A year ago, we took our five-year-old on a not-so-ordinary hiking trip. Finding a spot that was low-impact for him but would also spark his curiosity is how we ended up at a park about 30 minutes from downtown Chattanooga.
I had heard that hidden within Enterprise South Nature Park were not one, not ten, but 100 preserved WWII ammunition bunkers spread out along 40 miles of trails. It turned into a game to see just how many we could find! During that quest, we came across a construction site at bunker #29. Piles of bamboo, small wooden buildings mounted high in the trees, and suspension bridges surrounded a platform, but most intriguing was what appeared to be the in-progress construction of a hobbit hole.
Enterprise South Nature Park
Enterprise South Nature Park offers families 2,800 acres of hiking and biking trails on either dirt or paved paths. Admission is free, and if your family loves a good scavenger hunt, you can stop by the visitor’s center at the entrance to grab a map of the trails and the locations of all 100 bunkers. The visitor’s center is also where you’ll find the traditional toilets…you’ll understand further down why this is noteworthy.
In February of 2026, Hamilton County Parks and Recreation announced they had built an outdoor space and were in need of a name. After a few weeks of voting, the space was christened ‘Wildwood Playscape’ and a grand opening date of April 24, 2026 was set. Of course, we had to know what had become of that collection of wood and the hobbit hole!
Grand Opening of Wildwood Playscape
There are designated parking lots throughout Enterprise South Nature Park. It is a bit of a drive at 15mph to get to the lot for Wildwood Playscape all the way at bunker #29. Because of the amount of people just as eager as we were to see the new play area, they had guests parking along the road; just don’t do that during normal operation!
To enter the playscape you have two options: 1. Take the stairs directly into the playground area; or, 2. Take the flat, more accessible entrance through two giant carved wood deer! Next to the deer is where you’ll also find the “bathrooms.” These toilets are raised above ground with an open air hole instead of plumbing. My son was very excited about that.
During the ribbon cutting, the speakers, including Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, mentioned how the playscape took 18 months to come together because instead of hiring a construction firm, they opted to have the parks employees design and build it. What they created was something that blends naturally with the environment. Wood structures were built around the trees and hills, rather than clearing and flattening the land. It immerses kids (and their adults!) in a natural wonderland complete with log cabins, custom carved wood statues, and a pirate ship with actual buried chests!
Although my son was a bit overstimulated by all of the people at the grand opening, I can see why this park was built as a way to return to nature and escape the sensory overload of screens at home.
What Kids Will Love
Wildwood Playscape offers areas for a range of age and play levels. For example, a cleverly designed safety wall is covered in interactive sensory zones including instruments, mirrors, and drawing boards. Kids can also choose between tree forts, cabins, and even a full camp kitchen for imaginative games. For the more daring, there are three designated ziplines! If you have a climber, there are several rope courses, even a rope that goes up the side of what we had thought would be a hobbit hole!
So, is it a hobbit hole? No, bunker #29’s facade was actually transformed into the Wildwood Burrow. It is one of the few bunkers that are intentionally open for you to go inside. This cavernous chamber is where kids spent their time during the grand opening making noises as loud as they could to hear their equally loud echo!
Know Before You Go
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- It is a bit of a slow drive alongside pedestrians and winding curves, but it does have a designated parking lot.
- The accessible entrance through the carved deer wraps around at a low grade to the play area, but it is not paved.
- It has open air toilets, so if you aren’t used to seeing the ground several feet below you, then that may be a shock.
- There are signs mounted along the flat trail warning of poison ivy and giving visual examples of what to watch for.
- Bring water and snacks. They do have a pavilion with picnic tables under cover.
What’s the coolest hidden gem your family has discovered on a hike or road trip?
