(La Porte, IN) - Most people don’t know it yet, but a kid-sized version of downtown La Porte is under construction inside a building in downtown La Porte.  It’s the inspiration of Patti Pierson, who is creating a true-to-life children’s playscape in the building adjacent to her current business, the Pink Sheep Boutique.

The mini-Maple City is filling up 4,500 square feet that used to be Hilbish Drug Store.

“It’s a mini town, a mini version of La Porte for kids to come and play and interact, like a normal city, but little,” Pierson said. “We’re going to eventually have two party rooms; right now we just have the one.”

So far, there’s an Al’s supermarket, Archie’s Diner, Downtown Dapper barber shop, and a drive-in movie. A post office, city hall, police and fire stations, Kingsbury Elementary School, and other local attractions are under construction. Kids can cruise around the town in Little Tikes cars and make believe inside the stores.

Pierson said the inspiration started when her husband built a dollhouse façade as the checkout area for the Pink Sheep, which is now located in the old Toy Parade section of Hilbish. Now the idea has spilled over to the empty drugstore space next door. Pierson’s husband has done the framing and electrical work, and Patti is doing the rest. They plan to call the whimsical hangout Lil Porte: The Pink Sheep Playtique.

Pierson is busy as a Christmas elf detailing the replica storefront play areas. Pending finishing touches and building inspections, she is hoping to open in early December.