CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO

A one-of-a-kind, nature-themed playground features play units that are designed like big ants, “crawl-through” snakes, and giant “climbable” mushrooms. From the play area, children and their families can access the animal contact area by using a fun, stroller accessible path. The path leads past the existing Colorado Habitat Tree to an authentic treehouse complete with multiple nature-related learning opportunities and treasures collected by kids.

The over-sized feel of My Big Backyard is achieved through giant sculptures that were created by a talented team of Colorado Springs artists. Antonia Chastain, Sean O’Meallie, and Chris Weed all contributed in a BIG way to the innovative playground. Keeping this “giant” vision in mind, artist Chris Weed sculpted 27 flower and grass elements. But don’t think these are ordinary flowers and blades of grass. The lightest blade of grass weighs 200 pounds! Chris used more than 5,500 pounds of steel to make the 27 elements.

Artists Sean O’Meallie and Antonia Chastain worked closely together to design and construct the bug and animal pieces and some flower elements. “Old Gnarly,” the Zoo’s Colorado Habitat Tree, contains examples of their previous work together.

Take a virtual tour of My Big Backyard Gardens.

CMZoo Homepage

4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road Colorado Springs, CO  80906 Phone(719)633-9925  Fax (719)633-2254