Magic House, Kirkwood

 

Location: 516 S. Kirkwood Rd., Kirkwood, MO 63122

Website: http://www.magichouse.org/


The Magic House is a mostly indoor children's play museum, good for toddlers from the time they are walking up thru school-aged children. Admission is currently $14 for everyone over age 1, but there are membership opportunities for local families and their Facebook page sometimes offers special admission deals. You can also show up at 3 pm and only pay $3 per person (keep in mind they close at 5 pm)

The Magic House fills up quickly, especially on weekends and rainy days, so arrive early. During the school year, the areas for toddlers and preschoolers are sometimes open in the mornings for kids under age 6 (this program is called Toddler Tinker Time). They also have special rotating exhibits that are on display for a few months at a time that is included with admission.    

Highlights of the Magic House include an area just for kids 2 and under, a children's village (pretend play in a child-sized city, including a bank, grocery store, auto mechanic, apartment, ranger station, electric company, baby hospital, vet, pizza parlor, and more), 3-story slide, hair raising experience (as seen in all their ad material), kid construction zone, 3-story Jack and the Beanstalk climbing structure, the Star-Spangled Center (pretend oval office), preschool area, science experiments, an art center, and musical instruments galore. Outside in front of the house is a small outdoor play area with a man-made creek that the kids can play in - bring a change of clothes if you plan to play here! Outside in the back is a raised waterfall water table that is super cool. 

There is a cafe inside the Magic House - you cannot bring in outside food but there are picnic areas adjacent to the parking lot to eat your own picnic.

I don't recommend a stroller as there are lots of places you'll want to go up and down stairs and not have to seek out an elevator.

Below is a sampling of photos from different areas of the magic house.

"For Baby and Me" Exhibit for Ages 2 and Under

"For Baby and Me" Exhibit for ages 2 and under

Alas after many years they took out the water table, and there was much sadness. They replaced it with this room called Wonder Why? "Children will pour, measure, and experiment with water in an all-new sensory play space guaranteed to pique curiosity. Early learners will enjoy a variety of sensory materials as they explore, sort, classify and organize! Empowering parents and caregivers, this new exhibit helps identify important developmental milestones while also providing adults with take-home resources to continue educational experiences at home."

The old waterworks

"The Bubble Room" Exhibit - Photo Credit:The Magic House

"Leave an Impression" Exhibit - photo credit: saradenckhoff.com

                              

"Children's Village" Exhibit

You can play in a grocery store, pizzeria, veterinarian's office, and baby nursery here. 

Bank

Electric Company

Fishing in Walker Lake (a nod to the lake in Kirkwood Park)

If you happen to catch a fish on your hook, you can bring it here and drop it in and then watch it travel downstream under the floor back to the lake. 

"Art Studio" Exhibit

Outdoor nature play area added in 2018

Wonder works, the STEM-focused early childhood area is totally amazing. It was redone in late 2015 and has so many cool things to do. "Dig in the sand, crawl through tunnels, race a car down an inclined plane, suspend balls in midair and examine creatures under a microscope."

 They replaced the submarine with a lego castle 

Shadow wall area on the 3rd floor

Cute train tables upstairs 

 3 story slide

Outdoor patio 

This is filled with water in the summer

Sandpit

They have a maze through the hedges. It's not hard to find your way out, my kids really enjoyed running through it. You're supposed to make good choices to find your way out. 

 Hopscotch area

Cute boat

Construction Zone

 Star Spangled Center

Waterfall Patio

Gift Shop