Joy Park at Children's Museum Marsico Campus
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Joy Park offers an excellent quasi-educational, screen-free, and thoroughly engaging experience for children, with a wide variety of hands-on activities. It's enjoyed by kids (especially 5-year-olds) and accompanying adults, providing both play and learning opportunities.
Key Highlights
- ✓Membership provides fantastic value for families planning multiple visits.
- ✓Kids are thoroughly engaged and often leave exhausted, indicating high activity levels.
- ✓Specific activities mentioned include building, selling, bubbles, firetrucks, hard hats, and rope bridges.
- ✓A wide variety of 'toys that are needed for a kid to play' are available.
- ✓Adults report having a good time alongside their children, fostering family engagement.
- ✓Highly recommended for children, with a 5-year-old having their 'best day ever'.
Standout Features
- ⭐Membership option, providing cost-effective access for frequent visitors.
- ⭐Focus on quasi-educational and screen-free entertainment.
- ⭐Diverse play areas with specific activities like building, selling, bubbles, firetrucks, hard hats, and rope bridges.
- ⭐Engaging enough for adults to enjoy alongside their children.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Consider a family membership for significant savings if planning multiple visits.
- →Adults must avoid the 'slide from the top of the tower' to prevent injury; it is not designed for adult use.
- →Carefully review all specific event rules and reservation details, especially for 'free nights' or 'closed events', as general admission policies may not apply.
- →Ensure your reservation is current and valid to guarantee entry, as overdue reservations may be denied even if space seems available.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Adults are strongly warned against using the 'slide from the top of the tower' as it can cause serious injury (e.g., bruised tailbone).
- ⚠Inconsistent application of entry rules, particularly for 'closed events' or 'free nights', where the 'admitted as space allows' rule may not apply.
- ⚠Lack of clear communication on the website regarding exceptions to entry rules for special events or overdue reservations.
- ⚠Security guards may deny entry for overdue reservations, even if space appears available, leading to disappointment.
Price & Value
Membership is highly recommended as a 'fantastic decision' for families visiting multiple times, implying strong long-term value. 'Free night' opportunities exist, but entry conditions for these events can be strict and poorly communicated, potentially leading to denied entry.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not mentioned in reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Not mentioned in reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Not explicitly stated for specific times, but entry rules referencing 'space allows' and the concept of 'closed events' indicate active capacity management.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Specific warning for adults to avoid the 'slide from the top of the tower' due to injury risk.
- •Security staff manages entry, implying controlled access and potentially monitoring for capacity and authorized visitors.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Adults attempting to use the 'slide from the top of the tower' due to high risk of injury.
- • Attempting to visit during 'free nights' or 'closed events' without a precisely confirmed and current reservation, or solely relying on the 'space allows' rule.
- • Visiting without thoroughly checking specific event entry requirements, particularly if your reservation might be borderline (e.g., overdue).
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Harvest Hoot
Oct 24 - 26 (2025)
Dress to impress in your favorite costume and enjoy fabulous fall activities, including pumpkin carving in The Art Studio and homemade comfort foods in The Teaching Kitchen and much more.
Adventure Forest - Last day to climb
Oct 31 (2025)
Members-only Night Out
Nov 19 (2025)
Noon Year's Eve
Dec 31 (2025)
Members-only Evening
Feb 25 (2026)
🍎Food Policy
- • No food allowed in exhibit areas.
- • Outside food and beverages are permitted.
- • The Museum Café offers sandwiches, snacks, salads, and beverages.
- • Microwaves and bottle warmers are available in the Museum Café.
- • For large groups, reserving a room for eating inside is required (fee applies); call 303-561-0113 to book.
- • The Children's Museum does not provide indoor eating facilities for school groups; Gates Crescent Park nearby offers outdoor seating.
- • For group visits, outside food and beverages (aside from water and snacks) are discouraged.
- • Food delivery, catering, and alcohol are prohibited on Museum premises.
- • The Museum is not an allergen-free environment; guests should refer to the Museum Allergen Policy for details.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • No smoking or vaping allowed on the Museum campus, including Joy Park.
- • Shoes are required in the Museum, except in designated indoor spaces and certain parts of Joy Park.
- • Guests must use Museum equipment and exhibits safely and appropriately.
- • Offensive, abusive, or threatening language/behavior, including hate language or symbolism, or displaying profane/obscene content, is not tolerated.
- • Firearms or weapons of any kind are prohibited in the Museum.
- • Museum staff reserves the right to refuse admission, revoke membership, or remove any person for unsafe, inappropriate, or disruptive behavior without refund.
- • Joy Park (or its components) may close due to inclement weather or unsafe conditions at the Museum's discretion.
📅Booking Policy
- • Tickets are not available for purchase online.
- • E-gift cards are valid for memberships, general admission, or purchases in the Café and Gift Shop at the Museum (cannot be redeemed online).
- • For group visits, advance payment is not accepted; payment is due upon arrival.
- • Venue rentals for indoor and outdoor spaces are available; contact the Museum to book events.
🚗Parking Information
- • Free parking is available for Museum visitors.
- • Bike parking is available near the entrance.
- • Event parking for nearby attractions and Broncos games is available for a fee.
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Patrick Scott
a year agoJoining the membership has been a fantastic decision for our family. It's an excellent quasi-educational resource for providing our kids with screen-free entertainment that keeps them thoroughly engaged. We've visited multiple times, ensuring we make the most of every play area available. The whole family left thoroughly exhausted.
Jake Hunter
a year agoOk so look, I was gonna give this place 4 stars for one reason I will explain in a sec... this place is so much fun for kids, building, selling, bubbles, firetrucks, hard hats and rope bridges... so much fun. HOWEVER, and I say this with the biggest warning I can, if you are an adult, which if you're reading this I am assuming you are, do not... I repeat, do not go down the slide from the top of the tower. I bruised my tailbone after achieving mach speed going down this thing and you know what the doctors told me I needed to do to fix it? SIT ON A DOUGHNUT PILLOW. Bring your kids, totally fun. Doughnut pillow, totally not fun... Heed my warning.
Vicky Patrick
4 years agoMy 5 years old kid really having his best day ever to this playroom. I'm so happy that my kid was happy too because these guys really have everything, especially toys that are needed, for a kid to play. This place is really wonderful, and I would be honored to recommend it to all of my friends. GREAT JOB!
Mary Perry
2 years agoI am very upset, guys, that you do not adhere to the rules described in the conditions of visiting on the site. Let me remind you that you have written: “Reservations are required to guarantee entry. Those without a reservation will be admitted as space allows.” The security guard didn't let us in today, arguing that our reservation was overdue, and your rule with vacant seats does not apply to the "closed event" of the free night. Well, you should point it out on the site if that's the case, or deal with your security guard. But, in any case, we feel sorry that your "rules" and their absence prevented our children from visiting your museum, which was a dream for them.
Thannon Holst
7 years agoWe love the children's museum! So much play and learning, and not just for the kids! We adults had a good time too