You don't have to know what "whiskey throttle" even means -- or any other motocross lingo, for that matter -- to know it sounds a tad reckless. At TexPlex Park in Midlothian, you can go full speed or just get a tiny taste. Let's call it customizable daredevilry.
Opening June 9 [Update, June 9: opening has been pushed, again, due to unpredictable spring weather. Stay updated here.], TexPlex Park is a 1,000 acre extreme sports playground about 30 miles from Downtown Dallas. It features off-road tracks for mountain and dirt bikes as well as speed boat rides and heavy-duty construction equipment for outdoor fun.
That's right: You can roll around in a bulldozer or excavator, digging up earth in a 10 acre pit, just because.
This is real-life Tonka Trucks and Matchbox Motorcycles for grown-ups and kids who want to go fast.
I headed over to TexPlex to see what it's all about. See, I grew up riding ATVs, hauling a little bit of hay and driving the occasional tractor on a 500-acre ranch. But, it's been more than 15 years since I'd crawled into the cab of a John Deere or tooled around in a forklift at my family's business. I've been a cubicle dweller most of my adult life. Even worse in the coolness department: I'm a 30-something mom. Think I could possibly fall in TexPlex's target demographic?
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If you said, "Hell, yes," you're right -- but possibly not for the reasons you'd expect. In my experience, it's the people behind the playground that make it special.
TexPlex was created by president and co-founder Tommy Kehoe who searched the country for BMX champions and racing superstars to bring on as site designers and consultants. He and the board of directors gave passionate pros a blank canvas and essentially said, "Build your dream park."
They did. But, more than that, they built a park that feels open to every experience level and ability.
Instructors are patient. They know that most people who would pay money to run heavy-duty construction equipment (an actual job for some people) are probably more proficient with an X-Box joystick than one that manipulates the bucket of a 30,000 pound Cat.
At TexPlex, it's OK to be new at something. In fact, it's encouraged to step out of your comfort zone, whether that's digging a six-foot hole at the flip of a toggle or riding down a bike ramp and flying through the air onto a massive airbag.
That doesn't mean everything is for beginners, though. Each of the park's courses are built with different skill levels in mind and with opportunities to progress through more challenging obstacles. Think of the bike and off-road courses similar to a ski resort with bunny slopes building up to black diamonds.
Other experiences -- the speed boats, for example -- are operated by professional drivers only. Sure, it would be fun to drive yourself, but these folks are better trained. You're in for a next-level thrill at the mercy of a highly-trained adrenaline junkie.
Attractions at TexPlex range from $10 to $249, for now, but that will change as the park evolves. And it will: The wide-open Texas skies are the limits for growth when it comes to new toys, special events and changing features.
So far, there are four main types of adventures at TexPlex Park: Dig This, which is affiliated with the Las Vegas company of the same name that allows anyone to learn how to use construction equipment; off-road courses for motor vehicles; bicycle courses and ramps; and a canal for boat rides.
Director of Operations Casey Jarzombek says she hasn't heard an idea yet that sounds too crazy. American Ninja Warrior-style obstacle courses: Why not? Concerts, festivals, professional races? Bring it.
Here's detailed information on you can expect right now at TexPlex Park.
Off-road trails for motor vehicles
The off-road park features 300 acres divided into separated courses for motocross bikes and UTVs -- that stands for Utility Task Vehicle, which is kind of like a Gator or Mule you might see on a farm, except generally smaller and much faster. There's also an area with a rock crawling section for pickups and Jeeps.
You have to bring your own vehicle, or you can go along for a ride-along with a professional driver.
"I've been racing pretty much everything you can imagine since I was 8, and I'm 48 now," said Curtis Kirchmeier, a TexPlex co-founder and owner of TORN Racing,which is the largest off-road racing series in Texas. It was comforting, as I pulled on a helmet that seemed to weigh more than the Toyota Corolla I drove to the park.
Any fears were banished once I saw Kirchmeier behind the wheel. He's good, really good, at navigating the course's twists, turns and jumps -- almost as good, he says, as his son and daughter, who also drive professionally for TexPlex.
If you go for a ride with one of the Kirchmeiers, be prepared to answer this: What kind of ride do you want? It's a loaded question. It's kind of like a Thai restaurant that lists four chili peppers next to every single item on the menu: Any way you go, you're in for an intense ride.
Dig This
If playing in a massive sandbox is your idea of a good time, TexPlex offers the chance to learn how to operate an excavator or a bulldozer in a 10-acre pit. The overall experience takes more than an hour, which includes training and step-by-step guidance from an instructor via a Bluetooth headset.
