What makes a great playground?
“A lot of green space is key for activity and elements such as sand and water give kids a dynamic environment that allows them to use their manipulative skills. Your local playground should look, sound, and feel interesting. Sound, color, and texture excite the senses and ignite your child's imagination,” says Kaboom, a nonprofit that is all about making more fun play spaces for children.
That describes Wintergreen. Here are the details on some of the fun places at Wintergreen where kids can play outdoors:
Two Classic Playgrounds at Wintergreen
The Chestnut Springs playground is next to several picnic tables and a covered pavilion near the swimming pool. The pavilions can be reserved by Wintergreen property owners. More details here.
The Rodes Farm park includes a children's swing set and pool, pavilion, a tennis and pickleball court, and an adult horseshoe setup. There is also an attractive pond for fishing. For details on this park, go HERE.
James M. Cowley Community Playground
A state-of-the-art playground at RVCC
The James M. Cowley Community Playground on the west side of the Rockfish Valley Community Center [map] was installed in the spring of 2024. The modern playground includes a multi-level climbing and sliding complex, elaborate swing sets, “musical play features” in the shape of flowers, a play tunnel with a bridge, two twisting slides, climbing swings, and–in the middle of it all–comfortable benches under established shade trees for parents, grandparents, and babysitters.
Spruce Creek Park
An extraordinary playground at the site of the original Wintergreen village
Children and the parents around Wintergreen, Nelson County, and beyond are in agreement: Spruce Creek Park’s wooden swing sets made with branches, a huge sandbox pit, large rocks to climb on, a mud kitchen, and a creek kids are welcome to play in (and more) that sits behind the Natural History Center on Route 151 south of Nellysford is awesome. The playground is open every day, from dawn to dusk.
Spruce Creek Park’s playground is in the middle of an elaborate children’s nature walk with well-done educational exhibits that are part of the Natural History Center of the Rockfish Valley Foundation at the crossroads that is the historical village of Wintergreen. [Map]
Playground at Blue Toad
The playground on Blue Toad Cidery's 27-acres on Route 664 [map] is a hidden gem. Surrounded by 360-degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the classic swing set with picnic tables in the shade next to the south fork of the Rockfish River is a great place to relax. The cidery is open most weekends, but the playground is almost always available to visitors.
Stoney Creek Park
No swings, no slide, no see-saw, but Stoney Creek Park–greatly expanded and improved in 2021–has proved popular with kids who like to explore. On the park’s north end, paved gravel paths twist and turn through the lush forest with picnic tables and benches seemingly tucked everywhere among the laurel and trees. Here explorers figure out the route of the gravel pathway only to then discover hidden small trails that provide access to the creek.
The newer section [map] is best for toddlers and is popular with everyone. It has a dedicated parking lot off Stoney Creek West with several winding wide trails, access to the creek, and picnic tables. The older section with several bridges, creekside benches, and a stream-side picnic table is accessed at the end of Wood Nettle Lane.
The two parking areas are more than a mile apart. Most people, especially with children, visit either one end or the other, not both.
Take a short hike
Wintergreen has trails for everyone, even toddlers and small youngsters. Check out the trails for preschools here. Wintergreen trails for elementary school kids are here.
Wintergreen Resort’s Discovery Ridge Adventure Center
Discovery Ridge Adventure Center at Wintergreen Resort has a gym with a Ninja Warrior obstacle course and also a boulder wall. There is also an outdoor 25-foot climbing tower with a belay apparatus on top. Check out the 9-hole disc golf course in the mountain woods. Small kids can get their hands wet as they pan for arrowheads, fossils, and gemstones and discover the thrill of prospecting. There is also classic miniature golf; the resort's 18-hole course features a ski and snowboarding theme, of course. The big attraction here is The Plunge, Virginia's largest tubing park. Learn more here