Amusement activity station

An amusement activity station operable to pick up and reposition machine-movable objects, the amusement activity station comprising:

• a crane apparatus comprising a lower fixed pedestal and an upper movable boom apparatus, the lower fixed pedestal configured to be anchored to a support surface, the upper movable boom apparatus comprising a pedestal interface and an upper machine portion, the pedestal interface being anchored at the lower fixed pedestal, the upper machine portion being rotatable relative to the pedestal interface about a station axis of rotation and comprising a bridge arm and an operable boom assembly, the operable boom assembly comprising a distal boom end and an object-to-boom linkage mechanism;
• and
• an operator gondola separate from the upper machine portion and anchored to the upper machine portion by the bridge arm, the bridge arm extending laterally outward from the station axis of rotation to space the gondola from the station axis of rotation and the lower fixed pedestal, the gondola comprising a user-to-machine interface and at least one wheel configured to engage the support surface, the operator gondola being rotatable in unison with the upper machine portion by way of the bridge arm, the operator gondola configured to rotate around the station axis of rotation and the lower fixed pedestal, the object-to-boom linkage mechanism configured to link at least one machine-movable object to the distal boom end, the operable boom assembly being maneuverable for lifting the at least one machine-movable object from the support surface by way of the user-to-machine interface as manually operated by the user.