Provo, UT

In just about every playgroup we’ve ever participated in, someone has mentioned “that park with the castle near Kaysville”. The local gem they’re referring to is the Castle Heights playground at Nicholls Park in Fruit Heights. It’s one of those places I kept meaning to look into but never got around to it. Lucky for us we were recently invited to a birthday party there. It was the perfect backdrop for a princess party!

This unique park has a huge castle-themed playground, with an eight-foot high entryway that leads into the play area. Behind the castle façade you’ll find a tree house, a pirate ship, slides, a rock wall, plus swings, a dragon slide, a toddler area, and more.

The pavement in front of the castle entrance is lined with artful stones created by members of the Fruit Heights and surrounding communities, who all had a hand in bringing this playground to fruition in 2003. Each picket on the fence around the Tot Lot is personalized, too.

As a mom, one of the things I like about the park–aside from how much fun my daughter had–is that it’s made of high-quality materials, including recycled composite plastic lumber and environmentally safe sealers, and was built to meet or exceed all federal safety and accessibility regulations.

In close proximity to the playground are two large, covered pavilions available to rent. If you’re having a party, try to reserve one since shelter from the hot sun can make all the difference. (One thing to watch out for is a small but steep hill near one of the pavilions that leads into the woods. It’s tempting to roll or run down, so keep a watchful eye on your little explorers). There are restrooms nearby, too, although they weren’t the cleanest. Other than that, the park and playground are well-maintained and very pretty. There are also baseball fields.

There’s something here for kids of all ages to enjoy, including a fun, adult-sized “toddler” swing. The Tot Lot is specially sized to keep little ones entertained with pint-sized climbers, a playhouse, sandbox, and swings. The bigger kids had a blast running through the maze of lookout towers, pretending to captain the pirate ship, playing in the sandbox, and climbing the rock wall. My daughter loved exploring the castle and pretending to be a princess. With the majestic Wasatch mountains in the background, there’s no better place for little princesses and pirates to play.

Castle Heights is located 1200 East Nicholls Road, Fruit Heights, UT.