When the Valley West Mall in West Des Moines was sold and the tenants were given just 30 days to vacate, the Des Moines Children’s Museum faced a sudden loss of its home. Executive Director Ashlen Sheaffer, who had anticipated the mall’s foreclosure as early as 2022, acted quickly to keep the museum serving families.
Rapid relocation to Urbandale
Within two weeks of closing the Valley West location on Oct. 24, the museum packed up its exhibits and moved to a temporary space on Urbandale Drive in the neighboring city of Urbandale. The new site opened its doors on Nov. 3, allowing the museum to continue offering educational programs and hands‑on activities for children of all ages.
“We wanted to continue business operations as we could, as best as we could and serving the public as well,” Sheaffer said. “This timeline worked out really well.” The swift move was made possible by close coordination with the City of Urbandale, which supported the museum’s need for a temporary home.
Plans for a permanent home
The museum’s long‑term plan remains unchanged. It has been working toward a permanent location in the former Des Moines Golf and Country Club building in West Des Moines since early 2025. Construction delays have slowed progress, but the building is currently undergoing renovations and demolition work.
Sheaffer expects the museum to occupy the renovated West Des Moines site by October 2027, giving the temporary Urbandale location a lifespan of less than a year. “We’re serving people who are looking for things to do with their families, and it was very important for us to keep doing that,” she added.
Community impact
The museum’s presence provides a safe, family‑friendly environment for children throughout the Des Moines metro area. By maintaining operations despite the abrupt mall closure, the museum demonstrates resilience and a commitment to the community’s educational needs.
Local parents have expressed relief that the museum remained open, noting that it offers a valuable alternative to screen time and a place for hands‑on learning. The temporary site on Urbandale Drive is expected to accommodate the museum’s core programs while the permanent facility is completed.
Looking ahead
As the museum prepares for its move to the new West Des Moines building, it continues to schedule exhibits, workshops, and outreach events. The organization hopes the permanent location will allow for expanded programming, larger exhibit spaces, and increased capacity for school field trips.
For now, families can visit the temporary Urbandale location, enjoy the current offerings, and look forward to a larger, modern museum space in West Des Moines within the next two years.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
