KidCo Children’s Museum to Close Its Doors by March 28

The KidCo Children’s Museum in Moorhead, Minnesota, will close on March 28, 2024, after three years of providing imaginative play for families in the Fargo-Moorhead area. The announcement was made on Facebook on January 5, leaving many regular visitors heartbroken.

On a typical play day, owner Aaron Duma bid farewell to children, offering stickers and temporary tattoos as they left. He understood the emotional weight of his decision, especially for families who had made KidCo a staple in their children’s lives. One mother reflected on how her child had spent their entire life visiting the museum, making its closure particularly poignant. “She just pointed out that Bea has been here her whole life,” Duma shared.

The museum, which caters to children up to the age of eight, will continue to operate through March, hosting open play sessions and birthday parties. Duma explained that while weekends often drew crowds, weekday attendance was inconsistent, making sustainability a challenge for a small, family-focused business.

KidCo Children’s Museum opened its doors in 2021 as a screen-free environment designed for imaginative play. Inside its vibrant purple-and-green walls, children could explore themed play areas, including a puppet show curtain and a castle tower with a foam pit. Parents appreciated the inviting atmosphere, which included free coffee and a chance to connect with other families.

Duma, who has experience in education and hospitality, aimed to create a space that was welcoming and safe for young children. “I wanted a place where you could come in, get a free coffee with real cream, real sugar, and relax,” he noted. KidCo became a beloved venue for playdates, birthday celebrations, and community events, fostering connections among families.

The museum featured many engaging areas, including “Tiny Town,” where children could play as firefighters or engage in imaginative scenarios. Other attractions included a KidCo Castle with a slide, a Glow Room filled with blacklight games, and a Puppet Theatre. Duma’s favorite feature, the Woosher, was a spiraling air tunnel designed to launch soft balls and scarves, adding a unique element to the play experience.

Inclusivity was a core principle of KidCo’s design. The museum offered toddler-only areas and sensory-sensitive sessions to accommodate children with autism. “What we learned is kiddos on the spectrum like to be prepared,” Duma explained. He expressed pride in the supportive community that had developed around KidCo, with many children growing up alongside the museum.

Despite the planned closure, Duma assured families that they could continue enjoying the space until the end of March. KidCo has already hosted hundreds of birthday parties, and interest remains high even with the impending shutdown. The museum was known for its seamless party planning, providing everything from pizza to cleanup.

Reflecting on the impact of KidCo, Duma noted that many toys and materials will be donated to local organizations, allowing the spirit of the museum to live on in other programs for children. “It’s been awesome. I never knew until yesterday how much it was appreciated,” Duma remarked.

Looking ahead, Duma hinted at the possibility of continuing the KidCo brand in a different format. “We as a family need a minute, but we’re also not eliminating any of those opportunities,” he stated, suggesting that the legacy of KidCo may evolve beyond its physical location.

The final days for KidCo Children’s Museum will feature regular hours of operation, with play sessions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Families can still book private events and birthday parties through the museum’s website, ensuring that the community can celebrate together until the very end.