the equipment with big eyes, figures out the controls with staff help, and then spends the next 45 minutes in a deeply serious state of construction concentration. Parents stand nearby taking approximately 200 photos. It's wonderful.
Beyond the equipment, there are water play stations and sand areas for kids who want to build rather than excavate. Younger siblings who aren't quite ready for the equipment controls have plenty to do in the sand zones, and the water features are a natural summer crowd-pleaser.
This skews younger — the sweet spot is 2-10. Tweens and teens find it charming for about ten minutes before they're ready to move on. But for the family with kids in the 4-8 range, this can genuinely be a two-hour stop that everyone talks about at dinner.
Dress your kids in clothes you're not attached to. Sand and water together create a specific kind of mess that is very effective at destroying white shirts. Pack a towel and a change of clothes in the car and you'll be fine.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Limited
Nursing / Changing
Unknown
Kid Meals
Not Available
Setting
Outdoor
Rainy Day
Not ideal
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings; avoid peak summer afternoons
Wait Times
Minimal — self-paced activity park
Nearby Food
Pigeon Forge Parkway restaurants within a short drive. Pack snacks to extend your visit.
Why Kids Love It
Dig'n Zone is built around one beautiful premise: let kids operate real construction equipment scaled for them. Mini excavators, bulldozers, and construction vehicles that kids can actually control in a sand pit — not a simulation, not a video game, actual hydraulic movement they operate themselves. Kids who have ever pointed at a construction site are going to absolutely lose their minds here.
Add in water play areas and sandcastle building and you have an activity that holds 3-10 year olds for hours.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Dress kids in clothes you don't mind getting sandy and wet — they will
- The equipment operation is supervised; staff help kids learn the controls quickly
- Younger kids (2-4) are just as happy in the sand play areas as on the equipment
- Bring a towel — water play is real water
- Photography opportunities are excellent; kids on mini excavators make fantastic vacation photos
What to Bring
- Old clothes or a spare set
- Towel for water play
- Sunscreen
- Closed-toe shoes (required for equipment areas)
- Snacks and water since on-site food is limited
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
$40-$70 (admission per child with parent supervision; pricing tiers by age)
Tips to Save
- Check for multi-day passes if visiting Pigeon Forge for several days.
- Arriving at opening gets the best experience before sand and water areas get heavily trafficked.