The extremely patient instructor, David Sisk, started off by having me use the excavator bucket to push myself backward until I had flashbacks of ... well, literally, the Flashback, a now-gone Six Flags roller coaster that terrorized me during junior high youth group trips.
"This ain't your John Deere farm tractor," he said. He laughed, but didn't seem to take too much pleasure at my jerky, start-stop trek across the pit.
Once you get a feel for your machine, riders progress to challenges, which include things like picking up a basketball and placing it in a hole or digging a six-foot hole and filling it back in again. You know. Typical construction stuff.
Jet boat rides
As we walked from one edge of the park to another, Jarzombek told me she has a feeling the speed boat would be one of TexPlex's biggest draws, even bigger than Dig This. I was skeptical. I was still on a high from operating heavy machinery.
Soon, I knew what she meant.
Speed boat rides are divided into two options, both in a 2,000-foot curved canal dug expressly for this purpose. If you're most interested in speed, a professional driver will take groups up to three in a 425 jet sprint boat that zips from zero to 60 MPH in four seconds. Have a bigger group? Up to 11 people can roll out in a spin boat, also driven by a professional driver, that is "designed to turn 270 degrees on a dime."
It's like doing doughnuts on water. Prepare to get sprayed, but it's such a thrill, you likely won't mind.
I got a spin with Kehoe behind the wheel and, well, the GoPro footage is accurate: One minute I felt like James Bond. The next was full-on screaming dork mode.
Bike trails and jumps
If you're more into human power than horsepower, the bicycle park is one of the largest bike parks of its kind in the United States. It was designed by Joseph Prisel, who has built similar parks across the country. Prisel's passion was immediately evident, mainly because we never saw him off the saddle. He might actually be part man, part bike.
The TexPlex Park is designed for all levels, whether you're a beginner or an expert, and there are lessons, camps and clinics with a professional instructor if you really want to geek out on new tricks.
Jarzombek says the flow trails -- that's mountain bike lingo for single track trails with rolling hills -- were designed in close proximity to less technical ones so adults and kids can ride side-by-side, with parents or guardians having fun while keeping an eye on their charges. Prisel's a dad. He gets it.
Training areas feature ramps and a massive airbag -- one of the only ones in the country, Jarzombek says -- for beginners or those working on a new skill, like a back flip. From there, you can progress to a soft mulch surface and finally a dirt landing area. There's also a separate kids area, apart from adult beginners.
If you don't have your own bike, you can rent mountain, BMX and children's bikes, as well as helmets and other protective gear.
Make a day of it
The first rule of TexPlex Park: Bring sunscreen. Wear sunscreen. Reapply sunscreen.
Located outside Midlothian, TexPlex Park is south of Arlington, roughly 30 miles from both Fort Worth and Dallas.
There's not a lot by way of restaurants or other entertainment attractions in the area, but the park features food trucks and concession stands. It's family-friendly -- all ages are welcome, though some attractions have additional age guidelines -- and no alcohol is allowed in the park.
On-site parking is usually plentiful and free, as is entry to the park itself, though that might vary for special events. You should dress comfortably and wear closed-toe shoes.
TexPlex Park is adjacent to coming-soon Blaine Stone Lodge, a 10,000 square-foot, climate-controlled, indoor event venue set to open June 9. It features a rustic, yet well-finished ballroom, an industrial sized kitchen, chefs for hire, chairs, tables, a sound system and video projector, all designed for the purposes of corporate team building days, birthday parties or other swank affairs.
Want to take wedding vows on the back of a dirt bike? You do you.
How much does it cost?
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Because TexPlex caters to a variety of interests, prices range from $10 for the pee-wee bike park gate fee all the way up to $249 for about 90 minutes in the Big Dig experience. It can be smart to make a reservation, but walk-ups are available for most attractions on most days. Costs for special events like races may vary, and rain checks may be available if the park closes unexpectedly due to inclement weather.
Is it safe?
As with most things, there's a level of calculated risk involved. You'll be required to sign a waiver when you arrive. All staff is CPR certified and trained for emergency situations.
Win cold, hard cash on opening weekend
During TexPlex Park's grand opening weekend from June 9-11, park officials will be scoping the scene from 1-2 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. and handing out cash for things like impressive tricks, super-fast rides, first attempts at something new or sick bike builds -- anything that captures the TexPlex Park spirit.
Correction: This story original said TexPlex would open on June 3. Original plans for its grand opening were postponed to June 9-11 due to inclement weather.