I was looking up things to do in the Carbondale area and this place caught my eye. I don't have any kids nor am I one but I had to visit the park and I got to hear the story about how this park was built and how it came to be. This park is very well kept! I've never been to an active park that is so well maintained and the fact that it has no graffiti on it! This park is so Interactive and I thought it was convenient that it had porta potties next to it as well. Even the ice cream man came by to visit. Plenty of great Interactive things that check out that are one-of-a-kind like climbing got a dragon and even the playground is big enough for grown-ups to walk around without actually it's time to climb on stuff. This place was like walking into a Renaissance fair , I highly recommend checking this place out! read more

Boo Rochman Memorial Park - Parks Near Me

This is without a doubt one of the top parks that my kids have ever been to. When you step into the park you see sculptures of wizards, knights, dragons, and fantastical creatures. It is like stepping into a Dungeons & Dragons story. The highlight thought is without a doubt the castle. There are ramparts, hidden armories, gargoyles, coats of arms, statues and a whole menagerie of fantastical creatures. I had to tear my 5 and 3 year old away from it. It could have kept them busy for hours. There is also a touching backstory to the park. It was founding in memory of Jeremy "Boo" Rochman who died in a car crash nearby. He loved fantasy and his family set up the park in his honor. The park is privately funded, and can accept donations through its website. So if you do stop in and enjoy it, please make sure to support the park. read more

Best park in the state. This place will keep you busy for hours. The dungeons and dragon theme tops it off. read more

Boo Rochman Memorial Park - Viking guard - Parks Near Me

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This park is so lovely! I have gone a few times and enjoyed it every single time! It is unique and we love all the structures you can climb on, and take photos with. I've gone as adults only, with two different dogs, and with a four year old, and it's been great and fun for all of us. It's also a lovely way to keep someone's memory alive. We love it here! read more

Boo Rochman Memorial Park - Parks Near Me

Totally bizarre and unexpected dungeons & dragons themed park in Southern IL. Adorable and well-worth a short visit.

This park is amazing! I love taking my children to Boo Rochman Memorial Park. The theme is medieval times with wizards and dragons all over the park. Lots of photo opportunities! The biggest part is the huge castle. There are so many places to climb and hide. Words can't do it justice. You need to go and visit this park. There are restrooms and soda vending machines. There is also a donation box. Please consider making a monetary donation to keep the wonderful park going. There are also drinking fountains. read more

Nothing breaks a mother and fathers heart more than the loss of a child... any child. And this park was built in memory of a child lost (Jeremy "Boo" Rochman) who had a passion for Dungeons & Dragon's. I can't think of a better way to carry on the memory of ones child! This park is filled with imagination and adventure around every corner! A place where unicorns and Pegasus roam. And a giant purple Dragon lays amongst the bushes where children of all ages can freely climb and imagine. Wizards and knights stand silently awaiting magic spells to bring them life and wonder! Watch out for that knight in the tree! As well as the fairy garden and butterfly chairs. A mystical castle with secret passages and mazes will keep your curious wanderer sneaking, crawling, peeping through hidden twists and turns. Don't forget to visit the dungeon turret where a prisoner is being guarded by a knight in shining armor while surrounded by mice, miniature dragons and crystal balls. Local art is found throughout the castle mazes as well. And to keep everyone in check there are cameras also guarding the precious treasures of "Boo's" land of wonder. The park is locked at night and rules are posted before entering. Truly a wonderful place. My condolences to the family of "Boo". You left a beautiful memory for many to enjoy and keep his living spirit alive for generations to come. read more

A highly interesting place for adults and kids alike. My toddler absolutely loves it here, and I'm not far behind. It makes me feel like a kid again. Awesome statues of monsters and dragons. A giant castle with Plenty of passages to explore -- though I can't fit into all of them. And the playing surface is soft, so it's safe if your kids fall. Perhaps best of all, it's free of charge, though a donation box is readily available. I strongly recommend this place if you or your kids have energy to burn off and/or you want to rekindle your imagination. read more

A very fun park for children. This is a memorial, and the family did a great job creating an imaginative park for children. Kids will have a great time climbing through the castle. There are also many cool sculptures that kids can climb and explore-- a dragon, wizards, butterflies. The restroom is a portapotty. Definitely a fun place to check out if you are in Carbondale with kids. read more

Boo Rochman Memorial Park - Parks Near Me

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I am going to keep this simple. You have to see this place for yourself! Amazing memorial. In case visitors do not realize, make sure to donate in the center of the park. Look up the meaning of this place and don't just take for granted. We live 5 hours away but it's a must visit on any of our trips to visit family in So. IL. read more

