Children's Fantasy Garden
The Children's Fantasy Garden will close for renovations September 8, 2026 with an expected reopening date in summer 2028.
Shaped by the community. Brought to life by imagination
The Children's Fantasy Garden Will Reawaken...
The ABQ BioPark is thrilled to reveal the design vision for the reimagined Children's Fantasy Garden, a beloved family destination that has sparked wonder and imagination since 2001. Guided by the voices of hundreds of Albuquerque families, children, and community members, the new design transforms the garden into an immersive mythical world filled with dragon lore, sparkling treasures, sensory discovery, and enchanted forests. The renovation will honor what generations of guests have loved while creating a more accessible, vibrant, and inspiring space for years to come.
A Dreamland Concept Born from Community Voices
The new design, developed by local architecture and planning firm Dekker, civil engineers Bohannan Huston Inc., and nationally recognized immersive arts organization Meow Wolf, centers around the theme "Dreamlands: Exploring a Mythical World." An extensive public engagement campaign in the summer of 2025 received input from over 1,500 survey respondents, thousands of website visitors, and hundreds of families at in-person pop-up events and BioPark summer camps.
The feedback was clear and consistent: community members wanted the redesigned garden to feel whimsical, magical, and deeply immersive while preserving the imagination, wonder, and sense of discovery that have made the Fantasy Garden a beloved Albuquerque destination for generations. Families expressed strong interest in expanded opportunities for exploration, climbing, sensory interaction, and nature-based experiences, alongside improved accessibility, refreshed infrastructure, and additional shade and comfort throughout the garden. You can learn more about the process, project timeline, and the final concept in this summary.
Guests engaging at a community input pop-up during a Garden Music concert
What the Reimagined Garden Will Feature
Guests entering the reimagined Children’s Fantasy Garden will step into a story already unfolding.
Guided by the vibrant Rainbow Path, family’s journey through immersive environments inspired by the legend of the garden’s mysterious dragon. Along the way, guests encounter a reality-bending rainbow vortex, giant butterfly canopies scatter kaleidoscopic shadows across sensory gardens, and musical sculptures fill the landscape with movement and sound.
Deeper within Dreamlands, giant woodland trolls emerge and invite climbing and interaction, while hidden treasures and giant gemstones hint at the dragon’s forgotten story. At the heart of the experience, the former pumpkin structure is transformed into the Crystal Geode, a luminous walk-in cavern filled with shimmering light, reflective crystal walls, and shifting color designed to inspire wonder day and night.
Beyond the geode, a twisting path climbs past a series of vines up to a castle ruin at the pinnacle providing sweeping views across the mythical landscape below. The journey concludes with the Courtyard of Light, a vibrant gathering space for exploration, discovery, and play.
Throughout the garden, native planting, immersive shade structures, sensory-rich environments, and accessible pathways are woven seamlessly into the landscape to create a welcoming experience for visitors of all ages and abilities. Together, these spaces transform the Children’s Fantasy Garden into a living storybook where every visit offers something new to discover. Here is a look at the artists' rendering of the designs; click each photo to enlarge!
|
At the entry of the garden, the shimmering rainbow path twists up the walls and over the top of the tunnel to a mind-bending vortex |
Native fragrant plantings engage all five senses. Overhead, oversized tinted acrylic butterfly wings cast colorful shadows by day and glow at night. Seating invites guests to linger, while friendship stones at the butterfly bases encourage connection and play |
Chimes, pebble harps, and tinker bells invite musical play and creative expression. Interactive sculptures dance and spin with a touch, encouraging hands-on exploration and movement. An overlook at the existing perimeter wall provides views into the miniature train garden beyond |
|
As the Rainbow Path ascends toward the Overlook it winds around a castle turret entwined with a towering beanstalk inspired by a beloved fairytale. Together, these iconic elements create a whimsical landmark that draws guests upward to sweeping views of the Fantasy Garden and surrounding park |
Three giant trolls invite exploration and imaginative play. Children can sit in a troll's open palm, climb through its hair, and gaze into expressive faces. Wild hairstyles come to life through integrated planters atop each troll's head, blending sculpture, nature, and storytelling into an immersive play environment |
A sparkling path of jewels winds through the landscape, revealing clues to the dragon's hidden fortune. Giant crystals, a gold chain and locket, and a stone necklace create moments of discovery along the trail, inviting guests to explore, imagine, and uncover the story of the dragon's treasure |
|
A winding path ascends through sculptural vines to a castle ruin at the summit. from the pinnacle, guests enjoy panoramic views across the park before racing back down via an embankment slide that returns them to the Geode play area |
The dramatic centerpiece of the garden, a monumental walk-in geode with faceted crystal walls, prismatic light effects, and rotating elements that create an ever-changing play experience. Guests are immersed in a world of color, light, and wonder as the explore the heart of the dragon's magical realm |
A spacious, flexible destination designed for both everyday play and special events. A climbable castle turret serves as a focal point, while sculptural flower-inspired shade structures and vibrant flowering gardens create a colorful, welcoming atmosphere. Open gathering spaces support exploration, relaxation, community events, and imaginative play |
One Last Chance to Play Before the Magic Transforms
The Children's Fantasy Garden will close for renovation after Labor Day. We are inviting all families to come play one last time in the space they have loved for over two decades. Bring the kids, bring the grandparents, snap a photo with the dragon, run through the bamboo maze, and soak in every magical moment, because something even more incredible is on its way. The reopening is expected in the summer of 2028.
About the Project Team
The Children's Fantasy Garden Renovation is led by a collaborative team of local and nationally recognized firms:
- Dekker (Primary Design Firm and Landscape Architecture): Albuquerque-based architecture and planning firm with deep roots in New Mexico design
- Bohannan Huston Inc. (Civil Engineering): Albuquerque engineering consultants specializing in complex site and infrastructure design
- Meow Wolf (Creative Consultants): Nationally acclaimed immersive arts and entertainment organization, known for transporting visitors into fantastical, story-rich worlds
- Bridgers and Paxton (MEP Engineering): Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers supporting the technical systems of the renovation