8 New Places to Try in Des Moines This Fall
What is new in Des Moines this fall?! My kids love trying new activities, and luckily, the Des Moines Metro has many exciting new places to explore this fall. Check out our list of NEW activities and locations you won’t want to miss, including play areas, recreation, art, and more!
1. Monster Mini Golf
Address: 1884 Southeast Destination Drive, Grimes
Phone: (515) 329-5143
Cost: Ranges depending on age, attraction combinations, and arcade bonus deals
Monster Mini Golf opened in August 2026 and features indoor, glow-in-the-dark monster mini golf, plus an arcade, bowling, a laser maze, and two party rooms for events.
2. Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
Address: 101 Jordan Creek Parkway, Space 12530, West Des Moines
Opening in fall 2026, Kura Revolving Sushi Bar is the first Iowa location. Grab sushi and other Japanese offerings from a conveyor belt, receive drinks from robot servers, and play the Bikkura Pon lottery game after inserting plates into the collection slot at your table.
3. Whimsy & Wonder Play Cafe
Address: 2325 SW State Street Suite A, Ankeny
Opening this fall, Whimsy & Wonder Play Café is an indoor play space for kids ages 6 months through 10 years old, but kids of all ages and abilities are welcome. It’s separated into three areas: play areas (soft play zone, pretend village, and active play), a sports court and dance studio, and a sensory room. They will offer event packages, single sessions, multi-pass, and monthly memberships.
4. Bloom Play Co.
Address: 1103 South 44th Street, Unit 102, Cumming
Phone: (515) 975-7030
Bloom Play Co. is scheduled to open this fall and is an indoor playground designed for toddlers through older kids. It will include soft play, imaginative zones, climbing, foam pits, and adventure structures. Purchase a single session, monthly membership, or a birthday package.
5. Crossroads Skate Park
Address: 5205 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines
Crossroads Skate Park was revamped to replace older wooden ramps with an all-concrete facility for skaters and scooter riders. It features a wide assortment of street-style elements—including a slappy curb, box bollard, radius wedge, and quarter pipes—offering beginner-friendly zones alongside fun, flowing lines.
6. NorthPoint Community Center
Address: 9901 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston
Phone: (515) 986-0306
NorthPoint Church opened NorthPoint Community Center on October 1st, 2026, featuring a café, indoor pickleball, volleyball, and basketball courts, outdoor pickleball and basketball courts, counseling services, and rental spaces. Pathways Learning Academy is in the same building and provides childcare for infants through pre-K.
They are currently constructing an indoor playscape for toddlers and their caregivers, scheduled to open this fall. Other services include Parkinson’s exercise groups and a tutoring program for middle- and high-school refugee students.
7. Reichardt Community Recreation Center: New indoor pool
Address: 915 College Avenue, Des Moines
Phone: (515) 237-1819
Cost: Daily, monthly, and yearly memberships available
Prairie Meadows Pool opened in September 2026 and is the only indoor swimming pool that’s part of Des Moines Parks and Recreation, offering splash features, a diving board, a water basketball hoop, three-lap lanes, and more. Admission includes access to the pool and the rest of the recreation center.
8. Art Vending Machines
Address: 5 locations throughout Des Moines
Cost: 4 quarters (slots)
Many kids (and adults) love receiving vending machine prizes, and now they can also get mini artworks from a variety of participating local artists. While locations will rotate, art vending machines are currently at Black Cat Ice Cream Downtown, Local Bites, Mainframe Studios, RAYGUN, and Wellmark YMCA. Art ranges from stickers and prints to paper cut-outs.
