Serious treehouses
Mar. 7th, 2003 03:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jenkThe New York Times has an article on treehouses. Excerpt:
CEDAR CREEK TREE HOUSE Ashford, Wash., just outside Mount Rainier National Park. This 16-by-16-foot cabin with a sleeping loft and bathroom is built 50 feet up a Western red cedar tree. It operates with solar power and has a propane stove and mountain views. It is $250 per night, double occupancy (360-569-2991; www.cedarcreektreehouse.com).
OUT 'N' ABOUT TREEHOUSE TREESORT Near Cave Junction, Ore. Owned by Michael Garnier and home to the annual World Treehouse Conference, the Treesort has nine treehouses, three of which have bathrooms, with three shared baths on the ground for those without. Prices range from $90, double occupancy, to $160 for a four-person suite (541-592-2208; www.treehouses.com).
LOTHLORIEN WOODS HIDE-A-WAY White Salmon, Wash. At the base of Mount Adams near the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and just north of the Oregon border. The treehouse has a private bath, full kitchen and hot tub on the deck. It is $150 a night, double occupancy; tax, towels and a bottle of local wine included (509-493-8733; www.lothlorienwoods.com).
HANA LANI TREEHOUSES MAUI, Hana, Maui, Hawaii. These three treehouses have ocean views, hot showers and toilets but no electricity. Part of a 20-acre flower farm on the east side of Maui. They are $100 to $125 for two, with room for more at $5 per person (808-248-7241; www.treehousesofhawaii.com).
POST RANCH INN Big Sur, Calif. The seven treehouses at this luxury resort and spa are actually supported by 10-foot stilts, not the trees themselves. The triangular rooms have king-size beds, slate baths and wood-burning fireplaces. They are $695, double occupancy (800-527-2200; www.postranchinn.com).
A tree is a living, growing thing, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Jacob remind clients, adding a level of complexity to construction that is absent in building, say, a fishing cabin. Before starting any project, they "interview" the trees. That means climbing into them and getting a sense of how strong they are.The article also mentions some treehouse inns around the country:
"I don't want to sound New Age or something," Mr. Jacob said, "but when I go and interview a tree, part of it is just checking out if the tree is cool about this idea."
This, he explained, is because, over time, the house will literally become part of the tree it is attached to. A healthy, vital tree will treat a properly installed treehouse as it would additional branches, growing wood to support it. That is why, they have learned, heavier, multilevel treehouses are often best built in stages. The first platform is added, perhaps for a porch and ground floor, then over the next two years, the tree adapts to the load. If done properly, by the time the second level is added, the tree is ready for still more weight. - full article (registration required)
CEDAR CREEK TREE HOUSE Ashford, Wash., just outside Mount Rainier National Park. This 16-by-16-foot cabin with a sleeping loft and bathroom is built 50 feet up a Western red cedar tree. It operates with solar power and has a propane stove and mountain views. It is $250 per night, double occupancy (360-569-2991; www.cedarcreektreehouse.com).
OUT 'N' ABOUT TREEHOUSE TREESORT Near Cave Junction, Ore. Owned by Michael Garnier and home to the annual World Treehouse Conference, the Treesort has nine treehouses, three of which have bathrooms, with three shared baths on the ground for those without. Prices range from $90, double occupancy, to $160 for a four-person suite (541-592-2208; www.treehouses.com).
LOTHLORIEN WOODS HIDE-A-WAY White Salmon, Wash. At the base of Mount Adams near the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and just north of the Oregon border. The treehouse has a private bath, full kitchen and hot tub on the deck. It is $150 a night, double occupancy; tax, towels and a bottle of local wine included (509-493-8733; www.lothlorienwoods.com).
HANA LANI TREEHOUSES MAUI, Hana, Maui, Hawaii. These three treehouses have ocean views, hot showers and toilets but no electricity. Part of a 20-acre flower farm on the east side of Maui. They are $100 to $125 for two, with room for more at $5 per person (808-248-7241; www.treehousesofhawaii.com).
POST RANCH INN Big Sur, Calif. The seven treehouses at this luxury resort and spa are actually supported by 10-foot stilts, not the trees themselves. The triangular rooms have king-size beds, slate baths and wood-burning fireplaces. They are $695, double occupancy (800-527-2200; www.postranchinn.com).
