Millers Falls has a new chapter for its indoor toddler playground, Chaos Corner, as ownership transitions from founders Caitlin and Brandon Thomas to Montague residents Carolyn Murray and her daughter, Elyssa Carner. The changeover took place on July 1, 2024, just nine months after the imaginative play center opened its doors in October 2024.
Caitlin Thomas, who co-founded Chaos Corner, expressed her satisfaction with the center’s impact on the community. “When we had this dream to open, it was like, ‘We’re going to be a dedicated play space. We want parents to socialize.’ But now it feels like a village,” she shared. The Thomas family is relocating to central Florida, seeking a fresh start while hoping to leave the playground in capable hands.
Chaos Corner was designed to be a vibrant play space for toddlers and young children, promoting social interaction among families. Since its inception, the facility has included various engaging play stations, such as a café, a firehouse, and a nursery, along with a sensory-safe room and a private breastfeeding area. Pre-packaged snacks and drinks are available, and the venue hosts private birthday parties and public holiday events.
In June, Caitlin Thomas announced the change in ownership via a post on the Chaos Corner Facebook page. She explained how she sought out individuals who shared her vision for the play center. “We decided we were going to look around to see if anybody had this same dream, and wanted to carry out the legacy, and that’s how we found Carolyn and Elyssa,” Thomas noted. Interestingly, Carolyn is the grandmother of one of the children Caitlin has cared for in her daycare, Chaos Clan.
As the Thomas family prepares for their move, Caitlin plans to focus on her daycare business, with aspirations of expanding into a similar space to Chaos Corner in the future.
Murray, who discovered the advertisement for Chaos Corner online, saw this as an opportunity to continue her passion for childcare alongside her daughter, who was equally enthusiastic about the venture. The family held a celebration on July 5 to introduce themselves as the new owners, offering raffle baskets and playtime for families.
The new owners intend to maintain the existing structure and mission of Chaos Corner. “I think it brings them a space to come and socialize their kids and be around other parents,” Carner stated. Murray emphasized the importance of creating a “safe space to meet other moms and meet other families.”
The admission fee will remain at $10.50 per child, with summer hours running until August. These hours are Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 09:00 to 13:00, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00. Birthday parties can be booked on weekends, and updates will be shared via social media.
As Murray and Carner settle into their roles, Murray has already encountered challenges of ownership. “The hardest part of the job is figuring out where the toys go,” she said with a hint of humor.
For those interested in learning more about Chaos Corner, updates can be found on its Facebook and Instagram pages, or by contacting [email protected].
