Customer Reviews for Backyard Discovery Skyfort II All Cedar Swing Set Playset with Monkey Bars, Upper Fort, Belt Swings, Trapeze, Rockwall, and Wave Slide

We bought this set a year ago and the kids love it! The clubhouse area is a great area for them to just hang out and the swings and monkey bars keep them busy. The roof shows some wear, but with a new coat of stain, it should be fine.

We purchased the skyfort, and just had it assembled. Our daughter absolutely loves it. Great features, including the picnic table underneath and the climbing wall.

This swing set is perfect for our 3 and 5 year old. So far it seems very durable and it’s beautiful to look at! We have only had it for about 2 weeks. The only downfall was that some pieces came damaged or missing, but they were easy to work with when getting new ones. The other disappointment is that you are required to stain the whole set after it is assembled. Besides these two negatives, it’s a great swing set!!!

Excellent product. Well labeled. It’s no joke of a job, but if you have an extra pair of hands you can get it done. Took us about 20 hours, start to finish. Best advice is have two drills going at all times and spend some time sorting out all the wood and hardware by step. We spent about 3+ hours filling our garage floor and then when it was time to assemble we flew through the pages.

Great playground, highly recommended :-)

The grandkids LOVE this thing. The whole thing was packaged very well. I did have to make a modification to part SP50; the holes at the top were on the wrong side. It only took a few days to assemble, but, would have taken longer if I did not have the “bilt” app to help. I would definitely recommend this swing set!!

great play set! It Took several days to build but it’s totally worth it. My kids and the neighbor kids all love it!

Overall great swing set. It does take awhile to put together but well worth it! This is definitely something you would want to organize all the pieces, read and watch the video before starting anything. We did have a few pieces split on us but customer service was great and we’re getting replacements.

I love this playset!!!! So adorable! Even better than expected!!

Such a beautiful set that actually looks attractive in my backyard. My almost 4.5 year old is obsessed with it. Assembly wasn’t difficult, just a bit time consuming. Great quality.

It will entertain your children for hours!

The build is time consuming. Prepare by sorting out the pieces by their identification first. It will save a ton of time during the build. The more hands the better. Ask friends/family to help.

When we were looking for a playset for our 4 year old and 1 year old, one of the most important things we took into consideration was how long they would get use out of it. There are many sets out there by big name brands that have tons of features, more than this one even, but the overall "size" of the set is small as far as deck height etc., so it would be outgrown fast. This set is HUGE, as an adult I feel perfectly comfortable playing right along side the kids, and my husband who is 6'4 can even stand up straight inside the upper deck. I have no doubt that they will still be using this playset well into their teens. We purchased an infant/toddler swing off Amazon to switch out with one of the swings until our littlest is old enough to use it. Prior to purchasing/building, I was careful to read through all the reviews to take note of tips and tricks, and there were some I found super helpful and some that were a little over the top. Because we live in an area that gets a decent amount of snow and rain, I did take the time to seal/stain each board prior to building. There is a LOT of pieces so if you do this, give yourself a couple days, it took a long time. I felt that sealing prior to building was best because all the inside edges touching each other that wouldn't be able to get to after building would be covered, and I didn't have to work around any of the hardware. We did not organize everything by letter/number when we laid it outside to stain it, and because we were working towards a deadline to get it done prior to a party, we did not end up taking the time to move them around and do that before starting the build process. I believe that was a mistake and it would've saved us a ton of time during the actual build if we had laid out the boards in order so I highly recommend doing that. On the other hand, I personally disagree with the people who spent hours organizing the hardware into baggies by step. The hardware is very clearly labeled and easy to sift through since it doesn't take up a big area like the boards. We just made sure to use tape to close the bag back off after taking what we needed so there wasn't the risk of them spilling and getting mixed up. I thing the time spent doing that would be better spend just getting started building. We worked in a pair with one completing a step while the other pulled the hardware and boards for the next step and that seemed to work very well. I honestly think any additional people would've just gotten in the way. We were able to easily get through it with the instructions that I printed off this page, and didn't need to download the video ap. The most important thing is to pay double and triple attention to which way you orient the boards when building, so that the pilot holes are in the right spot for preceding steps. I thought we were being really diligent about this, but there were still a few times we had to go back and turn boards around from previous steps. Not a huge deal, but slightly annoying so avoid it as much as possible lol Overall we are super pleased with the set, and found it pretty straightforward to build. All of the wood and hardware was clearly marked and good quality, we weren't missing anything. As long as you pay attention to detail and follow step by step there's really no way to mess it up. It took us a whole week M-F working a couple hours after work each night to stain the boards, then the weekend Saturday and Sunday working all day (about 12 hours each day) to build and were able to finish up Monday after work. So if you don't count the stain/seal time, it took us as a pair just over 24 hours to build.

