New inclusive Treehouse Village offers climbing wall, zipline, slides, accessible features

The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens’ new $2 million Treehouse Village outside of Madrid, meant to inspire curiosity and an appreciation for nature, is nearly complete.

The treehouses and playground will captivate the imaginations of children of all ages and abilities, with several accessible features such as a wheelchair swing.

The fun parts, which include various swing bridges, walkways, and hideouts, are ready for play as crews square away the final details of the remaining infrastructure, like the parking lots and trails.

Wet weather this spring delayed construction, but the grand opening of the Treehouse Village is expected to be in mid-to late August.

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A natural wonderland of fun

With an inclusive playground, three separate treehouses, a suspension bridge, and elevated walkways, the vast Treehouse Village offers many features for active imaginations. Highlights include a climbing wall, a zipline, five slides that are “gecko green,” climbing ropes and ladders, and bouncing nets.

“We were looking for a way to draw more families here — parents with their kids, grandparents with their grandkids,” said Mark Schneider, executive director for the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens. “This will be the only experience like this in the state of Iowa.”

Admission to the arboretum gives visitors access to the Treehouse Village and the rest of the public garden. Annual memberships, which offer unlimited visits, are also available.

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Beanstalk Builders created accessible features

The arboretum used a contractor that specializes in natural playgrounds, treehouses and accessible features. They installed a zipline with a chair to accommodate people of diverse abilities.

“This is an all-inclusive playground, and if you’re in a wheelchair, you’ll be able to get wherever you need to go,” Schneider said during a recent tour of the Treehouse Village.

The new village is put together in an atmosphere that feels magical.

The North Carolina-based contractor even has whimsy built into its name, Beanstalk Builders.

Beanstalk used many natural elements to create the Treehouse Village, including branches of laurel and rope netting. The predominant wood used in the treehouses is black locust, which gives it an architectural feel.

“I didn’t want it to just look like a playground,” Schneider said. “I wanted it to seem to grow out of the woods. And I think Beanstalk Builders accomplished that.”

The playground and treehouses are nestled under a canopy of large oak trees. Treehouse viewing platforms offer sights of the deep valley that winds through the property.

Iowa Arboretum is oldest, largest public garden in Iowa

Established in 1968, the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens is the oldest public garden in the state. It has 28 distinct garden areas, including herb, perennial, butterfly and children’s gardens.

It’s also the state’s largest, at 160 acres. The 40-acre main campus features trees, shrubs, and flowers.

“Our mission has always been about plants and education and nature, and the Treehouse Village is a nice addition to our palette of things we offer to the people that visit the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens,” Schneider said.

The arboretum also offers modern facilities, including restrooms, a gift shop, and venue space. Outdoor spaces are available for events such as garden weddings.

Iowa Arboretum & Gardens is located at 1875 Peach Ave., Madrid. Find it online at iowaarboretum.org.

Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rfaaborg@gannett.com.