Whitewater Center adds massive kid-friendly activity area with treehouses, swinging bridges and floating hammocks
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Wildwoods is the latest addition to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. The more than 2-acre activity area opens on Tuesday, July 9.
Why it matters: Many of the Whitewater Center's other activity areas include age or weight restrictions for safety, which has limited their offerings for younger visitors. Wildwoods is open to all ages.
What to expect: The treehouse village is made up of multiple treehouses, some of which are multi-story. They're connected by floating hammocks and swinging bridges. A slide extends down from one of the treehouses.
- Kids can climb on the rocks at the boulder garden and the low-rope challenge course.
- Wildwoods also has a half-mile balance-bike trail (a bike without pedals aimed at kids roughly 1-4 years old). A balance bike and helmet are included in the entry fee. These are the only two pieces of gear you'll need in Wildwoods, which is a self-guided experience.
How it works: Wildwoods will be open from 9am-8pm. Make sure you check which activities are open at the WWC to plan your visit.
- To get into Wildwoods, check in at the cabin, which has a wraparound porch with rocking chairs overlooking the treehouse village and restrooms with changing tables.
- A large shaded pavilion with picnic tables and overhead fans sits next to the cabin.
- Dogs are permitted in the cabin and the pavilion but are not allowed inside the fenced-in area.
Menu: You can also buy snacks, drinks and grab-and-go food at the cabin. There will be sandwiches, yogurt, popsicles, salads, wraps, plus juice on tap. There will also be beer, wine and Prosecco pops for adults. Prices range from $3-$15.
Cost: A Wildwoods activity pass costs $18 and is included in a day activity pass ($79 for adults; $69 for kids) and an annual activity pass ($149). Use of the pavilion and visiting the cabin, however, are free.
Parking: A parking pass costs $12 for the day or $40 for the year. You may park in the main lots and access Wildwoods using the bridges that opened last year.
- Park in the South lot for a shorter walk. Turn left down a gravel before you reach the main parking lots. The South lot will be on your right. If you reach the dog park, you've gone too far.
- You must enter Wildwoods through the cabin, regardless of where you park.
By the numbers: The project was entirely funded by the Whitewater Center, which declined to comment on the cost of Wildwoods.
Between the lines: This is the third addition to the Whitewater Center within the last year. A massive off-leash dog park opened there earlier this year and they added new ziplines, high ropes and swinging bridges last year.
What's next: This is the first phase of Wildwoods, which will add a water-based activity at a later date.
Take a look around Wildwoods.
My thought bubble: If you grew up watching the 1960 Disney film "Swiss Family Robinson" or ever dreamed of having a treehouse, you'll probably feel like a kid again the second you walk up to Wildwoods' treehouse village.