The Minister's Treehouse

[analog_kidd]

I had seen this in a travel guide a few years ago, and wanted to go ever since. This past week I've been on vacation from work, so my wife and I took a motorcycle ride out to see it.

This place is pretty cool. This minister started building a treehouse on his property years ago and just kept going with it. I think he is still adding on all the time. Now the thing is HUGE. It's got to have 5 or 6 stories, and I don't know how many thousands of square feet.

It's free to visit, but they do have a donations box if you feel like helping them out.

It's is located in Crossville, TN. Get off I-40 at exit 320. There is a road that parallels the north side of the interstate called Cook Road. Head east on Cook until it takes a hard right turn. Instead of following the curve, turn left on Beehive Rd and go to the end of that road. Beehive ends at the parking area.

[MacGyver]

That's cool!

[Guest ThePunisher]

I wouldn't be surprised one day that the environmental wackos protest this treehouse, and the government fines the minister and makes them dismantle it.

It's really impressive and cool.

[Dolomite`s Breezy]

if I had that while growing up.. and a pony.. I would have been less of a pain in the A..

[Guest nysos]

I actually saw pictures of that place on east tn riders forum, some guys on there took a road trip and stopped in and saw it as well. I always loved tree houses growing up, and even to this day. It is on my to do list, especially being so close to home.

On another point of tree houses - apparently tree houses are now the "in" thing for the super rich. Instead of creating mancaves, they are creating multimillion dollar tree homes for their mancaves or guest houses.

[10-Ring]

I actually saw pictures of that place on east tn riders forum, some guys on there took a road trip and stopped in and saw it as well.

If that's the ETR that I know then there must have been 7 pages criticizing the building techniques.

[analog_kidd]

If that's the ETR that I know then there must have been 7 pages criticizing the building techniques.

Yeah, some of the framing looked a little sketchy to me. In fact if you look at the 2nd picture I posted, look at the 2x4 that is holding up the landing on the stairs. It looks like an "S" due to the buckling. He does have it shored up just outside the picture and It looks pretty stable to me. I overheard the owner talking to a visitor and saying that an engineer had visited one day and gave him all kinds of advice on where to improve some structure.

I figured thousands of people have visited and nobody has got hurt yet, so It's probably OK. We climbed all the way to the bell tower, and could feel it swaying. We didn't stay up there very long

[dats82]

I've been there too. It is cool for sure. IIRC, when I was there a couple of years ago, I think the owners was telling me it was like 9000 square feet. That sounds crazy, but as you know, it is ridiculously huge. It is definately worth the time to stop by and see if you are in the area.