At Junkyard Social Club, there are few rules. Outside, along the walls of the 6,000-square-foot playground, a hand-stenciled sign declares the only tenet: “Respect the Junk.” That and “Respect Each Other” are the guiding principles of the new, all-ages social club.
One part adventure playground, one part community center, and one part “rebel museum,” Junkyard Social Club is not just for kids, but for adventure, learning and connection by members of all ages. More concisely, as executive director Jill Katzenberger puts it, “It’s a space for creative and curious play.”
“Sometimes that looks like science and engineering, and sometimes that looks like music and art. In a lot of ways, we see so much crossover between art and science,” she explains. “The skills that I think we will always try to focus on are the ones that help someone think in new ways. It’s about having the guts to try something new and think about it differently.”
A typical week at Junkyard Social Club includes everything from school field trips and hands-on kids’ science events to open play hours where kids can explore and parents can sip coffee and catch up. In the evenings, expect open mic nights, concerts, game nights and dance parties. Currently, the club is soft opened and will continue to expand its offerings as summer approaches. Food trucks are definitely on the lineup, and beer and wine should be on the menu soon.
“Often we’ll have a kids party here and the adults will say, ‘Wait, can I have my party here?’ and it’s like, of course! This place is not just for kids,” Jill says.
Ryan Madson, Jill's co-founder, puts it this way: "We are beginning to see many diverse and niche communities utilize the space, developing a sense of ownership and bringing their own creativity to the mix. We host monthly meet-ups for Spanish-speaking families, yin yoga and improv comedy classes, danzantes Aztecas, coffee and wine salons, raves, climate activist death metal concerts, circus shows and disco brunches."
The idea for such a space originated in 2016, when Jill and her co-founders began to wonder why Boulder didn’t have its own hands-on, discovery-based children’s museum. After touring similar institutions around the country, they knew Boulder’s version would have to be as unique as the city itself.
“We realized Boulder needed something people would want to come back to over and over–something that wouldn’t feel like a one-time destination,” Jill explains. “It needed to provide a sense of community, where you come and feel a sense of ownership. That’s where we got the idea of it being a social club.”
As for how it came to be the “junkyard” social club, a quick look around reveals there’s truth to the name. Much of the play structures and decorative fixtures—indoors and out—are in their second act and sourced from literal junkyards by Jill and the founding team. Outside, imaginative creations from one-of-a-kind finds set the tone for creative play. Think: a 16-foot swing set, a vintage bus, dozens of tires, a life-size giraffe by artist Mitch Hoffman, a vintage model plane and a giant umbrella made of VW Beetle hoods by artist Jackson Ellis. Inside, you’ll find art made from milk jug caps and murals by Drew Button and the late Alicia Cardenas. Soon, the interiors will be lit up by a chandelier made of 2,000 repurposed washers.
Even with finishing touches in the works, Junkyard Social Club has already made itself a vital part of the community. Following the Marshall Fire, the club stepped up by offering free access, regardless of day or time, for affected families. If a family needed a place to play or work, Junkyard Social Club was ready. “We said, ‘We’re here, you can come,’” Jill says, proving just what it really means to respect each other.
JunkyardSocialClub.org