House of Fun: Luxury Homes for the Young at Heart
Luxury Defined explores 7 unique properties with adventure playgrounds, waterslides, and other kid-friendly amenities
Let’s play . . . pretend. Pretend you are a child at play. After all, our leisure time defines us as much as our work. It’s how children make sense of the world. Wouldn’t you love to have your own adventure playground? How about a swimming pool with an exciting waterslide? How about a home with a themed playhouse or mini-golf course, or, perhaps, recreation areas dedicated to tennis, basketball, or trampolining? Childhood dreams meet grownup wishes in this Luxury Defined collection of unique homes devoted to children—of all ages.
Related: Escape to the Playhouse
Wyoming Mountain Retreat
Alpine, Wyoming
This elegant log home in the scenic community of Shadow Dancer Estates is the perfect Wyoming mountain retreat. The property is chock-full of amenities for family entertainment. Inside is a six-seat theater room and a game room with a handcrafted wet bar. Outside is a unique bear-themed 9-hole putting green and plenty of space for recreation. Other highlights include a huge gourmet kitchen with Thermador technology appliances and dining area; a great room with timber ceilings, log-burning fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows; and a three-car garage. The area’s family-friendly attractions include Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Yellowstone National Park.
Resort Home in Montserrat
Fort Worth, Texas
This luxury estate home in the gated Fort Worth community of Montserrat features a five-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bathroom main residence and more than 1.5 acres of landscaped grounds. The property was meticulously constructed for grand entertaining but also retains a casual, elegant charm. The resort-inspired alfresco spaces feature an outdoor kitchen, a tennis/sport court, and putting green. A host of family-friendly features include a fabulous outdoor pool with a diving board and waterslide, which is ideal for children, as are the home’s media room, game room, and craft room. Chefs will appreciate the top-of-the-line appliances in the kitchen, while auto aficionados will enjoy the home’s two garages, which can store up to eight vehicles.
Related: Young at Heart: How to Design Children’s Bedrooms
Pinewood House
Surrey, England
Pinewood House is a Grade II-listed mansion in the Surrey village of Oxshott. Originally built in 1880, the property was recently restored to an exacting standard and extended to provide an indoor pool complex, luxury spa, gym, and leisure facilities. The gardens take inspiration from their historic origins and the property’s wonderful hilltop position with views of the countryside and on a clear day the London skyline. Extensive flagstone terracing, mature trees, water features, and an outdoor pool create a Mediterranean ambience. Pinewood is also an amazing adventure house for kids. A custom-built £150,000 playhouse, designed in the style of the main residence, features hand-painted illustrations and a gold lantern above the doorway, and connects to an adventure playground with a slide, zip-line, climbing wall, and trampoline area.
Galician Villa
La Eliana, Spain
This elegant hillside estate near the Spanish port city of Valencia was inspired by the grand villas of Italy’s Lake Como. The property offers more than 11,000 square feet of luxurious living space with five bedrooms, several reception areas, a study, kitchen, and a lower ground floor with a cinema, staff quarters, and carpark. Outside is a traditional Galician hórreo: a unique elevated house which has been converted into a playhouse. The estate also includes a private pool, lush lawns, lounge areas, and has a convenient location close to international schools and local amenities.
Related: Sleep Tight: Stylish Kids’ Furniture and Accessories
Waterfalling Estate
Big Island, Hawaii
A private oceanfront paradise on the northeast coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, the Waterfalling Estate at Ninole takes its name from the two natural waterfalls that flow from the grounds into the Pacific Ocean below. The tri-level mansion and its nine-acre grounds combine resort-style amenities with the comforts of home. Adults and children alike will enjoy the illuminated tennis and basketball court with stadium seating, and the Olympic-style 25-meter swimming pool, waterslide, and diving boards.
Tuscan Chianti Estate
San Casciano in Val de Pesa, Italy
Set within an enchanting landscape, this historic property is one of the finest examples of traditional Tuscan estates in Chianti Classico, just 30 minutes’ drive from Florence. Dating from the 13th century, this magnificent estate includes two luxurious private villas, three atelier apartments, a historic dwelling with four apartments, and a private chapel. Characterized by the beauty of the Tuscan countryside, the nearly 12-acre grounds are adorned with four formal gardens, bounded by cypress trees, olive groves, vineyards, and forests. The numerous amenities include a children’s playground, table tennis area, and three swimming pools surrounded by expansive terraces, which are perfectly positioned to overlook the Chianti Classico hills.
Hobby Farm
Montverde, Florida
This 2.25-acre hobby farm is in the Trails of Montverde equestrian community, just outside Orlando. Not your typical Florida home, the 4,700-square-foot main residence is reminiscent of a New England farmhouse. It was also designed for family fun and adventure. There’s a game room, children’s craft room, and a charming two-story playhouse; built to mirror the main residence, it is fitted with air-conditioning and electrics and opens to a fenced-in backyard. Residents of all ages will enjoy the outdoor living and entertaining areas, which include a wraparound porch and a screened lanai with fire pit, and the area’s horse trails, 11-acre pond, fields, and riding arena.
