I suppose the best attractions are those with a description that begins, “Where else but in Minnesota can you…?” Fill in the blank. In this case: Drive a tank.
Yep. That’s right. Drive a tank.
Located near Kasota, Minn., the aptly named venue Drive A Tank lets visitors do just that. While I haven’t tried it myself, I could see the appeal. What better way to work out some aggression? Or perhaps you were just curious about some of the equipment the men and women serving in the armed forces use every day. What better way to learn than some hands-on experience? Plus, it sounds kinda fun.
According to the attraction’s promotional materials, Drive A Tank is the only place in the United States where you can drive authentic military tanks. Don’t worry if you think you might not be up to the task. The experience comes with some rudimentary lessons; plus the tanks are equipped with dual controls and a kill switch, so an instructor can take the wheel if you really get into a bind. But how good of a driver do you really need to be? You’re in an armored tank!
Drivers can take vehicles through winding trails or off-road on some newly added wooded terrain that will challenge the equipment and driver alike. Want to really see what the tank can do? Special packages allow drivers to drive over a car. Up for an even bigger challenge? Try the newly added Mobile Home Destruction Experience (again, aptly named) “where you can experience virtual invincibility while driving a tank through a mobile home slated for destruction; will definitely get your adrenaline flowing.”
The attraction also features an indoor firing range, where gun aficionados and history buffs alike can fire many different historic firearms, including a rare 1919A4 WWII .30 Cal belt-fed machine gun. Prices for the various activities start at $500, and top out at $3,495 for the mobile home trailer trashing experience. Looking at their calendar, it looks as if weekend appointments are filling up fast.
“We couldn’t be happier to offer these new experiences this year,” says Tony Borglum, co-owner of Drive A Tank. “Military enthusiasts and thrill seekers alike will appreciate the diverse offering of adventures here this season. We hope to be adding even more soon.”
I’ve got to admit that this might not be my cup of tea. I suppose you could place this into the “things-you-can’t-do-every-day” category. But then again, that’s what all good travel experiences should be.
