In the spring of 2006, Grace Louis created Woodland Playhouse in her Phoenicia home. With the help of a grassroots group of parents, lots of enthusiasm and some elbow grease, Woodland Playhouse opened in Grace's home in the Fall 2007.

 

In 2016 Grace partnered with Christina Davis and moved to the Phoenicia Plaza, maintaining the home-spun flavor of the original school. Christina and Grace worked together to expand Woodland Playhouse to meet the growing needs of the community without losing what made Woodland Playhouse unique.

 

In the summer of 2019, Grace accepted a new position at a local school, and Woodland Playhouse has since been under the direction of Christina Davis who continues to provide high-quality care and education to children.

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In December of 2021, Christina led Woodland Playhouse through the purchase of property approximately a half a mile from its current location at the Phoenicia Plaza. Since that time, Christina has been working with the town, surveyors, builders, and architect, and a civil engine to break ground and build a beautiful new space to accommodate two preschool classrooms, a toddler classroom, and several outdoor play spaces for this community. 

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However, progress tends not to move quickly (especially when funding is concerned...), and in June 2026 Woodland Playhouse made the Great Migration from the Phoenicia Plaza to closed Phoenicia Elementary School. A building intended to house children seemed the natural space to transition when the plaza space was no longer an option. In this current location, the Kindergarten wing of the PES is once again filled with children's laughter, the nature trail is explored daily, and Woodland Playhouse maintains its home-spun flavor with the brick and mortar of a larger school building.