Overall a wonderful playset. Very time-consuming to put together (2-3 days). However, it was worth it and our kids love it.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] My wife and I bought this for our 5 and 10 year olds and they absolutely love it! Im a fabricator/ jack of all trades so, the build was a blast for me. It took me alone 15hrs start to finish. A little advice if you buy one.. when you get the boxes, pull everything out and put everything in alphabetical and numerical order. There is A LOT of stuff! Also, organized hardware will make it much easier. I highly recommend you have tools like, drill and 3/8" bit, impact drill, hammer, tape measure, and socket set (mainly everything is 1/2" & 9/16" socket). I had to use my table saw for a couple boards but, other than that everything was good. Whoever engineered the drawing for this did a great job, every bolt hole and pilot hole lined up perfectly. Great product!

Perfect. All the boards, nuts and bolts were a little overwhelming at first until I realized how well labeled each piece was. The instructions were very clear and easy to follow along one page at a time. Finding the hardware required for each page was very time consuming so I laid the hardware out and sorted by page. I put the hardware for each page in a sandwich bag and wrote the page number on the bag. That saved a lot of time. Double check the location of pilot holes as assembling. Grandkids will enjoy this for years.

We are so happy with our Skyfort II. My husband assembled it himself and it took a little time but the directions, videos and information provided made it a snap.

