Inflatable Tunnel Generates Excitement for Mining-Town Team

Inflatable "Mine Shaft" Tunnel Generates a Thrilling Entrance

Nestled in the heart of West Virginia's coal country, Mingo Central High School is justly proud of its mining heritage. When the school sought a symbol to inspire its team and thrill its fans at home games, they settled on... a mine shaft. An inflatable one, that is.

Says Mingo Football Boosters Club's Wes Wilson, "We wanted something special, unique, and that encapsulated our logo." That's exactly what they got.

At 11.5 feet tall, Mingo's inflatable "Mine Shaft" makes a dramatic impression. It's also an integral part of a beloved kickoff ritual. As the Mingo Miners exit the locker room, members touch a piece of coal from an old mine for luck. Then, as excitement builds, the team bursts through the tunnel and roars onto the field.

The crowd eats it up. In fact, the team's thrilling entrance is now so popular that fans show up extra early to see how it works.

Why did Mingo choose Landmark Creations to design and build their inflatable tunnel? According to Wes Wilson, Landmark's reputation was key. "We had heard nothing BUT positive comments towards the quality and craftsmanship of their tunnels," he says. Mingo football fans would agree!

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What Others Say About Landmark Creations

"I liked the way Tom listened and shared his ideas with me so that I could use the canyon like I needed. Tom hit a home run with my model. His input made all the difference in the world"

- Laurie Henry, Trinity Science Solutions LLC

"Our tunnel was also a great addition to our pre-game tradition: the Wildcat walk. Our city shuts down three blocks of downtown, and we have hundreds of fans lining the streets with a police escort, while we walk to the stadium."

- Sam Baker, Head Football Coach at Waconia High School

"This year’s event was the highest attended in some time, and the [inflatable] astronaut, front and center on our Portico, was a great visible draw from all over the area."

- Dennis Bateman, Carnegie Science Center

"Our giant peach is brand new to us and will help us gain name recognition in our community at health fairs, county fairs, farm markets, school events and almost any event we take it to."

- Greg Stone, Peach Tree Healthcare

"The inflatable arch allows for safe and easy setup and takedown. People have raved about the arch and have made requests to have it at their events."

- Karen Klevesahl, SMET Construction

"Simply put, the bobbleheads were a real hit at TwinsFest. Over 21,000 fans attended the two-day event raising more than $100,000 for the Twins Community Fund charities."

- Heidi Sammon, Minnesota Twins