Playhouse For Kids: 13 Extreme Kids' Playhouses

13 Extreme Kids' Playhouses

Americana Del Mar built by Bill Mitchell and Irvine Facilities Management — Courtesy of David Heath of Western Exposure and Project Playhouse

Long gone are the days of sheet-and-pillow forts. Today's kids have much more modern hideaways. Here, check out the most awe-inspiring models—some that cost thousands of dollars and boast fancy features like leatherette-finished bunks and built-in TV/DVD players. These pint-sized dwellings put a whole new spin on what it means to "play house."

Designer Barbara Butler built this 32' x 44' x 16' wooden castle in 1999 for two boys to complement their parents' 1910 English-style country home in Litchfield, Connecticut. Photo courtesy of Barbara Butler.

Malibu Lighthouse

Also built by Butler in 2001, this Pacific Ocean overlook and play fort in Malibu was inspired by images of lighthouse, sea waves and driftwood. Photo courtesy of Barbara Butler.

Fort Mediterranean

This 51'-long Butler-built playhouse—assembled in 2007 in Silicon Valley—summons a Mediterranean-inspired charm with its color palette and many bridges and hideaways. Photo courtesy of Barbara Butler.

Canyon Perch

Perched atop a 9'-tall stump, this tree fort—built in 2003, also by Butler—sits in a deep ravine, and offers kids a Swinging Bridge, a Look-Out Deck, a Trap Door, a Catwalk, a Rock Climbing Tower and more. Photo courtesy of Barbara Butler.