Going back to your roots has had a powerful and quite literal meaning for Jacob Robinson. Born of the generation that played outside until the street lights came on, rode bikes down dirt roads, and didn’t flinch getting their hands dirty. A more simplistic way of life that we often see vanishing in the rearview of our fast-paced future.
But, like most modern, young families, the hustle and bustle of everyday life can interfere with grand plans of presence, connection and plain fun.
In 2019 Jacob set out to change that. Not only for his family, but for others.
He asked himself, “how do we bring people together, families together, build experiences together?”
Dig World might have seemed like just a fun concept at first - a park where kids get to play in dirt and maneuver cool construction machinery. But, that idea ended up just scratching the surface of the magic that lies beneath.
The Robinsons learned firsthand the importance of quality time and creating memories with the ones you love the most. After a harrowing illness at two years old, their eldest son, Pierce, was left forever changed.
Building this place for not only his own son who loves construction, but for the Katy community as a whole, has been an endeavor worth digging into.
From driving skid steers and digging with excavators, to racing mini tractors and making basketball shots from boom lifts, Dig World has become a place where the essence of simplistic, hands-on fun takes precedence.
The kind of fun that doesn’t need to be taught. The kind of fun that lets imaginations run wild. The kind of fun that lets kids act like, well…kids.
Kids taking the reins of their own curiosity, without having to hear “no.”
Kids steering their way around obstacles, without having to hear “watch out!”
Kids making a mess and shouting with glee, without having to hear “stop doing that!”
A park with a purpose - to foster simple ways kids can be kids, parents can let loose, and memories can be carved out like indentations in the sand.
A purpose that Jacob has fulfilled within his own life, and in business, but one he also feels called to share. To inspire. To spark imaginations. To summon your biggest dreams. To walk confidently towards your goals. To carve your own path.
As a keynote speaker, Jacob feels grateful to share the valley his family has forged through, and all the blessings that have bloomed on the other side.
He humbly shares how he was rejected by investors 248 times.
248 times he heard “no.”
248 times he had people pass on his vision.
248 times he had to keep searching for the next door after each one closed.
But, all it takes is one “yes.”
One “yes” that leads to one more.
One “yes” to set you on the right path.
One “yes” to lead you out of the valley.
“The valley isn't the end of the story… instead it can be where the dream starts,” he states.
Sharing his stories with business leaders during events, and corporate teams during on-site experiences, he now challenges kids-at-heart to dig a little deeper, step outside of the box, and envision a purpose-based life that is beyond their wildest dreams.
Dreams that keep building for Jacob, too. After Dig World officially took root in 2022, he faced another detour - a dicey one.
In 2025, Jacob was approached to appear on ABC’s Shark Tank. Now swimming with the big sharks, Dig World struck a deal with financier, Robert Herjavec. But this appearance was more than just Hollywood smoke and mirrors.
It was one “yes” that ended up setting him forth onto his next phase.
“It was an amazing experience,” he says. “It forced us to put our future plans into gear, really get us thinking about where and how we want to grow.”
And, digging deeper and growing towards goals are in no shortage around here.
“We’ve set out to open ten parks in five years, all over the country,” Jacob explains. “We get the chance to dream big, build more parks, and open them around the country, and bring my kids to visit all of them, how cool is that?”
Their second location is opening this month in Grapevine, TX. And with the hindsight of running a successful park for three years, crafting and building out a second site has been quite the expansive experience.
Along with co-owner Alex Carroll, the brains behind the creative experience, they lovingly refer to this next chapter as Dig World 2.0. With elevated activities and branding, their flagship Katy Mills location will boast new upgrades to match, with perfect spaces to host families, field trips and corporate team building events alike.
Digging deeper might just mean getting dirty, but leading from a place of innovation and creativity might just open doors you didn’t even know existed.
DIG World is located adjacent to Katy Mills mall and in addition to excavator games, a skid steer course and boom lifts, they have a full playground, pavilion, gem mining, yard games and dig boxes perfect for field trips and corporate events. More info can be found at DigWorldNation.com. To learn more about Jacob’s speaking presentations, please visit JacobRobinson.co.
Dig World has become a place where the essence of simplistic, hands-on fun takes precedence. The kind of fun that lets kids act like, well…kids.
As a keynote speaker, Jacob feels grateful to share the valley his family has forged through, and all the blessings that have bloomed on the other side.