My husband was a tanker in his military career and absolutely loved this experience. He drove two tanks, fired weapons and enjoyed speaking to the staff that maintained the tanks. It was hard to get him to leave but we'll worth seeing him smile. read more

Completed this12 yearlong dream back in June. The staff was friendly and not only helpful, but accommodating when it came to scheduling problems I ran into from navigation issues while on a road trip. Everything came together and I even got a bonus out of the deal. Friends and family asked how it went... My response "Me squashed tiny car!" Absolutely a great time, leaving with a smile ear to ear. read more

I'm not sure if there's anywhere else you can get this kind of experience. I'd been eyeing the groupon for several years debating if it was worth dropping a couple hundred on something I knew so little about, but I finally decided to take the plunge this summer. I'm really glad I did because I walked away with a greater appreciation of military history and specifically the evolution of tanks. The orientation was very enthusiastic and engaging by the owner himself (only found out afterwards when one of the other employees told us-must be a humble guy). I didn't realize how dangerous one of those things could be until after the lecture. Makes sense though because they are basically designed to be slow moving death traps. Felt kind of bad for the lone little kid in the group, maybe middle school age, he seemed really scared. It all turned out ok though, we all made it back without losing any limbs. Ride alongs are only about 50 usd extra payable the day of, I believe you can have a max of 2 ride alongs. They don't get to shoot the machine gun either but you can add on gun range time if you would like after the tank experience for your ride alongs. Basically everyone gets to drive or ride along for one loop around the track in a forest. The commander of the tank has the option to override or kill switch so if things get really bad you would just start over. I probably took it slower than I had to which was fine so we could enjoy the scenery and make sure I was in control & comfortable with steering. I could also see all the puddles and obstacles in the road well in advance. The first time I asked my advisor if I should avoid the massive mud puddle in front of us he replied, "you're in a tank, I think you'll be fine either way." You do need to give it a little gas when going uphill though. The resident dogs were pretty cute. Enthusiastically scuttling up a ladder to the top of a Sherman tank one moment while lazily plopping down on the shop floor after chasing tennis balls the next. The drinks and snacks aren't too overpriced so don't worry about bringing your own stuff. Apparently there aren't any really nice restaurants in Kasota (just 2 bars I overheard) but there are surrounding towns that have accommodation and dining options for those coming from out of town. read more

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This was a birthday present from one of my sons. It was a great experience. Rode in a Hummer, drove the APC then the SPG. SHOOTING the MGs was pretty exciting also. Thought the orientation was just a little lengthy but no problem. Do wear some older clothing and bring a set to change back into. Driving and splashing thru the mud traps was fun. A fun, relaxed day trip. read more

Absolutely amazing!!!! Wonderful business idea, and it is well executed. Absolutely awesome that the owner is involved in all of it an helps out. Super informative. I was very impressed with how much knowledge he had on the tanks, war history, and just a well rounded knowledge of the era and military. They even have a few ex military folks that work there which adds to it. They even have the old town mayor working for them. Tons of stories and insight to the 280 population town. Tons of old army surplus stuff to check out as well. The guns are awesome. The tanks are awesome. The whole thing is awesome. I wish I lived here so I could come here more often. It is too bad out government won't allow you to buy US tanks. But, I guess they have good reason. Thanks for letting me be a part of this today. Jeff Wieland Owner, All Around ATM and credit card processing. "Keep more of the money you earn" read more

I would like to recommend this place but in good conscience I cannot. I felt they were extremely offensive and unprofessional. Here is what happened: First incident: 1. We go to shoot machine guns and the guy says while we are waiting to go into the range "I used to say everyone walk in and line up and then I would walk in with a machine gun......but then I was told it was politically incorrect". So after being told at a previous time that that was really offensive he continues to say these kinds of things. Ya know, slight massacre and holocaust jokes. Second incident: 1. A person in a group of three asked one of the workers if anyone has ever ran into the trees on the trail. Two of the people in that group were of Asian descent. 2. The worker said "It's usually the oriental ones" 3. The group was visibly offended and the guy kept talking about how "Orientals" are usually the bad drivers. 4. Then one of the girls said "ya know I am going to leave a Yelp review about this" verbally indicating that this is way out of line and he should stop. He did not, and continued... 5. The worker did not understand what he is saying and continues to talk and say things like "We had this one old guy, straight off the boat, didn't speak any English, and He is the one who ran into the trees". 6. There was a lot of awkwardness because the group was really offended but their tank came along and they got on and left. He never apologized to them. Third incident: 1. During the safety and history presentation the guy would swear. No big deal to me but people should know that this is how they operate. Other things to note 1. Pro Trump propaganda is on the walls (Don't care how you vote but just letting you know about the decor) 2. I was there for 4-1/2 hours and the actual shooting of the machine gun was about 5 seconds and the driving of the tank was about 7 minutes. There was a lot of watching other people do things and down time. Granted we did watch 4 cars get crushed and took some pictures but still there was an extreme amount of downtime I felt. 3. The history lesson was informative and cool but really long, over a half hour 4. Some of the workers are super cool. One of the guys that rode on the hood was super encouraging and pumped. 5. If you used a Groupon you still need to pay tax there so bring some extra money All in all I cannot recommend it due to them being unprofessional. If you are looking to drive big stuff I would recommend Extreme Sandbox over this any day because they are cheaper and you get a way longer time in the machines. Ohh yeah, and they also don't joke about massacring people and how Orientals are bad at driving. read more

