About The Sand Place: Aurora's Family-Owned Indoor Playground
We are a family-owned indoor playground in Aurora built around one idea: clean, sensory-rich sand play that develops kids while giving parents room to breathe. Not a bounce house. Not a chaotic gym. The sandbox — elevated.
Key Takeaways
- Family-owned and Aurora-local, founded by Brandon and Leabeth Pohl. We opened January 18, 2025.
- A 40-ton indoor sandbox measuring 30 feet by 15 feet, inside an 1,800 sq ft climate-controlled facility.
- Designed for ages 0–12, with most of our crew falling between 0 and 7.
- Silica-free Baha Play Sand, sanitized every single night — including weekends and holidays.
- All-day play from $20 per child with in-and-out re-entry and no time limit. Adults play free, up to 2 per paying child.
- Rated 4.9 stars across 347+ Google reviews and named 2025 Top Children's Amusement Center in Colorado.
- Find us at 16677 E. Smoky Hill Rd., Aurora, CO 80015. Call (303) 942-1014.
Why We Built This
We are Brandon and Leabeth Pohl, and The Sand Place started with one childhood joy we both shared: hours spent in soft Florida beach sand.
When life brought us to Colorado and we became parents ourselves, we learned quickly that beach days here look a little different. Rocks and clay do not deliver what we remembered. Nobody wants to wear shoes on a beach.
Like a lot of families, we spent months working from home during COVID, navigating uncertainty and a six-month stretch of unemployment. In the middle of all that, we found ourselves dreaming about building something that actually mattered to families like ours. Something playful. Something joyful. Something that gave parents the break they never seem to get.
So we built a space where kids can explore freely while parents relax, catch up with a friend, or get a little work done a few feet away. The Sand Place grew out of our family's story, and we are grateful to share it with yours.
What We Actually Built
The heart of it is a giant sanitized indoor sandbox with a construction theme — trucks, diggers, hard hats, and building zones. There are two sandboxes: the giant main pit and a second one inside the private party room.
The numbers
- 40 tons of sand in a pit measuring 30 feet by 15 feet
- 1,800 sq ft climate-controlled facility, comfortable year-round no matter the Colorado weather
- 100+ construction trucks and tools — excavators, dump trucks, cranes, bulldozers, loaders, shovels and molds, including Tonka and CAT vehicles
- Ride-on diggers sized for kids
Built for parents, too
This is the part most play spaces forget. We put in a parent seating area with cafe tables that look right out over the sandbox, comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, and charging stations. You can watch your kid dig and still answer an email.
There is a brush-off station near the exit so the sand mostly stays here, a shoe-removal area at the entrance, a snack bar, free parking out front and in the adjacent lot, and the whole facility is ADA accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. Trained staff are on-site the entire time.
The Sand We Chose — And Why
Most play sand is silica-based, and silica dust is the primary health concern with traditional sandboxes. We went a different direction.
Our sand is oolitic aragonite, sustainably harvested from The Bahamas and sold as Baha Play Sand by Calcean Minerals & Materials. It is silica-free and quartz-free, non-toxic, allergen-free, dust-free, and ultra-fine with a uniform grain size — no sharp particles, chunks, or debris. That makes it safe for kids with allergies, asthma, eczema, sensory sensitivities, and special needs.
It is the type of sand health experts recommend for children's play. We use it in its natural color only. We do not use dyed sand, and we do not allow glitter in the pit.
Cleaned every single night
Every night after close — weekends and holidays included — the crew runs the same five steps:
- Remove all debris, toys, and foreign material from the pit surface
- Rake and aerate the entire sandbox
- Sanitize every sand tool, pit wall, ledge, and high-touch surface
- Inspect all equipment and replace anything worn or cracked
- Reset the facility so every morning starts fresh
The sand itself is sanitized with a water and vinegar solution. Toys and tools get a child-safe, hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectant. Hospital-grade filtration runs throughout the building.
Come See It For Yourself
All-day play, in and out as many times as you want, no clock running.
