It was one of those rainy day drives where we were constantly questioning if we should pull over because the rain was coming down so hard. In times like these we typically do a search on "attractions near me" which happened to be Denton, Texas just outside of Dallas. That is how we found the Chairy Orchard surfacing to the number one spot on our search. We had no idea what it was, but it was something to do until the rain let up. As we drove there we were puzzled by the directions because we were making rights and lefts through a suburban neighborhood full of vintage ranch houses. Then on a typical street we saw a lot in between two houses. It was filled with an offbeat idea of two neighbors with humor, imagination and chairs.
We sat in the car looking at the landscape of chairs through the foggy windows. Hundreds of them- all sizes, shapes, styles, colors and from different eras. The rain was crashing down on us so hard that we could hardly hear ourselves challenging each other to endure the deluge. We looked at the chairs trying to figure out what this place was and why it was here. Finally, the rain subsided into a drizzle freeing us enough to explore.
There were rocking horses, seesaws, hair salon chairs and an oversized chair for Papa Bear. Everything but office chairs which obviously are no fun. None of them was particularly meaningful on its own but together they were something. There was detailed consideration of the curation and arrangement of the collections. Some were arranged by type and others were built into haphazard structures. Some were covered with puns. Chandeliers hung from trees, a little library invited us to stay and love locks were strung by the river. More importantly there was an aura. All of these chairs had a place in people lives and I could feel their histories. They were destined to be here together.
As the rain let up a bit more, we played a few rounds of musical chairs and had just settled into the main event- sitting. Just then two women who we now call our friends Judy and Ann came out of the houses on each side of the lot and asked us what we were doing there as if we were crazy. Us crazy? Did they have something to do with this Chairy Orchard idea? We soon found out that the two neighbors and longtime friends had been on the phone talking about us questioning why we were visiting in weather like this. They told us their conclusion was that we must have come from very far away. They decided if the rain let up, they would come out and greet us.
The way they explained it they have lived here and were friends since the early 1970’s. It was on a whim that they put chairs in a tree between their homes and called it the Chairy Tree. That wasn’t enough so they started collecting chairs and put them on the lot and called it the Chairy Orchard. They then made a thing of it. Maybe a shared obsession, on an outlet for creativity, or a way to spend time together, they visited flea markets, garage sales, thrift shops, dumpster dove, and started accepting donations. People thought they were outrageous, but they didn’t care- they made it into a success. They had no idea they were at the top spot in a search of things to do near Dallas.
At the Chairy Orchard there are so many places to pose as your playful self within this sea of chairs. And unlike the pricey commercial alternatives that are put together by professional designers this place has personality. To me the Chairy Orchard is much more than a photo op. I could feel the love that was been put into it. It brings me back to an era when people had the time to meet new neighbors, read a good book or to just explore, visit and play. In the environment that Judy and Ann have created between their homes they have preserved that experience to share with the local community and travelers like us just passing through. But more importantly they are sharing their friendship with us. I now know what is meant by the saying "True Southern hospitality. For Judy and Ann every day is a surprise party. On that rainy day they didn’t know we were coming to visit their creation and somehow that day became a little more special filled with smiles from all of us.
