A Bedroom Among the Trees
Treehouses aren’t just for kids anymore. At TreeHouse Point, a secluded retreat created by “Treehouse Master” Pete Nelson and his wife Judy, the rustic hideaways with spiraling staircases, swinging bridges and ship’s ladders are just for grown ups.
The idea of a bed and breakfast among the branches was a lifetime in the making. At the age of 5, Pete built his first treehouse (with some help from his father) behind his New Jersey home’s garage. The project sparked a lifelong passion for the craft—and an unconventional career: To date, Pete has built close to 350 treehouses around the world, penned six books on the subject, and now travels the country building custom homes in the trees as star of Animal Planet’s popular show “Treehouse Masters.”
But TreeHouse Point may be Pete’s most impressive endeavor to date. The project began in 2005, when he stumbled upon a 4-acre lot for sale in Fall City, Washington, just 30 minutes east of Seattle. He and Judy bought the land, as well as a lodge on a neighboring property, with a bed and breakfast in mind. One year later, the first treehouse was complete.
Today, TreeHouse Point comprises six private treehouses and one ground-level suite, all tucked among the boughs of an emerald-green forest. Each one offers simple rustic décor, handcrafted furnishings and plenty of windows to show off the verdant views.
Guests are encouraged to embrace their natural surroundings by unplugging their cell phones and laptops and focusing on the sounds of the nearby Raging River while enjoying on-site yoga classes, therapeutic massages and hikes on the nearby trail system.
Behind it all is the Nelsons’ hope that TreeHouse Point might encourage guests to forge a connection with nature and each other during their stay—and maybe even rediscover their own inner child along the way.
Each of the property’s six private treehouses is unique: Some are intimate one-level hideaways, while others are large enough to accommodate a group of four. Treehouse designer Pete Nelson’s newest addition to TreeHouse Point, The Burl, features a cozy upstairs loft with views of the Raging River.
The spacious Upper Pond treehouse has three beds and a sitting area. A large deck equipped with a pulley system is accessed by a ship’s ladder and overlooks the property’s cerulean upper and lower ponds.
The two-story Trillium treehouse is perched 16 feet above the ground in a cedar tree; dappled sunlight filters through its 80 windows.
Like each of the property’s treehouses, the resort's first cabin, Temple of the Blue Moon, welcomes guests with vintage furnishings and rustic décor.
Trillium’s downstairs sitting area is the perfect place to bird-watch, or just curl up with a good book. Its snug sleeping loft is accessed by a wooden ladder.
IF YOU GO:
Treehouses start at $255 per night. A continental breakfast of fresh baked goods, eggs, fruit, and coffee is served each morning in the Main Lodge. Cooking is not allowed on-site, so you’ll need to pack a picnic or dine at one of Fall City’s restaurants. Some cabins are equipped with composting toilets, and all share communal ground-level bathrooms with showers.
SEE ALSO:
A Modernist Treehouse
A Modern Nest in the Forest of Whitefish, Montana
