
Rendering courtesy of The Magic House
Traveling with children can be challenging, and the most torturous part is often killing time waiting for the plane to depart. But come late May, that will change.
The Magic House (magichouse.org) has partnered with Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to create a 1,500-square-foot indoor playground in Concourse C. Dubbed the St. Louis International Play Port, it lets kids pretend to be a conductor on the MetroLink, an airport security agent looking inside a suitcase, a baggage handler loading luggage on a conveyor belt, a pilot flying the plane, a car-rental agent lending out autos, and even an air-traffic controller trying to keep takeoffs and landings in line.
“What we were hoping to do is to create a similar space to our Children’s Village, where they can take on the occupations of the people in a particular community, and at the airport, they are taking on the occupations of the people there,” says Beth Fitzgerald, president of The Magic House. “We are trying to demystify the airport
experience for children. I’m sure they are all wondering why we are pushing luggage through this little box.”