Backyard Discovery Playsets

Our reviews, comparisons, and thoughts on Backyard Discovery Playsets.

backyard-discovery

Meet the swiss army knife of the backyard play and leisure business. Backyard Discovery has been around for 30 years and started as a playset business. Over the years, Backyard Discovery has branched into other backyard products geared towards larger purchases -- think playhouses, slides, gazebos, and pergolas. They have always pioneered new and innovative ways to do more in the playset business.

Short Lists

Backyard Discovery has been featured on some of our Short Lists of the best playsets on the market.

short-list

Backyard Discovery Playsets Feature Comparison

Coming soon! We are compiling all of the features for their entire playset catalog and will have a comparison of all features up soon.

Backyard Discovery Playset Prices & Availability

Below is the latest prices and availability of Backyard Discovery Playsets on their website and several popular online retailers. Prices are first and the current stock status is in parentheses. "N/A" means that retailer doesn't carry that particular playset. To compare Backyard Discovery to other manufacturers, check out our swing set pricing data study.

ModelBackyard DiscoveryAmazonWillyGoatWalmartTargetHome DepotLowesWayfairBJ'sCostcoSam's Club
Big Brutus Heavy-Duty Metal A-Frame Swing Set$649.00 (in stock)N/AN/A (N/A)$649.00 (in stock)N/A (N/A)$649.00 (in stock)$649.00 (in stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Little Brutus Metal Swing Set$529.00 (in stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Mini Brutus Metal Swing Set$499.00 (in stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Pacific View Wooden Swing Set$1,499.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Atlantis Wooden Swing Set$1,149.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,004.99 (out of stock)$1,004.99 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Aurora Wooden Swing Set$499.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)$399.00 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Beach Front Wooden Swing Set$699.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)#N/A (Loading...)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Belmont Wooden Swing Set$649.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$652.94 (out of stock)$652.94 (out of stock)Loading... (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Bristol Point Wooden Swing Set$1,699.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Buckley Hill Wooden Swing Set$499.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)$894.00 (in stock)N/A (N/A)$435.29 (out of stock)$435.29 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Canyon Creek Wooden Swing Set$1,399.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,299.00 (out of stock)$1,299.00 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Caribbean Wooden Swing Set$1,899.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,574.00 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Cedar Cove Wooden Swing Set$1,699.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,598.82 (out of stock)$1,598.82 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Dakota RidgeSold at Exclusive Retailer (n/a)N/AN/A (N/A)$547.00 (in stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Eagles Nest Elite Wooden Swing Set$2,299.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,799.99 (in stock)N/A (N/A)
Grayson Peak Swing Set$1,099.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Lakewood Wooden Swing Set$799.00 (in stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$707.06 (out of stock)$707.06 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Liberty II Wooden Swing Set$1,899.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,879.85 (out of stock)$1,879.85 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Malibu Wooden Swing Set$1,799.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Monterey Wooden Swing Set$1,399.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,282.35 (out of stock)$1,282.35 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Monticello Wooden Swing Set$1,099.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,078.91 (out of stock)$1,074.73 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Montpelier Wooden Swing Set$1,099.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$996.47 (out of stock)$996.47 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Mount McKinley Wooden Swing Set$899.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Mount Triumph Wooden Swing Set$1,399.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,562.86 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Oakmont Wooden Swing Set$799.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)$574.00 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)$721.00 (out of stock)? (?)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Oceanview Wooden Swing Set$1,499.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Parkway Wooden Swing Set$849.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Prairie Ridge Wooden Swing Set$949.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$879.99 (out of stock)$879.99 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
SaddlebrookSold at Exclusive Retailer (n/a)N/AN/A (N/A)$326.00 (in stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Saratoga Wooden Swing Set$1,149.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,049.00 (out of stock)$1,049.00 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Shenandoah Wooden Swing Set$1,399.00 (in stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,392.94 (out of stock)$1,392.94 (in stock)Loading... (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Skyfort Elite Wooden Swing Set$1,899.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,699.00 (in stock)
Skyfort II with Wave Slide$1,999.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,764.71 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Skyfort II Wooden Swing Set$1,999.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,764.71 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,598.00 (in stock)
Skyfort With Tube Slide$2,299.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$2,096.41 (out of stock)$1,967.82 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Somerset Wooden Swing Set$849.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$797.99 (out of stock)$797.99 (out of stock)Loading... (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Springboro Wooden Swing Set$1,049.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,005.88 (out of stock)$1,005.88 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Tacoma Falls Wooden Swing Set$1,899.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Tanglewood Wooden Swing Set$1,099.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,021.18 (out of stock)$1,021.18 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Thunder Ridge Wooden Swing Set$1,299.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,230.59 (out of stock)$1,199.00 (out of stock)#N/A (#N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Tucson Wooden Swing Set$649.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$632.00 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Weston Wooden Swing Set$549.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)$529.00 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)$755.46 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Woodland Wooden Swing Set$1,599.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$1,318.82 (out of stock)$1,318.82 (out of stock)#N/A (Loading...)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)
Woodridge Elite Wooden Swing Set$1,999.00 (out of stock)N/AN/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)$2,021.18 (out of stock)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)N/A (N/A)

More About Backyard Discovery Playsets

Started 30 years ago, Backyard Discovery really began the craft of putting together wooden swing set kits for folks looking for something more seamless than the DIY route. Backyard Discovery has spent a large amount of the past few decades building upon the simple concept of delivering what a customer is really looking for when it comes to out-of-the-box products to make their backyards more appealing.