- $20 first child — all-day play with in-and-out re-entry
- $18 first sibling, $16 for siblings after that
- Adults free — up to 2 per paying child
- $60/month memberships — unlimited all-day play, cancel anytime
Why Sand Play Matters
Sand is not just fun, it is genuinely good for development. It engages the tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive senses at the same time, which helps kids build motor skills, balance, and emotional regulation.
The other advantage is that sand is open-ended. Fixed playground equipment does one thing. Sand becomes a castle, a mountain, a highway, a construction site — whatever your kid decides it is that day. That kind of open-ended play is where imagination actually gets exercised.
It also works for a wide range of kids. Our space is designed to welcome every neurotype and ability, and we offer dedicated sensory-friendly private play sessions for families who need a quieter, lower-stimulation environment. No diagnosis required.
What We Stand For
Our mission is simple: built by parents, for parents. Four values hold it up.
- Safety and hygiene. Nightly sanitization, hospital-grade filtration, silica-free sand.
- Community. We are rooted in Aurora and we work with local preschools, schools, and pediatric programs.
- Inclusivity. Every neurotype, every ability, welcome.
- Family first. If it is not safe enough for our kids, it is not safe enough for yours.
Meet the founders
Brandon Pohl — marketing strategist and creative storyteller. LinkedIn | Facebook
Leabeth Pohl — writer, creator, and the heart of the brand. LinkedIn | Leabeth's Kitchen
Our own kids are the daily inspiration behind every grain of sand poured into this place.
Plan Your Visit
We are at 16677 E. Smoky Hill Rd., Aurora, CO 80015, and we serve families from across Aurora, Parker, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Colorado Springs, and the greater Denver metro.
Hours
- Monday — closed
- Tuesday to Friday — 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday — 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Walk-ins are welcome based on availability, but weekends fill up — reserve at least 48 hours ahead for a Saturday or Sunday visit.
More ways to play
- Birthday parties — private party room from $299, or the full venue from $399
- Memberships — $60 a month per child for unlimited all-day play
- Movie nights — one Friday a month, $20 per child
- School field trips — custom group pricing for preschool through early elementary
- Photo gallery — see the space before you come
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns The Sand Place?
The Sand Place is family-owned by Brandon and Leabeth Pohl, who moved to Colorado from Florida and opened the playground on January 18, 2025. It is independently owned and Aurora-local, not a franchise.
What ages is The Sand Place designed for?
The space is designed for ages 0 to 12, and most of our visitors are between 0 and 7. Children 9 and older sometimes find the space small. Infants under 12 months play free with a paying older sibling.
Is the sand safe for kids with allergies or asthma?
Yes. We use silica-free, quartz-free oolitic aragonite sand that is non-toxic, allergen-free, and dust-free. It is safe for children with allergies, asthma, eczema, sensory sensitivities, and special needs, and it is sanitized nightly.
How much does it cost to visit?
All-day play is $20 for the first child, $18 for the first sibling, and $16 for each sibling after that, with in-and-out re-entry and no time limit. Adults are free, up to two per paying child. See full pricing.
Do I need a reservation?
Walk-ins are welcome based on availability. Weekends get busy, so we recommend reserving at least 48 hours ahead for Saturday or Sunday. Birthday parties book 4 to 6 weeks ahead for weekends and 2 to 3 weeks for weekdays.
Is the playground sensory-friendly?
Yes. The space is built to welcome every neurotype and ability. We also offer private play sessions with adjustable lighting and sound for up to 4 children, designed for kids who thrive with fewer distractions. No diagnosis is required. Read more on our FAQ page.
Come Dig With Us
We built this family-owned indoor playground in Aurora because we wanted it to exist for our own kids. Everything here — the sand we chose, the cafe tables facing the pit, the nightly cleaning — comes back to that. Come see it. We are at 16677 E. Smoky Hill Rd., Aurora, CO 80015.
Plan Your Visit (303) 942-1014