We decided we wanted a playset, but due to the pandemic shortage of playsets as well as the rising costs of wood, we were afraid we just wouldn't find what we wanted. We were willing to spend pretty good money for a good one, but realistically we were at the mercy of just finding one when it was in stock. Prior research, we had narrowed down which ones we liked and which price ranges applied to us, so when the Skyfort II came in stock we got it immediately. We bought it through Backyard Discovery, and glad we did because it went out of stock again within 3 hours. Free Shipping was a plus given that this product ships using freight. As soon as we bought it, the confirmation e-mail was immediate and very detailed regarding steps for shipping and delivery as well as what to expect with packaging. The e-mail contained tracking information and connected us to the 3rd party freighter. That freighter connected with us regarding delivery date. The freight man that delivered was amazing and the company was within the delivery window and met all my expectations for shipping. Now, one of the e-mails detailed that many freighters will not do much for you beyond dropping your 4 playset boxes on a pallet and drop it by the curb, unless you pay extra. These boxes are a total of 736 lbs. so don't underestimate this. Luckily, my freighter used his drop gate on the back of his semi to load the packages onto my trailer, which he did for me for no extra charge. He also said he delivers them all the time and gave me a few pointers. I then used my trailer to take the boxes to the backyard. This made things so much easier but would not have been possible without the freighter helping with this. My advice is expect the least but hope that you get a great driver and freighter like I did (the trucking company was YRC). The boxes were in perfect condition (No puncture holes or signs of damage. I still took pics for proof just in case but all was well). I also know that they were shipped in good condition because it arrived strapped to a pallet. This made me feel better that these individual boxes weren't tossed or slid around. Organization for Pre-Construction - 4 boxes, all between 150-250 lbs. each. I backed the trailer to the backyard. From here, I followed advice from reviews. I read how important it was to organize the nuts/bolts per step as well as organize the wood and supplies by alphabetical and numerical order. THIS HELPED SO MUCH. We spent very little time searching for anything during assembly. I took out the box of nuts and bolts (mine was in Box 2, the heaviest box). I went through the instructions and sorted every single step into individual Ziploc baggies. This was so helpful, ex. Step 1, use the step 1 bag, already filled with what we needed. Helped us know when we complete a step as well as knowing if we forgot to use anything or not. Secondly, I spread the boards all across the backyard in alphabetical order. Putting them in numerical order wasn't as important for the stacks that were small, but the H and M categories have a lot of boards, so for sure number these stacks in order. So far, this all took about 5 hours total and I did most of it alone. Day 1 - Next is assembly. Now I read through the instructions ahead of time and realized that there are about 8 sections that can be done by one person (Glider, Ladder, Slide, Rockwall, porch roof, etc.). The Fort section is a 2 person job, and then parts of the Observation Deck, Monkey Bars, and Swing Set could use more hands. There were 3 of us working for about 7 hours. One person worked on the parts that can be done by one person while the other 2 of us worked on the Fort assembly. At this point, I learned a few things: 1) Use the instruction book. It is more detailed than the Bilt App. The Bilt App really only helps if you want to see an angle that is not shown in the book. The book is very simple to follow. - within the book, notice that the orientation of the image can change from step to step. Failure to notice this will result in certain boards being backwards. 2) Make sure you may attention to the details. Know the difference in types of bolts, screws, and locks. They can look similar but are for different things. 3) If you mess something up, fix it ASAP! Don't move on thinking it won't bite you in the butt. It will. So many of these steps have predrilled holes so at some point, your mistake will become known, and at that point you will wish you had fixed it to begin with. 4) I would be sure to decide on where the final place for the set will be by the time you get to the step where you attach the flooring for the fort. After this, it can get heavy and difficult to maneuver. Obviously, flatter ground is best. Myself and one other person then worked another 3 hours later that day. At this point, the Fort was completed through step 54 (pic attached), and many other parts were done (Observation deck, ladder, glider, rock wall, porch roof). Day 2 - The Calvary arrived. With 7 people for 4 hours, we finished it. Most of this day was people working in two person groups, but I would definitely say attaching the swing set could be a 3 person job, and building the observation deck could be a 3 person job at some points. Do not under estimate building the observation deck. It is time consuming because of you being up and down a ladder constantly. Absolutely everything was perfect. No problems with shipping or delivery. All boards were in good condition, no bolts/nuts or pieces were missing (most bags had at least one extra of every piece for good measure). The rain held off and we will put on a stain once it dries up here (instructions advise it even though it comes pre treated). Last advices 1) Reviews I read were so helpful. Some of the stuff I read there I have already reiterated, but following detailed instructions with attention to the details is so critical. So many pieces and so much meticulous engineering went into this playset. The instructions were spot on the whole way through so as long as you do what it says, it will be right. I don't know about other instructions for other playsets, but I can verify this one. 2) These boards don't feel like true, solid cedar boards, and can at times feel somewhat flimsy. However, the more you build, the more sturdy the whole structure feels. Its very solid. We had 60 MPH winds the day after it was built and it didn't move a muscle. And it does smell like cedar so that is a plus. 3) The bolts and nuts come with T-40 and T-30 tools so that helped a lot (never stripped out or slipped.) 4) We have not put anything on the ground yet for cushion, but we plan to at some point. The set is supposed to be on the ground, per the instructions, so we will add that later. Total Suggested Assembly time per instructions - 20 hrs for two people = 40 Hours My total time 5 hrs x 1 person = 5 Pre-Construction 7 hrs x 3 people = 21 Day 1 3 hrs x 2 people = 6 Day 1 4 hrs x 7 people = 28 Day 2 Total Man Hours = 60 Hours

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] We are very pleased with the product. There are a few issues in the instruction that need to be corrected. Nothing major. Overall the pre drilling lines up well. I would recommend you not pay for installation by Goconfigure. Customer service is one of the worst be have experienced.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] All of my grandchildren love the new swing set. My grandson enjoys climbing up into the fort. All the children spend several hours a day swinging, climbing, digging and sitting at the table enjoying their snacks. This was a great investment that they will use for many years.

We got this for our 2 year old son for Christmas and he loves it!

This Skyfort is a great addition to our yard in any seasons.

