Backyard adventures
8/5/2026In backyards across the community, simple ideas are turning into unforgettable childhood spaces. Whether perched in a towering tree or built at ground level, these play areas invite creativity, independence and hours of outdoor fun.
Cooke
A tree fort of his own design
Bill Cooke says he previously built a large playhouse for his sons, but he is especially impressed with his younger son, Malachi, who built his own tree fort independently.
When asked about his inspiration, Malachi says he built it because his brother asked him to. He began the project in the fall of 2025. Snow delayed progress, but he completed the roof during the winter.
Malachi says his brother, Titus, taught him some techniques, but all of the labor was his own.
“My wife, Katie, and I never laid eyes on the play fort until it was finished,” Bill shares.
Malachi did not use a blueprint. He cleared land about 150 feet from his parents’ house and used a hatchet to cut 3-inch-diameter hedge trees. Most materials came from around the family farm, and he used simple tools, including a hand saw, hammer, hatchet and nails.
“It is an awesome tree fort,” Bill says.
The project took about two months, with Malachi working two to three hours per day. While he considers it mostly finished, he plans to make cosmetic improvements and trim back plants that have grown over the windows.
Source: Winterset Living, July 2026; by Rachel Harrington
Dielschneider
A home in the sky
Ian and Lindsey Dielschneider had a tree in their yard that had to come down. It was Lindsey’s idea to build a treehouse on top of it.
“It’s a pretty special, fully custom treehouse built on top of an old tree we had to take down,” Lindsey says. “It’s been a special thing for our family and our neighborhood and anyone who brings their kiddos over to play. My husband, Ian, created it over a decade ago, and it’s still well loved and used.”
Building the treehouse involved a lot of math and problem-solving, mostly done by Ian, with some advice from his dad and collaboration between the couple. They wanted it to last a long time, so they researched the best materials and construction methods.
“We absolutely have advice for people looking to do this kind of thing, namely to choose your slide and then cut the tree to the appropriate height so the slope is correct. We ended up having to build a separate platform for the slide because the platform was too tall for it.”
Source: Grimes Living, July 2026; by Ashley Rullestad
Wilkinson
Treasured treehouse
The story begins with a little girl on the east side of Des Moines, living the kind of childhood that feels like something out of a storybook. Wilkinson’s father and grandfather built the playhouse for her when she was 5 years old. They did it right: oak floors, electric lights, an outside lamp and handmade furniture crafted by her mother — a cupboard, a davenport, a chair and a kitchen table. On the walls were cheerful “Hey Diddle Diddle” decals. In the corners were dolls, tea sets and the laughter of little friends.
Decades passed. Wilkinson married, moved, then moved again — and the playhouse came with her every time, from her grandfather’s yard to her first home to the house she lives in today. It has never been left behind.
“I still have the little metal playhouse I got one Christmas when I was small,” she says with a smile, “and I still have the big one my dad and grandpa built.” She still has the furniture. She still has some of the dolls. She still has the memories of tea parties, faithful dogs underfoot and grandparents watching from nearby with easy smiles.
Source: Urbandale Living, July 2026; by Joe Baumgarten
Sillanpaa
Playsets with stories
Last year, Sillanpaa’s son asked her husband, Matt, if he would build him a treehouse.
“The day Will asked Matt if he could build the treehouse, Matt went to pick up some lumber and supplies, and he got to work,” she shares. “He had a plan in his head, and he went with it and spent a couple of days putting it together. He was able to wing it without drawing something up.”
The treehouse was initially built on the ground, and Sillanpaa’s children helped put it together.
“Matt is always encouraging our kids to learn how to use power tools and square up corners,” Sillanpaa says.
“The kids are flying,” she says.
Sillanpaa’s mother-in-law contributed by putting flowerbeds around the treehouse.
“It’s kind of cool,” Sillanpaa says.
As a mom, Sillanpaa like that the 16 kids who live on her corner enjoy the playset and treehouse with her children.
“They all come over every day in the summer,” she says. “Between the two sets and our trampoline, we have kids playing at our house all the time. It’s an old-school feeling where kids come over, drop their bikes in the yard and play.” ♦
Source: Bondurant Living, July 2026; by Rachel Harrington
