The highly anticipated Prairie Castle Playground opens Labor Day Weekend at Daniel Stowe Conservancy, offering an imaginative and nature-inspired play experience for children of all ages! This three-story playground is unlike anything else in the region. Inspired by the grand, medieval playscapes in Europe, the towering structure blends whimsical castle design with opportunities for active exploration. Children will discover climbing nets, winding slides, elevated walkways and hidden nooks designed to spark creativity and encourage outdoor play. The first two stories of the Prairie Castle Playground are completely wheelchair accessible, so all children can explore and bring their imagination to life. The Prairie Castle serves as a dynamic centerpiece for Stowe’s mission to help all find their path to nature through family-friendly spaces.
The Prairie Castle Playground, Adventure Trail and Lost Hollow Kimbrell Chilldren’s Garden wouldn’t exist without the generous support of the W. Duke Kimbrell Family Foundation, as well as the contributions of our sponsors and donors. The Kimbrell family got an exclusive sneak peek of the castle this past weekend and had an absolute blast! Check out some more photos from this special day below:
We’re also excited to present the new Adventure Trail leading up to the Prairie Castle Playground. The Adventure Trail opened earlier this summer and consists of a completely shaded half-mile forest trail with five outdoor “rooms” that encourage play and curiosity in nature. These rooms include:
Ramble Rocks Room
The Ramble Rocks Room is your first stop for adventure. This dynamic space is filled with rocks and boulders of various shapes and sizes that kids can climb and jump on. There’s also a sand pit perfect for digging and constructing creative sand sculptures.
Sponsored by Ben, Jenn, Ryker + Xander Fortenberry
The Creekside Room
This is the perfect room for these hot summer days. Kick off your shoes and splash around in this brand new water feature, complete with flowing streams!
Sponsored by Will + Wendy Cauthen
The Habitat Room
The Habitat Room brings animal dens and nests to life in full-size! Climb on a spider web, explore a fox den and relax in a bird’s nest.
Sponsored by Alvin + Deborah Ellison
The Woodwind Room
The Woodwind Room is a place to make music! Drums, a xylophone and life size chimes made from wood give kids the instruments to bring songs and rhythms to life…and a center stage and seating give them the space to perform!
Sponsored by Barbara Yarborough
The Secret Room
Finally, wander off the beaten path and you’ll find The Secret Room. We’ll leave it up to you to find it, but keep an eye out for the dragon!
Sponsored by Gaston Day School
We invite you to join us on Saturday, August 30 for the Grand Opening of the Prairie Castle Playground! The Gardens at Stowe are open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., so we hope you’ll stop by to explore the Adventure Trail and make new memories on the Prairie Castle Playground with the whole family.
Want to become a Castle Guardian by donating to Stowe and listing your name on-site at the Castle? Or by providing a bench in the Prairie Castle Playground space? Reach out to our Development Director Brittney Speaks at bspeaks@danielstoweconservancy to learn more!
