Kingsville, MO - On May 25, unleash your imagination in a city of multiple forts with Fortopia (May 25-September 4) at Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s Botanical Garden. This outdoor exhibition, comprised of brand new and returning life-sized forts, invites explorers of all ages to discover more ways to play at Powell Gardens.

“Fortopia is a wonderful addition to summer in Kansas City,” said Cody Jolliff, CEO at Powell Gardens. “The design behind each fort inspires a new way to play and appreciate the Midwest Spirit of Place our community innately exemplifies. Powell Gardens is excited to welcome families on staycations, road trips, and weekday afternoons to Fortopia.”

This year’s fort designers include preschool children, architects, play specialists, and more.

 - NEW! Box City designed by City Playcorps
   - Inspired by “Skrammellegepladsen” or “Adventure Playgrounds,” Box City represents children’s endless imagination and using boxes and recyclable materials to create their own adventure playground.
 - NEW! The Beehive, designed by Celine & Ceanna Oberlechner (ages 11 and 9)
   - Inspired by one of our pollinators, The Beehive represents the important work bees play in plant life and the cycle of nature at Powell Gardens.
 - NEW! The House that Stands on Chicken Feet, designed by the preschool children of UMKC Berkley Zoo Room
   - The energetic and motivated children from the Zoo Room at Berkley UMKC were inspired to create their own magical cottage in the woods after reading a classroom favorite book, Bony-Legs by Joanna Cole.
 - The Lucky Woodland Find: Morel Fort, designed by UMKC’s Early Childhood Education team
 - Portal, designed by Brandon Kirmer
 - Reflection Fort, designed by Multi.Studio
 - Skully the Pirate Ship, designed by the preschool children of UMKC’s Berkley Zoo Room
 - NEW! TreeMendous Experience, designed by DI Build and Kent Schumacher Designs
   - Inspired by multiple personal memories of childhood fort building, TreeMendous Experience is born of nature and ingenuity, utilizing remnants from the forest and upcycling abandoned material.

Fortopia runs alongside Midwest Foraging, a plant-focused exhibition about the Midwest’s forgeable finds. Look for specialized plant tags and classes to learn more about foraging in our region. To make the most of your visit, walk the 1-mile Family Discovery Loop along the Byron Shutz Trail System, build your own fort on the East Lawn, explore botanical collections during Desert Days (June 24-25) and Waterlily Wonders (August 12-13), and enjoy extended hours during Second Saturday (June 10, July 8, and August 12) from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Fortopia runs May 25-September 4, 2023. With Fortopia’s five month run, visitors are encouraged to visit several times to experience the forts in a different light throughout the changing seasons. While hours and ticket pricing may vary (Festival of Butterflies runs July 20 – August 6), please check the website at powellgardens.org/fortopia for the most up-to-date information. Happy exploring!

NOTE TO REPORTERS: Media are invited to the Fortopia’s opening evening on May 24 (5-8 p.m.). If additional interviews or quotes from fort designers are required, please consult with Powell Gardens marketing and programs staff at [email protected].