Why is there a giant shovel in the desert outside Coachella? Tom Cruise has the answer

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In Indio, California, a giant 40-foot shovel stands prominently in a residential neighborhood, just across from a bar. It’s so large – visible from over half a mile away – and located only about 15 minutes from the Coachella festival.

The large shovel seems to blend in with Indio’s other impressive public art installations. Works like “Sarbalé Ke,” the “Colossal Cacti,” and even a cactus making the iconic rock-and-roll hand sign—originally displayed at the Empire Polo Club—have moved from the Coachella festival to parks throughout the city. Considering all that, a giant shovel—possibly the world’s largest—doesn’t seem quite so extraordinary.

To find our answer, we must turn to perhaps the biggest movie star in the world: Tom Cruise.

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The actor posted a photo of the giant shovel on X alongside the words “In DIGGER We Trust.”

Tom Cruise is currently enjoying a peak in his career, with recent films like “Top Gun: Maverick” and the “Mission: Impossible” series being both popular and critically acclaimed. His next project is a film called “Digger,” directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. A brief preview shows Cruise, looking similar to his character Ethan Hunt, gracefully carrying a shovel.

Not much is known about the movie yet, but the tagline – “A comedy of catastrophic proportions” – gives a good idea of what to expect. It brings to mind Tom Cruise’s hilarious character, Les Grossman, from “Tropic Thunder.” Fans are now wondering if this new film, “Digger,” will feature Cruise dancing like he did at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.

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How to find the giant “Digger” shovel in Indio?

Finding the shovel shouldn’t be difficult. Begin by heading to Indio and going to the coordinates Cruise shared on X: 33.711°N, 116.233°W. Then, drive west on John Nobles Avenue until you get to Monroe Street. Keep an eye out for a very large shovel – you can’t miss it!

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2026-04-12 21:12