• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Shoot a Flamethrower at DriveTanks.com West of San Antonio

July 1, 2019 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

DriveTanks.com Uvalde Texas
Drive and shoot tanks, and try your skill with a Vietnam-era flamethrower

Guest article by Sarah Snyder

Set on the 18-thousand-acres that is Ox Ranch, DriveTanks.com is a Texas Disney World without the lines. Set in Uvalde, west of San Antonio, DriveTanks.com is what you might imagine when you hear the name—a place for people to go out and drive tanks. You can also shoot guns of various types, including flamethrowers. 

Employees of DriveTanks.com like to say they work at the world’s only living history museum (it is actually an accredited museum). If you see something you’d like to shoot or drive, then staff members can pull or drive it out for you to experience. Inside, the walls are filled with various types of memorabilia, making DriveTanks.com a place where history truly comes alive.

Shooting a Flamethrower

Shoot a Flame thrower at DriveTanks.com Near San Antonio, TX
Shooting a flamethrower was both terrifying and exciting

My first interactive experience at DriveTanks.com was getting to shoot a Vietnam-era flamethrower. Spencer, the director of operations, explained all the safety measures they take to ensure every experience is both fun and safe. 

The tank of the flamethrower had to be worn like a backpack and filled with fuel, so it was fairly heavy. Spencer explained how to shoot the flamethrower, and then let me loose. Shooting it was an experience I’ll never forget! It was exhilarating, but also incredibly hot.

Tank of Flame Thrower Filled With Fuel
The flamethrower tank is heavy, due to being filled with fuel

I was surprised by how quickly the fuel was used up. In talking to the staff, they explained the history behind the flamethrower’s use in war, and why it was outlawed by the Geneva Conventions.

It was a humbling moment. Nearly all the employees at DriveTanks.com are veterans, and their respect for weapons and love of history are evident, through the way they explain and demonstrate each tool.

My next experience was watching a family celebrate a birthday. DriveTanks.com has hosted children as young as eight years old and as experienced as 85 on the property. The family members shot several types of guns and weapons, but the best was seeing an M1 .50 Caliber shot from the top of a Sherman Tank. The shot was so powerful that, even standing 100 feet away from the tank, I jumped!

Driving the Tank Off a Cliff

Drive German Leopard Tank at DriveTanks.com in Uvalde, TX
German Leopard tank

It was then my turn to experience driving a tank, and the team chose a German Leopard for me. The German Leopard was described to me as an “easier tank to drive.”  

I wouldn’t call my experience driving it easy, but I would call it exhilarating. First, DriveTanks.com has a large staircase you climb to get to the top of the tank. Then, they turn the tank on, and the rumbling is loud and powerful. 

Next, to drive it, you must climb into a small cockpit with all the controls. Spencer explained that due to sitting on the right side and the size of the tank, I would need to keep the barrel of the gun down the center of the road, making it feel like I was about to drive off the right side of the road. 

He was correct. 

Once I began driving, it certainly felt like I was going to drive off the edge of the road! There’s a fun path set out for the tanks to drive through that includes a “cliff.” When I hit the cliff, I thought I was driving off the edge of the earth. 

Spencer, who was in the tank with me, communicated through the headset that I would be fine going off the edge. We went down the cliff and along the path, which also included driving up a river and around several curves. The experience is the most fun I’ve had in quite some time.

Schedule Your Own Experience at DriveTanks.com

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DriveTanks.com (@drivetanks) on May 28, 2019 at 10:28am PDT

DriveTanks.com is set up for all sorts of custom packages, appropriate for families, friends, and company outings. The museum has a custom motorized wheelchair, as well, for those who want to come out but are unable to walk the terrain. 

The goal, as Spencer shared, is for every guest to have a fun experience and leave with respect for those who have served in the United States military. I certainly did.

Interested in scheduling your own experience driving and shooting real tanks? Check out drivetanks.com.

1946 Private Road 2485, Uvalde, TX 78801


@theAustinot wants to know:

Have you driven a tank lately?


Sarah Snyder is an entrepreneur, writer, public relations strategist, marketing consultant, counselor, and formerly ranked as the 10th strongest woman in the U.S. She is now on a renewed health and wellness journey and can be reached about any of these ventures via email.

Filed Under: Day Trips, Discoveries

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin this weekend with kids | KIds Night Out at Anderson Mill

Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 13, 2023 include Kids Night Out, Comedy Match Live, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 13, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Kids Night Out – Movie Star Party, Comedy Match Live ComedySportz Austin, Second Saturdays are […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend | Crafting Workshop: Intro to Alcohol Inks

10 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of January 13, 2023 include Crafting Workshop: Intro to Alcohol Inks, Warehouse District 10k, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of January 13 which include Crafting Workshop: Intro to Alcohol Inks, Warehouse District 10k, Off Script!, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. Deal Alert […]

Things to do in Austin this week | Jeff Dunham: Still Not Canceled Tour

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of January 9, 2023 include Jeff Dunham: Still Not Canceled Tour, The Workout Comedy Show, and more!

Austin’s New Year: Fireworks from Afar

Austin New Years Eve 2023 fireworks guide – NYE party start time, entertainment line up, parking tips & more!

Are you ready to say goodbye to 2022? What better way to ring in the New Year than with fireworks at Austin’s biggest and official New Year party! This beloved, annual Austin event draws thousands of people including locals as well as visitors from neighboring towns in the Central Texas area. If you are googling […]

Johnson City Christmas Lights Spectacular 2022 - What to expect at this lighting event in Texas

Johnson City Christmas Lights Spectacular 2022 – A beloved Texas lighting event!

Come one, come all to celebrate the Johnson City Lights Spectacular 33rd Season! Johnson City is an area close to Fredericksburg, TX. Every Christmas holiday for the last 33 years, Johnson City transforms from a slow-paced, presidential hometown nestled on the banks of the Pedernales River, into a bright beacon of light — like a […]

Recent Posts

  • MLK Austin Texas – Your Guide to Martin Luther King Weekend 2023 Activities, Events, and Celebrations!
  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 13, 2023 include Kids Night Out, Comedy Match Live, and more!
  • 10 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of January 13, 2023 include Crafting Workshop: Intro to Alcohol Inks, Warehouse District 10k, and More!
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of January 9, 2023 include Jeff Dunham: Still Not Canceled Tour, The Workout Comedy Show, and more!
  • Free Fitness Classes Austin – Yoga, HIIT, Cycling and more!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 10 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of January 13, 2023 include Crafting Workshop: Intro to Alcohol Inks, Warehouse District 10k, and More!
  • MLK Austin Texas – Your Guide to Martin Luther King Weekend 2023 Activities, Events, and Celebrations!
  • 8 Austin Jewelry Designers to Consider as You Shop Local
  • Guide to Austin’s West Sixth Street
  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 13, 2023 include Kids Night Out, Comedy Match Live, and more!

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz