dig it!

Texas' first construction-themed park digs into Katy with kid-friendly machinery

Kids can operate heavy machinery at this new theme park.

Photo courtesy of Dig World

As CultureMap regularly reports, Houston is in the midst of a construction boom; indeed, Houston recently nailed ranking as busiest home construction market in America.

Fittingly, then, one of Houston’s biggest ‘burbs — in the midst of its own boom — has announced a new construction-themed adventure park. Dig World will operate in 3.5-acre site adjacent to Katy Mills Mall, per an announcement from Katy Mills.

Visitors can operate excavators, skid steers, UTVs, and more; kids can operate machinery themselves (of age and height appropriate) or with adult supervision. The park has a partnership with construction giant Mustang Cat.

Along with construction equipment, the park will also boast a playground, a gem-mining station, a turf field with yard games, and other attractions.

The kid-friendly park will also be open for special events including field trips, community events, birthday parties, corporate outings.

“Katy Mills is the perfect location to open Dig World,” Lisa Connolly director of marketing and business development for Katy Mills tells CultureMap. “... We are excited for the many Katy West-Houston area families that will enjoy this truly unforgettable and immersive experience any time they visit Katy Mills.”

Fans can – what else — track the construction process of the park and get updates about the grand opening and other events on Dig World’s Instagram and online.

Those interested can pre-book birthday parties, field trips, or events by emailing info@digworldtx.com.

parks families kids

"Here come the grannies!"

Walk through the Magic Door to experience the world of Bluey in Houston

bluey and bingo's bedroom at camp in houston

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

Bluey is coming to the Galleria this February “for real life” through an immersive event that invites visitors to enter the world of the famous Australian Heeler family. This one-of-a-kind experience brings the Heeler home and backyard to life with intricate details that will delight fans of all ages.

Tickets are on sale now for Bluey x CAMP, the inaugural interactive experience of the combination toy store, party venue, and immersive theater space. This is The Family Experience Company’s first CAMP location in Houston, with the business securing a 7,500-square-foot permanent retail space in the Galleria.

Through “The Magic Door,” a pivoting wall, visitors step into seasonally rotating interactive spaces beginning with a 5,000-square-foot lifesize replica of Bluey’s house.

Visitors can play games made popular by the show, such as grannies and keepy uppy, and bust a move when “dance mode” is activated. The kitchen’s fridge is covered in drawings by the Heeler puppies, while the living room TV plays Bluey.

Families can explore both a pillow fort and a cardboard castle — two-story structures complete with slides — before venturing into a playroom stocked with toys and costumes from the show. In the backyard, a recreation of the Heeler’s large tree is surrounded by charming gnomes. A photo opportunity with Bluey and Bingo tops off the visit.

Beyond the world of Bluey, CAMP offers even more for visitors in its Canteen space, with a splatter room, The Schmutz Bar (a slime creation station), a party room, and a playable truck. Customers can also shop for toys, clothing, and accessories.

Houston joins a list of CAMP’s locations in Dallas, Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Installations change seasonally, with other current features including Paw Patrol, The Little Mermaid, and Encanto.

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

bluey galleria-houston camp bluey x camp