Nestled between rambler homes in a residential area on the outskirts of Denton, the Chairy Orchard is a delightful pocket park. Shaded by large trees and bordered by Cooper Creek, the meadow could be mistaken for any peaceful green space. Well, it could except for hundreds of chairs that lend the attraction its name: The Chairy Orchard.
The Chairy Fairies
The Chairy Fairies, neighbors Ann Pierson and Judy Smith, curate this quirky assemblage. Chairs circle the meadow and line pathways through the unique orchard. Every type of chair seems to be represented from a hammock to an old beauty parlor chair. Wood. Wicker. Metal. Plastic. Upholstered. It’s all there in the orchard. There are even miniature chairs secured to a wood fence.
The collection started on a whim after Judy hung a few wooden chairs in one of the great trees and called it her Chairy Tree. The women decided to expand on the idea and set out to collect a hundred chairs to scatter around the grassy lot. That beginning quickly grew through finds at garage sales, thrift shops, and even curbside castoffs. People often now donate chairs, like the one donated by a high school graduating class.
So Many Puns
The Chairy Tree pun continues throughout the orchard. There is a ‘High Chair’ made from a series of increasingly smaller chairs stacked on top of each other. The ‘Wheel Chair’ consists of toy wheels attached to a wooden Adirondack chair. And red-painted canes create the ‘Cane-backed Chair.’ The ‘Arm Chair’ made with mannequin arms is a bit creepy, but otherwise the punny chairs add a playful ambiance to the unique orchard. And, of course, there is a spot at the CemeChairy for those broken chairs.
Chairish Wall
One of my favorite locations within the Chairy Orchard is the Chairish Wall. No need to visit a Paris bridge to leave your lock of love. You can do that right here at the Chairish Wall. And throughout the Chairy Orchard there are a few non-chair themes and puns, like the Flower Bed, a bedframe buried in dirt and decorated with plastic flowers. Along one side is a beautiful collection of wood and Buddha. There are so many fun things to discover in the Chairy Orchard.
When You Go
The Chairy Fairies encourage people to take pictures, eat lunch, or even rearrange the chairs. The Chairy Orchard (1426 Churchill Drive, Denton) is open dawn to dusk. It’s free but you can leave a donation in the red refrigerator on the edge of the orchard. Or consider bringing a chair of your own to donate.
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