Only 13 Days Until We Open!

It's Sept. 1 and Papa's will welcome guests in just 13 days! Labor Day weekend marks the beginning of the decorating craze. Family and relatives stop by most every day until we open on Sept. 14 and help create the atmosphere that makes Papa's so special.

Our good friend Marv has been building new roof tops for a grand entrance to the Patch, as well as a new cover for Scarecrow Cove. Colleen and her sisters are putting a fresh coat of paint on everything, and Mom is busy scheduling all kinds of classes -- we have nearly 2,000 children who will visit Papa's on field trips. That number is only about half of the total who will come play at Papa's this fall. We are so grateful to the Bismarck-Mandan Retired Teachers Association for the volunteers they offer to assist with these weekday groups.

My nephew Ben-Luke has a vivid picture of changes we should make to Hobbit Hill. The additions involve more logs to climb across, and a suspended rope net that weebles and wobbles. Then there's the upside down rope bridge that you climb through rather than over. Creativity abounds this time of year!

See you soon,

Papa