The Secret Doors of Decatur

Unleash your imagination to take your kids on a scavenger hunt to find fairy doors. These doors were designed and placed by 24 artists of the Secret Doors of Decatur project. The organizer, Larry Holland, is a Decatur-based artist who was inspired by fairy doors in other cities worldwide. Funded by a seed grant from the Decatur Arts Alliance, the project is meant as a way to ease Decatur into public art. Several business owners and local leaders agreed to display a fairy door, and families can find 31 fairy doors in the community (more might be added soon).

My daughter and I set out to find as many of them that we could.  Most are in places of interest around Decatur, such as the Wylde Center and McKoy Pool. My daughter and I both immediately fell in love with the fairy doors, and she asks me often to take her to find a new one (or revisit her favorites).  Seeing her face light up when she finds a new fairy door is priceless. Do the doors actually open? Holland says they do not, “Except maybe after midnight!”  

What to take with you:  A camera, this magazine, a pen and parking money.  To find out more, visit secretdoorsdecatur.com.   
– Cindy Imlay

Three Scavenger Hunts

Decatur Square Walking Tour (1 hour)

Eddie’s Attic, 515 N. McDonough St.

Worthmore Jewelers, 117 E. Court Square

Brickstore Pub, 125 E. Court Square

Beaded Paisley, E. Court Square

Community Bandstand, on the Square

Oakhurst Driving/Walking Tour (30 minutes), Drive from Sugar Creek Garden to Mojo Pizza; park and walk the rest.

Sugar Creek Garden, 118 Second Ave.

Mojo Pizza, 657 East Lake Dr.

Kavarna, 707 East Lake Dr.

Universal Joint, 906 Oakview Rd.

The Solarium, 321 W. Hill St.

My Favorite 8 Driving Tour (1 ½ hours), These are the doors my daughter likes to revisit.

The Marlay, 426 W. Ponce De Leon Ave.

Sushi Avenue, 308 W. Ponce De Leon Ave.

Worthmore Jewelers, 117 E. Court Square

Decatur Visitor Center, 113 Clairemont Ave. (Inside)*

Decatur Visitor Center, 113 Clairemont Ave. (Outside)

Wylde Center, 431 Oakview Rd.

The Solarium, 321 W. Hill St.

McKoy Pool, 534 McKoy St.

* Please note that the Decatur Visitor Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. This secret door is crocheted, so that is why it made this list.