Three Bears Acres, popular outdoor play space, is closed

Three Bears Acres closed for the 2019 season on Nov. 21 and never reopened. The spot in northern Wake County off Beaver Dam Road opened in 2012 with 50 acres and lots of places for kids to play, including an outdoor mud kitchen, jumping pillow, 300-foot toboggan run, a pond with pedal boats and a massive play set that sat high up in the trees.

It was a popular spot for family outings, birthday parties and school field trips.

Over time, the business added more activities and special events, including an Easter Egg Hunt and the popular Pumpkin Toss with Mix 101.5 WRAL-FM, which took place after Halloween.

In an email to Go Ask Mom, owner Melinda Kinsel, said only that, "Yes, we have closed Three Bears Acres."

In a follow up email, Kinsel said that plans to sell the business were made long before the pandemic.

"My children are now in middle school, high school and the oldest starts college next month," she tells me. "Working weekends and juggling business ownership became too much of a struggle and I was ready to spend more time at home."

"Thankfully it was already the plan because the pandemic would have definitely shut me down since so much of my business was school field trips," she said. "I would have loved to sell the business as it was and have someone put their spin on what I began but the land is worth so much more than the business."

The 50 acres are currently for sale. "We have had some interest but movement is slow during this time," Kinsel said.

"I loved my 7 years with Three Bears Acres," Kinsel said. "Seeing the children run and play and meeting so many families, camps and schools within our community has been a true blessing."