Yes, you can drive a tank! It's easier than you think and just as cool. This is THE place for big kids who love even bigger toys. If you're a military nut, heavy artillery fan or even a war gamer, this place has it all. It's just a short day trip out of Chicago and the only place left in the country offering this kind of thrill. The owner/operators are just as nice as they can be and will go out of their way to show you a great time. They are knowledgeable and love what they do- it shows! They have hosted private tours, bachelor parties, birthdays and even a Make-A-Wish event. Take a long weekend and go see for yourself. This is one of those bucket list places you should not wait to experience. Go, go! You will be glad you did. read more

I travel an insane amount and do tons of crazy things, but this is definitely at the top of my list of fun, crazy things that I've done. I cannot recommend it enough, and all of my friends are now envious of my experience and want to try it, too. While they say that it's a great idea for bachelor parties, I would actually recommend that women give it a try, as it was strangely empowering. The staff were incredibly helpful, patient, and knowledgeable. And actually getting to drive tanks and crush cars was beyond exhilarating! I was quaking afterwards from the effects of the thrill of it all. I suggest going for the most complete package possible, as this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and worth every penny. read more

Completely surpassed my expectations. Recommend! Recommend! Recommend! After a few too many glasses of wine while watching Fury last year, I had the brilliant idea of googling "where can I drive a tank?", followed by the equally brilliant idea of "that would be a great birthday gift for my boyfriend!" And then I had my 3rd strike of genius for the night, "I wonder if there's a Groupon for that?" Damn, I was on a roll! Long story short, the boyfriend and I flew to st. Paul for probably our most satisfying trip, ever. The adventure started with an hour long safety and historical lesson about tanks and military technology and strategy. It was long enough to get us properly psyched and interesting enough not to be too long. I have to admit, I was quiet terrified about riding in the back. The term "blender" was used multiple times to describe the tank interior. Next we were transported by Humvee to the battle ground where we rode in the armored personnel carrier and the boyfriend drove the Abbot for about a mile. I had been skeptical about paying $400 and only getting a mile in the tank. But, to be honest, after about 20 feet in the gun turret, I was bruised and ready to dessert. The ride was bumpy and miserable and I'm pretty sure the boyfriend intentionally drove close to the trees trying to decapitate me (some thanks I got). And the boyfriend said he wouldn't have wanted to drive much longer. It's a lot harder than it looks and will take any self-proclaimed "good driver" down a peg, or 3. We were both giddy after the ride was over. The mile long trek meandered through woods, gravel, mud, water... Totally exhilarating, which is difficult to fathom in a vehicle that only went 5 mph. Guess there's something to be said about being in command of a 30 ton killing machine. The rest of the activities were just as adrenaline-inducing as the tank. We returned to the lodge where the boyfriend shot a Sten machine gun (included in the package), a Barrett 50 cal, and an mg42 (complete with the Nazi stamp). I've spent time on gun ranges, but feeling these high powered weapons engage so close to me was really something else. The Barrett made my teeth shake. We ended the day with seeing a car crush and taking photos with all the other tanks in the shop. Climbing around the Chieftain, the Sherman, and an old Russian tank will make even the most crotchety of old men giggle like school girls. I have nothing but glowing things to say about the Drive a Tank crew. Everyone was beyond nice and helpful, whether it was answering questions or taking photos. The program was informative and enjoyable. And the whole atmosphere was like visiting lovably eccentric relatives who stockpiled really cool toys that you were allowed to play with. And the price, I know the costs for tank driving are more than that of a standard "date" or "outing". And I won't give the typical spiel of "but how often will you get to drive a tank?" Fact of the matter is, this is the only place in the US where you can do this sort of thing. These guys have a monopoly on the situation and, in theory, can charge whatever they want. But they haven't done that. They've worked hard to provide their customers with an enjoyable experience that doesn't make anyone feel like they are being gauged. To me, that's just good integrity and honest business practice. Not something you see often nowadays, I'm afraid. Breakdown of our costs (approximate): $399 (Groupon price was $250) 3-Star Package (Driving the Abbot, firing the Sten, riding the APC) $65 Passenger ride $30 Shooting the Barrett 50 cal (just one round) $60 Shooting the MG42 Total Costs - $560, about $400 with the Groupon. So, for the price of a meal at a $$$$ restaurant with way too much wine and will probably make you hate life for a few days, you can have this amazing experience with actual historical war machines. I'd say it's worth it. Did I mention my boyfriend is now unequivocally the envy of all his friends? read more

Kesa and the gang were fantastic hosts. This is the ultimate adventure for Tim the tool man Taylor types. What crew wouldn't want to drive south, have a hardy man's breakfast, drive a tank in the mud, and end the day by shooting your choice of machine and hand guns. The only reason I gave 4 out of 5 stars was the opportunity to fine tune the program. Figures I'd have something to pick on, as I used to plan incentive travel way back when Other than that, 5 stars! Don't pass it up! read more

Wow! Just got back home and had to write about my experience. The staff was excellent. From the safety talk to the instructors on the vehicles. Everything was A+++. If you are World War II buff, this is the place for you. Driving a Sherman E8 tank like the one from Fury is amazing. The other tanks, SPG, and personnel carrier were just as cool, but to drive the workhorse of the American Army in WWII is like no other. Crushing the cars was by far the cherry on top. Don't forget the machine guns! The 1919 30 caliber belt fed, MG42 (Hitler's Buzzsaw), and British Sten gun were incredible. I added in the Barrett 50 caliber rifle. It scared the crap out of me when I pulled the trigger! If you get the chance to go, don't pass it up. Very well worth the money to be able to do something those not in the military can't do. Thank you Drive A Tank for making a dream of mine come true and being such a great place to visit. read more