Some say the place is like a magical forest, others call it refuge for tie-dye addicts and one person likens it to a real life Candy Land.
Play Faire Park leaves a unique impression on every visitor. Established in 1947, the park is well-used and that’s just how the owner prefers it.
“I like old things, keeping them going, things that I think are good and real,” said owner Chris England.
England, also known as “Doc” took over the park 23 years ago. The former youth minister at St. Paul United Methodist Church also used to run a Boys & Girls Club in Abilene. These days you can find him out at the park smiling from the black and white checkered booth at the entrance or busy making a repair somewhere on a course tattered from love. The park nestled on a secluded lot off North First Street may well be the oldest continuously operated miniature golf park in the state of Texas. Others match in age but they haven't remained open consistently. Play Faire's 69th season is underway, England celebrates every year that he’s able to keep the park open.
“My wife’s name is Melanie and she’s wonderful because she allows me to do this,” England said. “Nobody in their right mind would allow somebody to do this, it’s a lot of time you don’t make very much money.”
So why do they work so hard to keep the park going?
“We feel that we make Abilene a better place to live just by keeping it open because the park I think adds to the fabric of our community,” England said.
The first week of the park’s 69th season also happened to be spring break for kids in Abilene. Scarlett Yates and her two younger brothers were laughing as they progressed to the next hole on their afternoon free from homework.
Yates,18, said she’s been coming to Play Faire Park her whole life. She grew up tagging along with her grandparents as they attended festivals at the park. She’s been to concerts and birthday parties at the park and one time she even played golf in her pajamas during an international scavenger hunt that involved a public pillow fight.
“I had my sweet 16 here,” Yates said with a big laugh, “I had like 200 friends and it was 50’s [themed] so everyone came dressed up in like 50’s garb.”
Pillow fights, fifties garb, scavenger hunts? Anything goes at Play Faire Park. England shows movies at the park and hosts the Rocky Horror Picture Show twice a year, which he calls “crazy.” He also added live music Friday and Saturday nights.
The addition of music is one of the biggest ways England changed the atmosphere of the park. When he took it over in 1994 the park had no momentum, no energy. To fix that, he built an outdoor stage on the west side of the park for concerts. England said Play Faire is the perfect venue for local musicians eager to get out and perform without having to play in a bar.
When there isn’t live music, England keeps a fun playlist going and it’s mostly all classics from the 1960’s.
“We were looking for music that would reach across generations,” England said. “It’s The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater, you know, Sly and the Family Stone, it’s all feel good music that makes you smile.”
England said he sees families respond to the park’s atmosphere all the time, people come in with grumpy teenagers but after playing for a while tensions melt away and families unite.
“It’s just so cool,” England said. “Those are the jewels in my crown.”
All the work pays off for England when he bears witness to little moments like those. He gets to be a part of some big moments too. Five weddings have taken place at the park. He’s lost count of how many engagements. He says the place is still an ideal first date spot and a popular pick for birthday parties.
On the west side of the course Daniel and Melissa Armstrong and their three kids were stalled at the No. 9 hole, battling one of the park’s infamous spinning wheels.
Melissa said her family enjoys the tether ball game England recently added to Play Faire Park. More games are coming soon, England has plans to build an entire play museum in the park. He’s a big believer in outdoor play, he’ll do anything to help kids trade some of their screen time for warm sunshine.
