Big Brutus Inc
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HistoryIndoor
Overview
Located outside Pittsburg, Big Brutus is a colossal, awe-inspiring mechanical marvel standing as the largest electric coal-shoveling dragline excavator of its type ever built in the world. Rising sixteen stories into the sky and weighing a massive 11 million pounds, this monolithic historic engineering landmark operated during the 1960s and 70s to surface-mine the region. Today, visitors can join historical tours, climb high into the giant driver's cockpit to examine the massive mechanical controls, and explore an attached museum that beautifully preserves the rich cultural heritage of America's mining workers.
Practical Info
Every day9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeThis monumental 16-story historic electric coal shovel is an open-air industrial marvel. The single, unmissable slot is sunset (6:30 PM to 8:00 PM) on a clear evening; the setting sun strikes the massive 11-million-pound rusted steel frame and lattice boom, casting epic, giant silhouettes across the vast, flat mining plains.
Getting ThereTucked inside backcountry mining country southwest of Pittsburg at 10650 SW 100th St. A car is completely mandatory: drive west out of Pittsburg along K-103 W, follow the tall, historic brown highway signs, and turn left onto SW 100th St dirt road. The open-air industrial monument boasts a massive, free gravel lot for all vehicles.
Travel Tips
- Ascending into the giant electric shovel cockpit requires scaling steep, open-air metal ladders prone to structural rust film; guests facing acute vertigo, hypertension, or wearing open-toe footwear are restricted from climbing.
- The isolated mining property sits inside a severe cellular dead zone; ensure you pre-load your navigation routing software and save your digital entrance vouchers to localized phone storage prior to exiting highway infrastructure.
- The facility gates institute a hard security lock at 4:00 PM daily with ticket counters closing at 3:30 PM; because the 11-million-pound metal frame creates extreme thermal surface heat in summer, touch steel with heavy protective caution.
Reviews
Positive
- A true heavy-metal titan! This 16-story, 11-million-pound prehistoric electric coal shovel defies belief; its massive mechanical scale is jaw-dropping.
- Incredibly interactive; tourists are allowed to climb up stable iron stairs directly into the beast's steel belly and sit in the massive operator's cockpit.
- The museum building below offers a fascinating look at southeast Kansas strip-mining history, packed with replica models, vintage gear, and records.
- They feature an on-site RV campground and clean grill stations away from city noise, allowing you to stargaze next to the grand shadow of this titan.
Heads up
- The metal staircases climbing up the machine are very steep, narrow, and features see-through grated steps, which can trigger severe vertigo for some.
- The entrance ticket price runs a bit high for a quick roadside attraction; if you choose not to climb the structure, you might find the base value underwhelming.
- The entire metal structure turns into a massive heat conductor under the baking summer sun, making iron surfaces scorching to touch and inside cabins stuffy.
- Located in an isolated rural mining plain far from major interstates, offering very sparse sit-down dining options nearby, making it strictly a drive-in trip.