We bought this a month ago to replace an older swing set. The quality of this swing set is unparalleled. It’s durable, sturdy and best of all: the kids LOVE it. It has something for all the kiddos - they love all the features.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Backyard Discovery Skyfort II with Wave Slide Cedar Swing Set/PlaySet - Assembled One of the best investments I ever made. We did lot of research on the internet to buy a good swing set with tree house, monkey bars, a slide , a rock climber and a little party table for our grand kids. After a lot of research finally we have decided to buy “Backyard Discovery Skyfort II with Wave Slide Cedar Swing Set/PlaySet – Assembled” It was a wise decision that we opted for professional assembly. Technician John was an excellent technician and did a perfect job assembling the set in 9 hours. Since the day we installed the set, kids have been playing and enjoying it. Our neighborhood kids also come and play. In fact couple of my grand kids friends in the neighbourhood are asking their parents to buy a house next to our house to play all the tie on the Swing Set. This set is not only attractive to kids but also to grownups My daughter who is a senior executive and is working from home made the party table her home office during sunny days enjoying the perfect weather and get more work done that way. It deffinitely enhanced the looks of our backyard. Most important for me is our grandkids are enjoying it. They look forward to come home from school and go play with the Backyard Discovery set. They invite friends are having a good time. All quality and sturdy material was used and I am sure it will last several years. I confess, I am tempted to go play with the set. I highly recommend this product over others. Most importantly, I highly recommend professional installation.

We are only 4 days post-assembly at the time of this review, but this playset has absolutely exceeded all my expectations. I titled my review "A dream come true" because it is!!! My husband and I had our eye on this playset for two years, since we first saw it fully assembled in a local store. It looked so huge and impressive, and we envisioned a set like this in the middle of our front yard since our oldest was 1 year old. 2020 came around and we were excited to finally get a playground, but when the pandemic hit and production/stock/delivery was seriously impacted, we were forced to hold off. We had a LOT of time, and I mean a LOT of time to look at other playsets available online. We searched all manufacturers, we searched local Amish retailers, we entertained the idea of any available playground set adorning our front yard, but I kept coming back to this one. No other set had every playground feature we were looking for at such a great price point and with so many good reviews. I just really wanted this one. Finally, this year, we were able to order it. It was delivered in a timely fashion, we unboxed the contents and organized while taking an inventory, and my husband and his brother built at a leisurely pace over 3 and a half days. Total time spent working was about 15 hours. They said assembly was easy, instructions were clear, they only made a couple mistakes that were easy to fix, and voila!! Our front yard has a big beautiful new dream-come-true playground set in it for our kids and all their friends to enjoy!! We love how it looks, it feels incredibly sturdy, and I'm so happy we just went with our gut and got THE playset that we always wanted from the get-go. Couldn't be happier, and so excited to watch the family make memories on and around this set.

We bought this playground set a year ago and my kids still love it. The swings are a big hit as well as the upper spy tower, as they call it. I’m so happy we made this purchase and see many, many, more years of fun ahead :)

I bought this for the grandkids for Christmas and went to visit them last week to build it. Took my son and I a few days to build, but the instructions were clear and everything went well. Kids were excited to “help” build it.

We bought this from SAM’s. Delivery went smoothly & on time. We used the BILT app to assemble making it so much easier….don’t throw the book bcz it is very helpful as well. Make sure you take your time and follow instructions. My husband decided to work ahead without me and he doesn’t pay attention to detail and the deck of the crows nest got narrowed up by about 1/16”, I took the deck apart and redid it. After that I would not let him do anything with out both being there. We are not carpenters so check work twice to prevent screw ups. Other than that it is pretty easy as long as you follow instructions. Took us about 22 hrs spread out over 2 weekends. My kids love it! My youngest had her eye on this playset at Sam’s for about a yr and wouldn’t consider anything else and in her words. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of. Many hrs on this already and it’s only been up 2 weeks. You will not be disappointed. From crows nest, clubhouse fort down to the sandbox and picnic table and all the extras there is so so many features with this one at a very good price.

This is literally the best thing I’ve ever bought for our kids. They love it. Put together and it was a fun project for them to help with. 10/10 would recommend.

I purchased this about a month ago for my son for his 3rd birthday. I chose this one because i wanted something he could grow into and use for years to come. i can’t wait to make many years of memories on this fort! so far, easy to put together and great instructions. we are in the home stretch and almost finished putting it together. can wait to finish! you won’t regret this purchase!