We're Focused On Making The Best Kids Play Fort Kits

We design, manufacture and distribute kids play fort kits that spark imagination and provide endless fun for kids.

Our kits encourage imagination, creativity, hands-on play, family bonding, and a break from technology.

Our kits have been rigorously tested, are safe, durable, and easy to assemble. They are made in the United States, are made from 100% recycled paper, and at the end of their long life, are 100% recyclable.

Photo of a man with a blue t-shirt smiling and posing behind a Kidz Forts cardboard carry case.

Meet the Owner

Hi, I’m Dean! I'm a Chicago guy. I have three children (a daughter that is a middle school teacher, a son that is a union electrician, and a 7 year old daughter who will be a future teacher and mommy of 4 (so I'm told). I have a fantastic wife, and we make our home in the western suburbs of Chicago.

As much as I try to convince myself I'm still a young guy, I've been in the paper industry for a long time (34 years). From plain brown boxes to elaborate point-of-purchase displays, ring binders, hard cover books, puzzles and board games, I've had a hand in creating or selling all of them.

I'm at the point where I can do something I truly enjoy, that has purpose, and where my work has meaning. These kits have brought so much fun and enjoyment to my daughter, her friends, my nieces, nephews, and God children. They will look back as adults and remember the fun they had playing with these fort kits. Those memories will live on, long past me. But I'm so grateful that "Uncle Dean's kits" will be a part of those great memories.

It's my hope that these kits provide your kids with hours of fun, and help you and your family spend time together creating memories for years to come.

Our Roots

Truthfully, I should have started making these kits 25 years ago. It never occurred to me that an opportunity had been waiting for me the whole time. And it took an appliance box and my 5 year old daughter to open my eyes.

The idea for our forts began while building a home. At the end of each day, we would pick up our daughter from day care, and stop by the house to ask and answer questions with the subcontractors, review progress, etc. Our daughter would soon become bored. "When are we going to go?" was her standard nagging question, distracting us from being able to concentrate. Finally, one day I unboxed the oven/stove. Later that day she was at the house, and started playing in the box. With a little help, she had transformed that cardboard box into a play fort/house. Her imagination took over. The next day, she brought crayons, markers, her babies dolls, etc. She played in that little fort every afternoon, giving us the much needed, uninterrupted time to make the final decisions on paint colors, tile selections, etc.

That box sparked the idea to design a sturdy, reusable, customizable play fort kit. My corrugated background suddenly took over, and I was making prototypes in no time.

Tested by my daughter, her friends, her cousins and my God-children, these kits have brought countless hours of fun. Seeing their excitement as they built, decorated, and played with the kits inspired me to share this experience with families everywhere.

It’s my pleasure to bring these fort kits into your home, offering your dreamers and builders a place to use their imaginations, have fun, create memories, and give your family an opportunity spend meaningful time together.

Fort Kits