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cedar summit vs gorilla playset - which is best for your kids

Cedar Summit vs Gorilla Playsets: What Changed and What to Buy

If you are weighing cedar summit vs gorilla playsets, the comparison no longer works the way old reviews suggest: Cedar Summit has been discontinued and is no longer made, while Gorilla Playsets is the in-stock cedar line you can actually buy today. Cedar Summit was KidKraft’s budget cedar sub-brand, sold mostly through big-box stores, and KidKraft itself is now sold out across our store. So this is not a live “which one do I order” decision. This guide explains what Cedar Summit was and how a Gorilla cedar set (in stock from $1,229 to $4,979) is the modern replacement, so you know exactly what to buy instead.

TL;DR: Cedar Summit was KidKraft’s budget cedar playset line and is now discontinued. There is no current Cedar Summit set to buy. Gorilla Playsets is the in-stock cedar equivalent, ranging $1,229 to $4,979, built from western red cedar and meeting the ASTM F1148 residential playground standard.

The Short Answer: Cedar Summit Is Discontinued, Gorilla Is the Pick

Cedar Summit playsets are no longer manufactured, so the practical answer is to buy a Gorilla cedar set instead. Cedar Summit ran as KidKraft’s value-priced cedar line, and with that line retired and KidKraft sold out, Gorilla is the cedar brand still in production and in stock. Both were built from natural cedar and both met the ASTM F1148 standard for residential playground equipment (ASTM F1148), so a Gorilla set delivers the same wood type and the same safety baseline a Cedar Summit shopper was after.

If you own an aging Cedar Summit set or saw one recommended in an old article, the brand you were comparing against no longer exists as a buyable product. Gorilla gives you natural western red cedar, a 10-year warranty, and prices from budget to premium, so the rest of this guide covers what Gorilla offers and how to pick a replacement.

What Was Cedar Summit?

Cedar Summit was a smaller range of wooden playsets produced under the larger KidKraft brand, aimed at budget-conscious families and sold largely through big-box retailers. The line focused on backyard cedar swing sets, forts, and multi-play systems at a lower price point than premium brands.

A few facts still hold true for anyone researching an existing set. The playsets were built from natural cedar, a wood the USDA Forest Products Laboratory rates as resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage, so they held up reasonably well outdoors. Most sets bundled the familiar mix of swings, a slide, a climbing wall, and a raised fort, typically with a 10-year warranty against defects and wood rot, and they met ASTM safety standards. The catch was always expandability: Cedar Summit sets shipped as fixed configurations with few add-on options.

The important update is that Cedar Summit is discontinued. It is not stocked here and is no longer produced, and its parent brand KidKraft is currently sold out across our store too, so neither is a live option.

Gorilla Playsets: The In-Stock Cedar Replacement

Gorilla Playsets is the cedar line you can actually buy, with in-stock sets running from $1,229 to $4,979 and built from hand-selected western red cedar. Where Cedar Summit aimed at the budget end with fixed configurations, Gorilla covers a wider range, from a compact Outing swing set around $1,250 up to the premium Treasure Trove II near $4,979, with heavier lumber and more activity options across the Gorilla playsets collection, all in cedar and all in stock.

Gorilla earns the replacement spot on more than availability. The sets use natural cedar with the same rot and insect resistance that made Cedar Summit attractive, and they carry a matching 10-year warranty against wood rot, termite damage, and defects. Where Gorilla pulls ahead is build and play value: thicker beams and posts, heavy-duty hardware, and a deep menu of attachments like wave slides, climbing walls, monkey bars, and tire swings that let you match the set to your kids’ ages. The sets also ship with manuals and videos for home assembly, where Cedar Summit often pushed buyers toward paid installation.

Choosing a Replacement for a Cedar Summit Set

To replace a Cedar Summit playset, match your old set’s size and budget to the closest Gorilla cedar model. A basic swing-and-slide layout maps to a value Gorilla set near $1,250 with sturdier lumber; a larger fort-and-tower configuration maps to the mid and premium sets from roughly $2,300 up, which add the expandable options Cedar Summit never offered. The real decision is yard space, the ages you are building for, and how long you want the set to last.

Cedar holds up 15 to 20 years with light maintenance, so the frame outlives the kids either way, which means activity mix and build quality matter more than the brand name on the old set. To weigh the buyable brands more broadly before you commit, the full sizing, safety, and brand walkthrough lives in the playset buying guide.

FAQs

Is Cedar Summit still made?

No. Cedar Summit has been discontinued and is no longer in production, so there is no current set to buy new, and it is not stocked here. For a natural cedar set today, Gorilla Playsets is the in-stock equivalent, with models from $1,229 to $4,979.

Who makes Cedar Summit playsets?

Cedar Summit was a sub-brand of KidKraft, sold as KidKraft’s budget cedar line through big-box retailers. With the line discontinued and KidKraft itself currently sold out across our store, no active maker is producing new Cedar Summit sets.

Are Gorilla playsets better than Cedar Summit?

For most buyers, yes, and Gorilla wins by default since Cedar Summit is no longer made. Gorilla uses the same natural cedar and matches the 10-year warranty, but adds heavier lumber, more attachments, and easier home assembly, so you get more set for the money on a brand you can actually buy.

What’s a good replacement for a Cedar Summit playset?

A Gorilla cedar set sized to your yard and budget is the closest replacement. Match a basic layout to a value Gorilla set near $1,250, or a larger fort-and-tower set to a mid or premium model from about $2,300 up, all in stock and backed by a 10-year warranty.

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About The Author

Andy Wu - Resident Expert

Andy Wu - Resident Expert

Andy Wu is the resident backyard products expert and hails from Atlanta, Georgia. His passion for crafting outdoor retreats began in 2003.

As a fellow homeowner, he founded Backyard Oasis to provide top-quality furnishings and equipment, collaborating with leading manufacturers.

His main focus is on sheds and generators!

In his spare time he like to hike the tallest mountains in the world and travel with his family.

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