Backyard Discovery has focused on some classic designs that stand the test of time, plus adding products and designs that are unique. They do not really take the fast-fashion approach that some toy companies have taken to come out with new models regularly. But they do try to innovate while other companies may stick to the few products they know work. Backyard Discovery has spent time engineering for overall value on their products. That means that you won’t consider their playsets as heavy duty.

In an attempt to create a better overall user experience, Backyard Discovery was one of the first companies to create a network of installers who could assemble their products for their customers. In fact, the division of their business created to complete assemblies is now its own standalone company, Go Configure. No longer under the same ownership, Go Configure partners with some of the very largest retailers to provide assembly services.

In 2015, Backyard Discovery was purchased by a large private equity firm, which combined it with Step2 a year later to form a pretty large outdoor toy company. It seems to be that the strategy is to let Step2 focus on plastic toys while Backyard Discovery remains concentrated in wood products. Once these companies get on the private equity carousel (pun intended), you could see changes as they attempt to grow.

I would not necessarily consider Backyard Discovery focused too much on forward-thinking projects at this point - they seem to be primarily concerned with refinement of existing product selections. In this market, I can’t say I blame them. With that said, don’t really look for them to lead the way into more sustainable production methods or products. Don’t expect their products to last for terribly long either. That’s just not the price point they are going for.

Backyard Discovery has built up a decent social media following compared to some in the market, but they still feel approachable and a little awkward in their branding, which actually can be a little nice.

What you’ll get when purchasing a swing set from Backyard Discovery is a well-designed kit and user experience without all of the polish of other toy brands. It won’t be the most expensive, nor the most innovative, but you'll get a decent value for your dollar.

Important Company Policies to Note

Backyard Discovery Playsets Warranty

I’m not in love with the Backyard Discovery warranty. They give you a full warranty for 1 year from the date of purchase, but that’s it. Wood components have a prorated warranty amount over a 5-year period, but I just don’t find that to be sufficient coverage.

This means that after 2 years into ownership, you could owe 40% of the cost of replacement parts, but you’d also be responsible for all shipping costs associated with those parts.

Backyard Discovery Playsets Replacement Parts

As is common in the industry, Backyard Discovery will not replace parts that were received as damaged (no matter who caused the damage). You sign a clean slate, you are responsible for the parts broken when you received them.

Once you start pulling apart the shipment, if you find missing or broken parts, they’ll replace those as they were likely a picking and packing mistake on their end.

Backyard Discovery Playsets Shipping Policy

Shipping policies will actually depend quite a bit upon the retailer you purchase from. Backyard Discovery typically works with all the big boys. Take note that “free shipping” doesn’t equate to free returns and you’ll likely be stuck with covering the actual shipping cost associated with shipping your set.

Similar to many others, you’ll just want to have a camera and sleuth cap on when you receive it. The more you can demonstrate your case with stuff that wasn’t your fault, the better. Playsets are generally shipped from the warehouse to the customer and rarely successfully shipped in the other direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a tricky one… the entire swing set industry has been turned upside down with COVID-19. Most parents suddenly found themselves with a need for more outdoor play equipment and toys when kids were sent home from schools in spring of 2020. Since then, manufacturers have struggled to keep up with demand. Wooden playsets are a pretty seasonal product, with most sets selling in the spring, followed by a smaller wave over the holiday season. In fall of 2020, manufacturers had to plan for the 2021 spring season, and it seems as though most companies thought conservatively that the demand would not remain as high as it did in 2020. It now looks like they were wrong, so almost everyone is still sold out. There will be a natural slow down for the fall as kids go back to school, but we don’t know if that’ll provide enough time for manufacturers to catch up or meet demand over the holidays.

You know, I really think so. They have engineered this product down to the dollar. You get what you pay for, and you are not paying for a heavy duty swing set -- the price shows that. Backyard Discovery, now merged with Step2, is a big toy company. Do I love the idea that some companies are viewing playsets as a product of a toy company? Not really. It tends to put a toy lens on the product, which plays to the marketing and unboxing at the expense of the product quality and longevity.

On the whole, Backyard Discovery will have the minimum amount of boxes needed for their playsets. They have spent a lot of time thinking through packaging and delivery like most other toy companies serving this industry. By doing so, Backyard Discovery is able to price shipping across the lower 48 states at a flat rate and bake that cost into their product cost (otherwise known as “free” shipping). With that being said, wooden swing sets on the hall are a difficult product to ship and receive.

When it comes to the overall user experience of Backyard Discovery wooden swing sets, you are going to really like the end result after assembly. You’ll like that for two, maybe three seasons. At that point, you may start to get a little bit frustrated with how long the product lasted. The main pro of the Backyard Discovery playsets is that they have reliable models that don’t go out of fashion or become obsolete with any new season. The main con is that they don’t really last many new seasons anyway. You get this for the right price, though.

The models and naming protocols of Backyard Discovery are like most others. Since they don’t have many modular sets (models with interchangeable components), you won’t be confused by suffixes or numbers across models - just a few here and there, like the Skyfort and Skyfort II. Backyard Discovery seems to pick names that are unique and related to towns or landscapes, which is pretty typical in the industry. They don’t seem to rotate names much either, so you’ll be able to recognize one at a friend’s house that is a few years old and easily find the same one under the same name.

Scroll to Top