Tillamook Unveils 'Interactive Playground' at Portland Airport
Farmer-owned cooperative and dairy manufacturer Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) opened what it’s calling an “interactive playground” at the Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon just ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
The “PDX Play Area” is located in the recently expanded Concourse E, the same concourse as the Tillamook Market, which opened in 2020. The market features a menu of Tillamook cheddar and ice cream products as well as exclusive branded merchandise.
Spanning 608 square feet, the PDX Play Area was designed, constructed and gifted to PDX by TCCA to give travelers of all ages and abilities a place to stretch their legs between flights and offer a unique and interactive way to learn about TCCA, its dairy products and the makers and farmers behind them, according to a news releasee.
TCCA partnered with Seattle-based architecture firm Olson Kundig on the concept design. As a nod to TCCA's six stewardship commitments (i.e., thriving farms, healthful cows, enduring ecosystems, inspired consumers, fulfilled employees and enriched communities), the company says the PDX Play Area was built on flooring manufactured with 78% recycled rubber. There, visitors can explore a climbing area that leads to a slew of Tillamook products atop a life-sized flying Yum Bus — the brand's retrofitted bus — which doubles as a slide.
"The design is anchored in our Oregon roots and celebrates our nostalgic Yum Bus, a symbol adored by our passionate fans here in the Pacific Northwest," said Paige Yim, senior manager, brand experiences and strategic initiatives, TCCA. "With the airport context in mind, we playfully turned our Yum Bus into a Yum Jet to show how we spread Tillamook products and joy across the nation. We were deliberate in creating a moment that everyone of all ages and abilities could enjoy, from families to friend groups to business travelers."
Serving as a backdrop and photo op for the space is a 15-foot mural depicting TCCA brand icons, including Tillamook Morning Star, with corresponding QR codes that visitors can scan to learn more about the brand story. Travelers can also pick up a free printed coloring page and crayons at the Tillamook Market.
Since the opening of Tillamook Market, TCCA says it has sold 1,842 cheddar cheese baby loaves, more than 24,837 orders of Tillamook's fried cheese curds, more than 45,719 scoops of Tillamook ice cream, and almost 128,000 cheeseburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches.