THE CLOSING: Tree Hugger
Pete Nelson’s luxury tree houses are turning childhood fantasies into grown-up reality.
By Ken Weingartner
When Pete Nelson was a child, around the age of 5, he built his first tree house. Soon, it became a passion. He envisioned new designs and set out into the woods with his father’s tools — which sometimes failed to find their way back from the missions — to fulfill his dreams. At the time, though, he lacked the skills and materials to achieve his goals.
As an adult, that all changed and Nelson’s dreams became reality. During the past 10 years, he and his Seattle-based company, TreeHouse Workshop, have built tree houses in 26 states and five countries. Many are not designed for children, but grownups. The structures can range from 120 square feet to 1,000 square feet, with all the comforts of home. The most elaborate designs include running water, flushing toilets, electricity, central heating and air conditioning, or fireplaces.
“There was always something in my head that was bigger than what I could build,” says Nelson, who grew up in New Jersey. “I had very clear thoughts, planning these structures, and then found my dad didn’t have any of the tools I needed and the materials weren’t there. We’d find half a sheet of plywood and figure out how to use it to get up high in a tree. We would pound things in as best we could and balance things, basically. They were terrible. They weren’t anything like I wanted them to be.”
“I know how to build them now and I can finally get them done.”
Nelson is widely recognized as one of the top experts in tree houses. He has written several books about tree houses (the most recent, “New Treehouses of the World,” came out in April) and has been featured in newspaper stories around the world.
“I’m really a tree house promoter, in the end,” says Nelson. “What I’m most proud of is we’re doing this safely and responsibly; the trees are not being hurt. I don’t think the world is going to be overrun with tree houses any time soon, so if we sprinkle a few around and make people happy, that’s great. The technology has advanced a lot. We’re demonstrating with science and effort that this is not irresponsible building. I love that fact.”
Tree house construction can reach upwards of $400,000. Nelson’s company, co-founded in 1997 with former marine engineer Jake Jacob, employs up to eight builders. In recent years, the company has posted annual sales in excess of $1 million.
“We’re not a big company at all, but that’s a good bit of tree house work,” says Nelson. “Tree houses fascinate so many people, and I’m just one of them. We’re harkening back to those innocent days, but there’s a nurturing thing going on, too. Once you get embraced by those trees you feel an energy there that’s undeniable. It’s very powerful and calming.
“I loved it so much and this was a chance to follow your heart and do something you love. It’s like, ‘Look at what these crazy adults are up to now. Wow.’ It’s wonderful.”
[...] Closing: Tree Hugger By Ken [...]