The story of how and why the
Gemini DIY Swingset was born.

​The first Gemini Fort/ Swingset was my fourth playset custom designed and built for a family with one child and a grandma who wanted something special for her young grandchild and future grandchildren. This first custom double fort was made for a toddler and featured a 3' and 5' deck height with a ramp, ladder, 10' slide and three position swingset add-on. If you look at it closely you can see it's just a Triton Fort with an add-on 3' deck. There was just enough trial and error in this design to drag it out for several weeks, but after making the other designs, my process was wiser and more conservative. Using the Triton as a base for add-on decks inspired me to modify it to a 5' and 7' deck height. This was an important adaptation for the use of spiral slides, 14' slides and taller climbing add-ons. The 7' deck tends to make it look a little leggy, so the add-on picnic table is part of the overall design and offers a nice place to sit. 

Over the years, I'd put together many DIY kits for families and found the instructions to be difficult at times. It occurred to me that knowledge was power! I could utilize my experience to write a plan for a clean, easy to build, easy to move, and inexpensive playset. The Gemini plans have ended up being a very popular  do-it-yourself fort/ swingset design for the ambitious builder and is probably the most versatile of all the DIY plans found here.
The Gemini has made many families happy around the world. Enjoy the Gemini Playset gallery below and buy the plans from OtterWorks USA to make your own swingset story.

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Get more complete information for the Gemini Fort / Swingset Design at OtterWorks USA

The DIY Gemini how to build fort and swingset plans are $26.95 and offered in PDF format.
Plans are not available from Jacksbackyard.com. They're sold exclusively through OtterWorksUSA.
To order plans and get an instant PDF download, click the link below.
Buy Gemini Fort Plans Only $26.95

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Designed in my backyard for bigger yards and greater adventures.. The Gemini was born in Houston, TX. ("Space City USA") While American astronauts and the endeavors they represent inspired me, I named this one for one of the most exciting space programs in history. Too cool and what a great name! Once you see your child rocket through the galaxy, swing through the jungles of the Amazon, or find treasure in the sandbox, it will be easy to see how a playset can help your children develop imagination skills, confidence, coordination, and physical agility. The Gemini plan is versatile and provides the best options for add-ons that appeal to older climbers.

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Gemini DIY Playset Gallery

Home made wooden playsets and swingsets, while designed and built with the best intentions, are under or over-engineered, made with entrapment areas, exposed bolts, or inferior hardware. Why do more work than you have to? All of my DIY playset plans are refined for simplicity and voluntarily meet or exceed all safety standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 
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​There are several options on the internet for build your own DIY swing set / fort plans. As a consumer be aware of what you buy. Most are from well known companies that teach you how to make a safe fort / swing set combination. These professional companies utilize information taken from the Consumer Product Safety Commission Playground Safety Handbook. While most of the information is geared mainly to commercial equipment, it does have recommended guidelines for a safe playground for residential use.