Saxapahaw Fish One of a Kind Playground Banner Photo

Themed Playgrounds

About Our Themed Playgrounds

At Asheville Playgrounds, we specialize in creating unique themed playgrounds. We use the history of the community or a significant architectural feature as the starting point. From there we design a themed playground that engages the imagination of children and adults alike. We love the challenge of bringing history and architecture to life, creating a unique one of a kind custom playground. And although we typically build with wood, we don’t hesitate to research new materials when wood just won’t do.

Themed Playground Examples

In the past we have built boats, trains and airplanes as well as castles and barns, and even mushroom cottages! In addition to these themes we love to create replicas of larger buildings. For example, we can build a playhouse in your backyard that mimics your home. We’re also very fond of creating smaller play churches as a replica of the larger church building. View our themed gallery below and our full gallery here. Then contact us with your ideas. Working together we will create the theme of your dreams!

Case Study: The Fish Playground

Saxapahaw Fish One of a Kind Playground Photo

After acquiring a small island wedged in the middle of the Haw River in Saxapahaw, NC, the county of Alamance contacted us to build a unique fish playground to give the new space a fun and distinct attraction. This fish has been no easy catch, but extremely rewarding! Our drafter and co-owner Jerry had the clever idea of building essentially an upside-down boat (quite fitting for the project). With plans in place, our crew got to work skillfully crafting tapered boards, internal decks, stairs, and much more into this grand beauty in the form of the Bowfin fish native to the river. This playground was opened to the public in the Spring of 2018 and features a locust swing set, locust balance beams, a spider crawl net, and of course the giant fish. It has a rock wall up the sides, a tube slide coming out of the mouth, a giant steel top fin, and a tailfin climber to give the kids a variety of fun challenges. And don’t forget those wacky googly eyes! This was one of our most unique projects yet, and we can’t wait to do more. Check out some of the progress pictures below:

Click to Play Saxapahaw Fish Playground Video

Saxapahaw Island Park Page


Case Study: Knightdale Station Park

Link to WRAL Knighdale Station Park Review

WRAL News Article About Knightdale Station Park

The town of Knightdale, North Carolina outside of Raleigh decided to revitalize their community. A company called CLH Design got in touch with us and asked for a large playground to add to the town’s amenities. Using the agricultural history of the area, their ideas and Asheville Playground Co-owner Jerry Hajek’s elegant design, we created an incredible playground there enjoyed by many.

This playground has a barn and silo theme, with a train themed toddler play area, chicken coop, and of course Bessie the Cow! The playground is the talk of the town and folks travel for miles to visit the park. Along with the other amenities, the park is attracting parents, dog owners, food trucks and events. Knightdale plans to continue growing the park by adding an amphitheater, farmers market, arboretum and more. This is just an example of how a wonderful idea for a themed playground can truly bring in the community in spectacular ways.