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Pros: Unique fantasy themed park, well maintained, lots to see for its size Cons: It's a memorial park, meaning that it was built because someone passed. The Boo Rochman Memorial Park is also known as Dungeons and Dragons ("D&D") park. It's a privately owned park, but open to the public without a fee (but donations are appreciated). The park is well...different. It has several fantasy themed sculptures and play structures. There's a giant dragon to climb on. The main play area is a big castle. The castle has a maze with ladders, bridges, and crawl areas. Towards the back is a giant bell. There's also a giant gazebo with sun-themed hangings on the ceiling. We spent about 30-45 minutes alone wandering through the castle. The bad part is that the park is a memorial. Boo Rochman died pretty young. He loved playing Dungeons and Dragons, so his family built the park in his memory. If you use the park please consider donating. There is a donation bin inside the park. You can also go across the street to the office (it's in a nice looking house, go up the outdoor front stairs) and purchase a park poster for $5. The park is located in the outer edge of the city. If you need directions and are near the Castle Perilous game store, the employees there will enthusiastically tell you the way. read more

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This place is amazing! My daughter loved running around the castle and the dragon is so much fun! Just an FYI for everyone the park office is across the street if you want to buy any souvenirs. There is so much to see take a minute and just walk around to see all the statues and art. read more

Boo Rochman Memorial Park - Parks Near Me

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Great place for younger kids. Castle for exploring and running around. Dragon to climb on. Lots of medieval type sculptures on the grounds and in the trees. Good place for adults to just relax and enjoy. We needed a couple hours between events and picking up my 18-year old from Southern Illinois University. We took our 12-year old here - and he had fun for all 2 hours. I ran around with him for a while - then just sat and took in it. There is an era of sadness though - there are 2 memorials; to the teenager for which it was dedicated - and a 6-year old girl in the same family who died - so if that is too much for you - pass it by... read more

This park is nothing short of amazing. It is a memorial to an avid D&D fan who died too young. I want to thank his parents for turning their grief into a fantastical playland for young and old a like. Please donate to keep the magic of this park alive. read more

Boo Rochman Memorial Park - Parks Near Me

Beautiful park definitely enjoyed our visit here. I enjoyed looking at all the hand carved statues. My kids loved running in the castle.

I've been bringing my grandchildren to this park for several years. It is by far one of the most beautiful and well kept parks we've been too. It is free to come but there is a donation box that helps to keep the park as beautiful as it is. Please consider donating every time you come. A big huge castle structure is great for the kids. they play hide-and-seek and climb and do all kinds of fun stuff. The dragon itself is worth the drive down. Great photo ops read more

This place is very unique. It's a very magical experience, especially for children. At this park, you will not find swing sets and sandboxes. Here you will be more likely to come across dragons and knights! This park has a great theme and is almost like a big maze! So many little hidden passage ways and nooks. Its free to go and usually very busy on weekends. They just added new parking which is very nice. This park was built in memory of Jeremy Rochman, who passed in a car accident when he was just 19. They have a small pavilion for birthday parties/gatherings. The park is surrounded by trees and is pretty shaded for the most part. It is perfect for a family picnic! read more

This is a really fun park for my daughter and niece (ages 7 and 3) - they LOVE to go here, and request it. ...HOWEVER, as a parent/uncle, I must warn those who haven't been to the Park that the site lines aren't very good - you can't just sit down and watch the kiddos from a bench! You need to follow them thru the castle and the nooks (some tight!) and crannies. Be careful and mindful - very fun, just wears kids and parents\uncles out alike! Very interesting theme - worth the trip, fun experience! read more

This place makes me wish I was a kid again! When my fiancée told me about a park with a big castle, I was expecting something like a mediocre Fisher Price thing. Oh, no. This thing is huge. It's wooden and stone, with tons of intricate details, and secret passages, and tunnels, and more. It even has a real bell tower you can ring! The place is so big that you could easily have 30 kids on there at one time and never see half of them for a while. It's purely amazing. I'm 29, but for a few minutes I was 10 again, and I made sure to explore all the tunnels and crevices, even if it hurt. What shocked me the most is that this park doesn't have one ounce of graffiti on it. It's in a good neighborhood, also. This park is immaculately maintained. It is purely run on donations, so please help out and keep this going! The park itself is large enough to accommodate hundreds of people, and there's lots of tables, chairs, and places to picnic. Again, I'm 29, but I wouldn't hesitate to have a birthday party there, medieval style, costumes and all! It's awesome! read more

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