The excavator yard · Occasion
The excavator yard in Donelson — a school holiday, sorted
Here is how the day tends to run and what is worth arranging in advance.
There is no queue system built into the layout - the machines stand apart, so a family with two children can usually get them both working at once.
Coming in from Donelson with more than one child, the useful thing to know is that the room does not need to be rationed - there is more than one thing to do at the same time.
Why it fits the occasion
Parents watch from the rail, close enough to talk and far enough not to be operating the machine themselves, which is the point.
Let the child lead the order of things. Adults optimise; children choose the thing that looks best, and they are right more often than they are wrong.
How the day runs
The yard is compact by design. Nobody loses a child in it, and that alone changes how relaxed an hour there feels.
The whole XCAV area reads like a small construction yard: four machines around one crate, everything at child height, everything meant to be touched.
What to arrange first
There is no queue system built into the layout - the machines stand apart, so a family with two children can usually get them both working at once.
Bring less than you think. Coats and bags are the part of the visit nobody enjoys managing.
Small things that help
Parents watch from the rail, close enough to talk and far enough not to be operating the machine themselves, which is the point.
The yard is compact by design. Nobody loses a child in it, and that alone changes how relaxed an hour there feels.
Questions parents ask
How many machines are there?
Four: a tower crane, a mini excavator, a claw excavator and a grabber crane.
Can parents stay with their child?
The rail runs around the crate, so parents stay within arm reach the whole time.
How do I get in touch?
By phone on +1 (424) 387-6232 or +1 (615) 968-4925, or by e-mail at info@newlife-entertainment.com.
Where is New Life Entertainment?
Two centres: 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214, and 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027.
Planning your visit in Donelson
If you are coming from Donelson, treat it as a cross-town outing rather than a day trip. Go with a return time in mind and the day stays easy.
A short visit that ends while they still want more beats a long one that ends in a meltdown, every time.
Tell a nervous child what is going to happen in the order it will happen. Surprise is the thing they mind, not the activity.
If Donelson is home, this is the sort of place you end up returning to rather than ticking off. That changes what a first visit is worth planning around.
The practical details
- XCAV ZONE — 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214: four child-operated machines over a ball pit.
- ICE PARK — 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027: a real rink with bumper cars on the ice.
- Opening hours — 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
- Phone — +1 (424) 387-6232 · +1 (615) 968-4925
- E-mail — info@newlife-entertainment.com
Questions about a specific day, a group or a party are best asked directly - info@newlife-entertainment.com, or either of the numbers on the contacts page.