My husband and I were passing through the area and decided to take a short detour to check out this massive piece of machinery (known as Big Brutus). We do that a LOT you know! Oh look honey, a shiny thing!!! Let’s investigate. 3 hours later, we’re officially behind schedule. Sound familiar?
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Big Brutus Facts
Big Brutus just happens to be an 1850-B Electric Shovel capable of digging insanely deep trenches (aka “strip-pits”). He was able to remove massive amounts of dirt and rock allowing miners to get to coal deep beneath the surface of the Earth.
Standing around 160-foot tall, Big Brutus made me feel like an ant! Not even kidding! Equally impressive is the size of his boom which is almost as long as he is tall.
During my first visit to the museum, I learned that his bucket (aka dipper) can scoop up to 150-tons of dirt and rock! How is that even possible?
His crawlers allow him to “crawl” across the ground moving millions of pounds of weight. While they look small in the images below, that is a mere illusion. When standing on the ground next to them, it’s impossible to see over them even if I jump.
In spite of his incredible abilities, he needed support from time to time. Rock saws, graders, and etcetera were vital members of his support team. Below is a sneak peak of some of his support equipment.
We were so impressed by Big Brutus and his handy trenchwork we planned a trip back with the kids. They absolutely loved it, and we had as much fun on the second trip as we did the first. We spent hours climbing in and out of Big Brutus and showing the kids all the visitors center/museum had to offer.
Retired
After years of nonstop service, Big Brutus ultimately lost his job because the cost of operating him was too much. He now enjoys his well-deserved retirement while marveling at his own impressive trenchwork. The trenches are now filled with seemingly blue water adding such beauty to the landscape.
By the time we were finished exploring, it was very hot out and we were drenched in sweat. But, THAT’S OKAY! We had a plan for that. Next stop, Grand Falls to get wet and cool off! It is only 42.7 miles away from Big Brutus, absolutely breathtaking, and totally FREE. Sounds amazing, right?
THRIFTY TIP! We packed a cooler with 97% fat free sandwich meat, sliced cheese, and plenty of bottled water. Additionally, we packed reusable grocery bags with 2 loaves of bread, a couple bags of chips, a couple tags of bananas, a box of sports drink powdered singles (10 pack), some paper plates, and some napkins. This little bit of “preplanning” certainly saved us a lot of time and money trying to feed 5 people “on the go”. Plus, it was definitely healthier than stopping for fast food, twice!
Big Brutus Hours
Current events, pricing, and hours of operation for Big Brutus can be found here! Aside from climbing the 16-story piece of machinery and exploring the visitor’s center/museum, there’s the Mined Land Wildlife Area that surrounds Big Brutus. It certainly offers a ton of recreational opportunities. For instance, you can go camping, fishing, hiking, birding, sky gazing, etcetera.
Big Brutus Map
EXPENSE BREAKDOWN BASED ON CURRENT PRICES:
Big Brutus Admission Expense
3 adults x $10 = $30
2 children (6-12 years old) x $5.50 = $11.00
Our total cost of admission to Big Brutus was $41.00
Food & Drink Expense
(Note: I only packed enough for 2 meals for 5 people because that is all we needed. I also buy in BULK. I take only what I need with me and store the rest at home for future trips. Also, these are current prices at my local Walmart.)
- 1/2 a bulk pack of fat free lunchmeat = $4.57
- 12 slices of American cheese = $1.24
- 40 bottles of water = $5.36
- 2 loaves of bread= $2.64
- 2 party size bags of chips = $6.36
- 2 tags of bananas= $3.84
- 10 pack of Gatorade drink mix singles = $2.98
- 15 paper plates = $.65
- Napkins = $2.26
Now, let’s calculate!
- Subtotal = $29.90
- Taxes = $2.09
- Grand Total = $31.99
Breaking it Down!
- $31.99 / 2 meals = $15.98
- $15.98 / 5 people = $3.20 per person per meal
ENTIRE TRIP
So far, the entire trip sits at $72.99.
In addition to that, you’ll need to include your fuel expense. Calculate your fuel expense based on your type of vehicle, approximate mileage, and current fuel prices.
Also, decide whether or not you will need a place to spend the night. Pitching a tent at Big Brutus is only $8 per night, and they have hot shower facilities. It’s certainly hard to beat that for an overnight stay!
HOWEVER, pitching a tent isn’t for everyone. So, if you’re looking for a reasonably priced vacation rental, you can check your options from here on VRBO! They have a variety of filters to help you find the perfect lodging. It’s super easy to use and saves a ton of time.
Wishing you many blessings and as always, Safe Travels!
