Sofia’s Play Garden Opens at Lauritzen Gardens

June 6th, 2025

What began as a budding idea seven years ago has now opened its doors to visitors. Sofia’s Play Garden is one of Lauritzen Gardens’ newest and most ambitious attractions. Officially opened on May 26, Sofia’s Play Garden blends exploration, imagination, and sensory discovery in a beautiful display of plant life and architecture.

“We are a botanical garden first, and we want to always inspire beautiful planting and beautiful places. But we want everybody to know that you can have both,” says Victoria Schoell-Schafer, chief operating officer of Lauritzen Gardens. “It really couldn’t have worked out better, and I can tell how people go straight out the back door and to the right, and they’re in Sofia’s Play Garden…”

The play garden itself is composed of eight different thematic areas, each offering immersive experiences in nature that cater to a wide variety of intelligences. From calming to creative, Sofia’s Play Garden promotes interactivity, exploration, and discovery for all who traverse its grounds.

“There are some great views of the Missouri River. It’s a place of discovery for families of all ages,” adds Schoell-Schafer.

Within Sofia’s Play Garden, there is artistry around every corner, as nearly every square inch of the grounds holds meaning. This artistry includes stone walls with roots carved into their siding, rings on the ground symbolizing the life of trees, and grand plant sculptures that hum in the wind.

Schoell-Schafer states, “The beauty of the details is that people come back again and see another layer of details.”

With artwork created by local artists and areas in the garden that subtly relay the history of the region, Sofia’s Play Garden is a reflection of the community it supports.

More information about Sofia’s Play Garden and Lauritzen Gardens can be found at lauritzengardens.org.