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Ox Ranch in Uvalde, Texas, was already drawing tourists for its exotic animals that roam the property. Then, about four years ago, owner Brent Oxley’s father-in-law, former Green Beret Todd DeGidio, decided to add something crazy — a military tank from World War II. All for educational purposes, of course.
One tank would lead to the acquisition of several more — along with machine guns, grenades, artillery and other historic weaponry — that visitors can not only look at, but also interact with and, hey, even fire it themselves.
Such is the business of DriveTanks.com (yes, “.com” is part of the name), an accredited museum that offers a long list of military weapons and armor from varying time periods and countries. Unlike an average museum, the exhibits are interactive and provide a firsthand experience. Use a flamethrower from Vietnam. Fire a Tommy gun from World War II. Detonate a fireball.
“It’s basically the last place where a lot of these items can even be seen,” says Spencer Tesanovich, director of operations for DriveTanks.com. “The crazy part is they’re still operational, and you can actually shoot them.”
Items come from weapon collectors or other countries no longer in need of older equipment, Tesanovich says. The company also obtained federal licensing for the weapons, as well as licensing to manufacture their own ammunition.
Located two hours south of San Antonio, DriveTanks.com shares 18,000 acres with Ox Ranch, a resort-like property that offers safari-esque activities ranging from feeding giraffes and petting kangaroos to hunting wild exotic game like whitetail deer, turkey, elk and hogs, according to Ox Ranch’s website. There’s also a luxury pool, multiple lodging options, a fine-dining restaurant and a private airport.
Tesanovich says the property is a “one-stop shop” for groups and events, hosting everyone from bachelor parties to companies looking for an atypical team-building activity.
“It allows them to come out and experience a part of history that they weren’t part of … You get to experience all the cool stuff that people want to do but just with less push-ups,” Tesanovich says.
The most popular attraction is the Sherman E8, a World War II tank famously recognized from the war movie “Fury,” which Tesanovich says shot over 300 times last year. Others in the arsenal include German Leopard and British Scorpion tanks. Participants can not only shoot the gun, but also do other activities like run over cars.
Now, the big question — is it safe? “The coolest part, I can say, is we’ve never had an injury,” Tesanovich says, noting that all staff at DriveTanks.com are military veterans (including himself) with federal explosive licenses and first-aid certification, and all activities are supervised.
“It wouldn’t be more dangerous than driving to work, honestly,” he says. “People think that driving a tank could be scary. I like to remind all of our guests who actually hop in a tank to drive it — you know that old saying, ‘It’s built like a tank’? Well, this is actually a tank … so even if a client lost control and would drive it into a tree, it’s literally a tank, so we’re quite OK.”
Visitors can book activities through DriveTanks.com, with no payment required in advance. Once arriving, the process involves checking in and signing a waiver. Patrons may also add to their package once they arrive.
According to DriveTanks.com, pricing is per group for up to six participants, though there is a $100 per person fee for groups of more than six, which covers the museum tour, eye and ear protection, and on-site transportation. Beer and other adult beverages are also free.
For those looking to stay the night on the property, DriveTanks.com offers what’s called “The Barracks” — military-themed rooms with modern amenities and two queen-size beds. Cost is $1,000 per night and also includes perks like dining, Barrett .50 caliber shooting, skeet shooting, a safari ranch tour and a personal guide.
Tank packages vary from $325 to $3,500, big gun packages vary from $250 to $1,950, and tank and machine gun packages range from $650 to $8,250. Corporate packages, however, vary from online pricing, so DriveTanks.com encourages companies to call 830.351.8265 or email [email protected] for personalized packages.
More information is available on the DriveTanks.com website. For more about Ox Ranch, visit oxhuntingranch.com.
DriveTanks.com
So, what am I shooting? A peek at DriveTanks.com’s arsenal
The Tanks
World War II Collection
- United States M4A2E8 Sherman
- Medium Tank
- United States M4A3E2 “Cobra King”
- Sherman Medium Tank
- Russian T-34/85 Medium Tank
- German Sd.Kfz. 251
- Armored Half-Track
- German Kettenkrad Sd.Kfz. 2
- Tracked Motorcycle
Modern Collection
- British FV101 Scorpion Light Tank
- West German Leopard 1A4 Main
- Battle Tank
- British Chieftain Mk. 6 Main Battle Tank
- Abbot FV433
- Soviet BMP-1
The Guns
Heavy Weapons
- M134 Minigun
- M2 Machine Gun
- Barrett M82
- M9 Vietnam-Era Flame Thrower
Light Weapons
- M1919 Machine Gun
- M60 Machine Gun
- M249 SAW Machine Gun
Infantry Weapons
- M3 Grease Gun MG
- M1 Carbine Full Auto
- M1 Garand (semi)
- M4 Carbine MG
German and Russian weapons are also available.