The Chairy Orchard

The+Chairy+Orchard+created+in+2005+by+Judy+Smith+and+Anne+Pearson+outside+of+Denton.+

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The Chairy Orchard created in 2005 by Judy Smith and Anne Pearson outside of Denton.

Giovanni Mata
January 23, 2020

Hello everybody, we are finally back from a lack of articles! Kicking off 2020, The Panther Eye takes a wrong turn out of Fort Worth, North on 1-35 to  Denton, Texas. Denton is home to the University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University and… The Chairy Orchard. 

Snuggled between the homes of two long-time friends, The Chairy Orchard is a creative and artistic “destination” established in 2015 by Judy Smith and Anne Pearson. “The Chairy Fairies”-a nickname they’ve coined for themselves-have lived across from each other for over 40 years . The “Fairies” decided to come together and buy the empty lot between them, as it was home to many of their children’s activities and memories.

No “Chair is left behind” at the Chairy Orchard. While some people may throw ugly or broken chairs away, creators of the Chairy Orchard embrace the unlovable chairs and allow the chairs to become art.

As a result of being located in the floodway, no structure was allowed to be built on the lot which led Smith to attach chairs to a group of trees located in the rear of the lot. “The Chairy Tree” was built, with Pearson expanding the pun until “ The Chairy Orchard” came to be.

Pearson and Smith scavenged for chairs almost anywhere they could, from thrift stores to garage sales and even dumpsters. Eventually, a close friend and artist Mark Holderbaum was asked to build an entryway out of 30 metal chairs “The Fairies” collected. One welding session later and the “Chairy Arch” was built.

The Chairy Orchard provides a veritable playground of chairs that once would have landed in a furniture graveyard. Chair cushions provide comfort for a homemade seesaw, as an onlooker relaxes in a chair saved from the junk pile.

Smith’s family offered their talents too, with her son Terry building a giant chair and her grandson building what is known as “The Chairy Totter,” which, by the way, was a pain to get on, but actually was a pretty enjoyable ride.

Chairs hanging from trees helps create an artsy, whimsical place in Denton, Texas. The Chairy Orchard is free to the public.

Sadly, nothing lasts forever. When chairs become too damaged due to weather and eventually “die,” they are put into “The Chairy Graveyard” (so many chair puns!) That being said, before more of these “Chairy’s” die, head on down to 1426 Churchhill Drive and experience this spectacle first hand.

Schedule your wedding at The Chairy Orchard, have a birthday party there, take homecoming photos- instead of taking them at Goatman’s Bridge-or just have a potluck dinner! You can also donate chairs, ride “The Chairy Totter”, and take lots of cool photos with the many incredible “Chairy’s!”

It took me and my friends about an hour’s drive to get down to Denton from Fort Worth, however, with the right playlist, right group of people, and the pit stop at Buc-ee’s, the trip won’t be too boring! 

Hope y’all enjoyed this sweet “Chairy” Treat and check back next week, as we continue our regular weekly look through The Panther Eye! What will we look at? Well, because I don’t really know, we’ll keep it a “surprise”.