UPDATE on Badlands Playspace
Following the pandemic, Badlands Playspace closed. In 2021, CityDance created a partnership with Badlands to offer dance lessons and programs within this unique indoor play space.
If you are looking for a unique private kids’ party venue in Bethesda, you’re also in luck! CityDance now offers private birthday parties in this one-of-a-kind space! Birthday Party reservations are open for weekends and various party packages are available. Sign up for a dance class or a birthday party by visiting www.citydance.net.
The remainder of this article was published in June 2019:
About Badlands Playspace
Badlands Playspace is a nature-inspired explorative play space targeted to children aged two to thirteen years old. It is located in the suburbs of North Bethesda in Loehmann’s Plaza, 45 minutes from Washington, D.C. and just under an hour from Baltimore and Annapolis.
Visitors to the D.C. area can take the WMTA Metro Red Line to Glenmont Metro Station. From there, it is only a 10-minute Uber or Lyft ride.
I had heard of Badlands Play Space a while ago and decided to check it out since we were in the area for a party. Our elementary school aged kids loved visiting this indoor park. In particular, they couldn’t stop raving about the time they spent in the workshop building a tractor and making homemade sparkly slime! They made new friends and tired themselves out running around and playing.
Not only did the kids enjoy themselves, but I also brought my laptop with me and was super productive while they played. I was a little jealous of some of the adults that were hanging out enjoying a beer. Next time, I think I’ll bring my husband along so we can enjoy some semi alone time!
Inside the Badlands Playspace
Head to your right to register when you first walk in the door. Note, there are some kids novelty items for sale in the registration area. Keep this in mind if your child tends to gravitate towards sparkly things! There is also a board with a schedule of the day’s special activities in the Workshop, Ampetheater, and Studio when you first walk in. Be sure to check out the activities!
Bathrooms are located on the opposite side of the registration area. As you head back into the play area, the cafe is along the left wall and the Ampetheater is directly behind the cafe.
There are several trees and a mini obstacle course that separate the Ampetheater from the main play space. There is also a jungle gym and a smaller turf covered mountain, slide, and tunnel for smaller kids.
Bigger kids won’t get bored climbing two mountain areas. One has two twisty slides and the other has a tunnel. There is also another climbing area against the wall.
Additional Rooms Inside Badlands
The workshop is located across from the cafe. Be sure to check it out. We built a tractor in there during our visit. No instructions are provided to tease out children’s creativity. There basically is no right or wrong way to do things.
There are also four beautiful kids birthday party pavilion rooms with cute little front porches. You can request a standard party package or go all out. Add-ons include unicorn, mermaid, dinosaur, and superhero themes and specialty building kits. You can even request a photo booth!
11 Reasons You’ll Love Badlands Play Space
- 30,000 square feet of unstructured play that encourages creativity, risk-taking, coordination, social skills, and physical fitness.
- Fantastic exercise that includes climbing, crawling, balance, sliding, and even dancing!
- Where else will your child be allowed to climb on things? Plus, the rocks and landscape are artificial, so you won’t bring home a muddy mess after play time is over!
- Beat the summer heat without worrying about sunblock or mosquitoes. Play in winter without bundling up.
- Creative workshops such as candle making and slime time that develop fine motor and listening skills are included with admission.
- Story time, animal meet and greets, talent shows, and movie night events are weaved into the schedule to offer rest time and boost the educational offering of the facility.
- On-site cafe offers reasonably priced all-day breakfast, hot sandwiches, kids meals, snacks, cupcakes, milkshakes, and coffee drinks.
- For parents there is ample seating and free guest wifi. It is a great place to enjoy some sort of quiet time while your kids entertain themselves.
- Special events including Parents Night Out every Saturday night, themed Nerf Nights, yoga, and Summer Camp.
- Toddler Time is offered several days a week with a curriculum designed specifically for tots under five years old.
- There is a BAR! The cafe has a full-service liquor bar with several varieties of local beer and wine to choose from.
Know Before You Go
- Badlands Play Space is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday and CLOSED on Mondays.
- You must make a reservation and purchase tickets online over the weekend. Reservations are recommended, but not required for weekdays.
- All climbers must wear closed toe shoes. This is especially important to remember during the summer season! We didn’t think about this until we drove to the area and had to make a pit stop at Target!
- The venue does not allow outside food since there is an on-site cafe.
- General admission includes 2.5 hours of play time.
- The admission fee varies based on age and day of the week.
- Adults must also pay an admission fee.
- Infants under one year old are free with paid admission.
- You must fill out a waiver before you will be admitted to play. The waiver is good for one full year.
- There are sign up lists for the activities in the workshop. Be sure to sign up early during busy times.
- Some building activities require a materials fee. We paid $5 for our slime kits. You pay for the kits at the registration desk.
- When you enter the play area, you and your children will receive a matching hand stamp. However, there is not a gatekeeper to ensure your children do not wander off like there is at some other amusement venues. You are responsible to watch your child at all times.
- For locals that plan to visit Badlands Play Space often, a month-to-month or Unlimited Adventure Club membership plan may be a more economical choice. These plans include special perks and member only events.
Our kids cannot wait to visit Badlands Play Space again and look forward to going back for a Nerf Night. Even though the admission price is a bit high compared to some other play centers, it is roughly equivalent to a higher end movie theater. Furthermore, it is a much more active and educational option. We recommend for you to try out this unique play center if you have the chance to visit.
