For a kid in the summer, nothing quite compares to having one’s own tree house to escape to to for privacy. It was the perfect place meet with friends. Parents knew where you were, but you were away from them and could see them coming. Just think of all the deep discussions that have been held by those admitted to treetop forts.
Tree houses aren’t just for kids to play in, of course. All around the world grown-ups build tree houses to work, play, and live in.
To start, here is a rather nice time-lapse documentary of a six month project to build a treehouse. Looks like fun, especially if you have a good tree, materials and tools, and some friends to help out.
The music for the video is a bit cheesy, though. You may want to listen to something else while watching.
That’s just one way to do a treehouse (and some commenters to the video say it isn’t even a great way to do it.) Check out some of these other interesting tree places people have created:
the pine cone box
My treehouse was in an old apple tree. Two stories plus a cow’s nest to look out for enemies.
One day, Jeff came over. “I have a pine cone box.”
Me: “What’s a pine cone box?”
Jeff: “It’s a pine cone box!”
Me: “What’s it for?”
Jeff: “Putting the pine cones in it!”
Me: “What do we need pine cones for?”
Jeff: “To fill up the pine cone box!”
The pine cone box was a late 20th century munition container (uh, wooden box), and the munitions were pine cones. A healthy store of pine cones in a pine cone box meant that the treehouse was fully stocked with armaments. If and when the enemy approached, pine cones could be thrown at said enemy. We installed some netting to make sure they couldn’t be thrown back at us.
On the 4th of July, 1976, during bicentennial celebrations, a candle in the treehouse lit the netting on fire. Drunk adults scrambled and put it out by pouring cheap wine on it, if I recall correctly.
The first, main floor of the treehouse was built by my dad. I’m not certain, but I think part of a stage set from a community theater production got repurposed to make the floor. We used a ladder to get up into it.
Later additions included the second floor (i.e., a roof for floor one that could be climbed on), the crow’s nest, a basketball hoop, a pine cone box (what’s a pine cone box?)
Not sure what happened to it. We had to give it up when we moved to Florida.