The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens’ new treehouse village will open in September.
Featuring an inclusive playground, three separate treehouses, a suspension bridge and elevated walkways, Treehouse Village outside Madrida opens on Thursday 5 September.
Tickets can be purchased on the Arboretum website.
Other highlights of Treehouse Village include a climbing wall, zip line, five slides, jumping nets, climbing ropes and ladders.
The Iowa Arboretum, the state’s oldest (opened in 1968) and largest (160 acres) public garden, is located at 1875 Peach Ave.
Admission to the Arboretum grants visitors access to Treehouse Village and the rest of the public garden. Annual memberships are also available, allowing unlimited visits.
More: First look: The new treehouse village at the Iowa Arboretum
Treehouse Village was built for different abilities
The treehouses and playground are built for children of all ages and abilities and feature several accessible features, such as a wheelchair swing and a zip line with a chair.
The Arboretum hired a contractor, Beanstalk Builders, who specializes in natural playgrounds, treehouses and accessible facilities. The designers used many natural elements to create the treehouse village, including laurel branches and rope netting.
“I didn’t want it to just look like a playground,” said Mark Schneider, executive director of the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens, in a previous interview. “I wanted it to look like it was growing out of the forest. And I think Beanstalk Builders accomplished that.”
The playground and tree houses are nestled under a canopy of large oak trees. The tree houses’ viewing platforms offer a view of the deep valley that winds through the property.
More: The new inclusive treehouse village offers a climbing wall, zip line, slides and barrier-free facilities
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, politics and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at [email protected].
