Ollie Owl’s Nature Playground is a unique playground where you can fully play and explore in nature.  

It is unlike any other playground and is located within the ChesLen Preserve in Coatesville, PA.  The ChesLen Preserve is a large, privately-owned nature preserve that is open to the public. There are miles of trails that explore woodlands, flower meadows, cornfields, and more!  

When we found Ollie Owls playground we felt like we stumbled upon a hidden wonderland deep in the forest, almost like a place from a fairytale.  After entering the archway made of sticks and following a trail down a hill (which is a little steep and would not be good for a stroller) we entered the shady, wooded play area with lots of things to explore. It was actually raining when we were there, but there were so many trees we didn’t even get wet, so I imagine it would also keep the sun out on a hot day  Young explorers can climb logs, build stick tee-pees, hunt for bugs, and explore small streams.   Even my teens had a blast running over the rickety bridge, playing on the see-saw made from logs, chasing each other on the large netted spider web climbing area and then hiding in a little teepee made of sticks.   There are cute signs throughout with info about wildlife and some have little hide and seek games which made it more of an experience than just a playground.   

There are nice bathrooms at the Natural Lands visiting center which you will pass on your right as you follow the long pathway entrance.  These are the only restrooms so it would be smart to stop before driving to the parking lot for the playground.   Signs are very clearly marked leading you to the playground.   It does share its parking lot with a trailhead for the nature preserve. The parking lot is fairly large, and the number of cars made us think that the nature playground was busy. However, there was only one other family there when we visited so everyone else must have been on the other trails.  The walk to the playground is downhill and as I said is a little steep. Keep in mind that it’s downhill on the way there, so after playing, the kids will need to have energy left to walk uphill to the parking lot, which was a workout for some of us that aren’t in the best shape!

It's good to keep in mind since the playground is in a small valley, it may get muddy after rain. I read that it closed at one point due to mud, so it would be smart to check the Preserve’s Facebook page for updates before heading out and possibly have your kids wear rain boots or old sneakers after a rainy day.

It’s also important to note that is closed on Thursdays. There is a gate at the entrance to the parking lot that closes the Preserve. Other days, it is open from sunrise to sunset.

My nephews had so much fun they didn’t want to leave this hidden forest and had a blast getting a little dirty, tired, and inspired. 

There are so many beautiful trails to explore.  Make it a full day and do some family nature walks too. Find the map of the nature preserve here.