Last weekend we had the great pleasure of standing as witnesses for a wedding at TreeHouse Point – the original treehouse-landia created by famed treehouse builder Pete Nelson.

Nelson’s show Treehouse Masters has developed a loyal following on the Animal Planet network (and we are considering building a treehouse of our own at Osprey Acres), so it was great timing to be able to tour the compound and have the place to ourselves for a few hours during the ceremony.

There are six houses on the site with a few overlooking the Raging River.  Several were built surprisingly close to a busy road.  One of the structures was closed due to some kind of dispute with the county, and there was evidence of another that had been dismantled near the river (it was probably built too close to the water). But the remaining five are open to the public for organized tours and nightly stays.

The biggest takeaway was that when you’re inside one of the houses, you kind of forget that you’re in a tree.  It just feels like a little cottage or cabin built on a hill…  that is, until someone walks across the bridge and the whole thing wiggles a little bit.  But truth be told, unless you’re outside on a balcony it’s easy to imagine you’re hanging out in a tiny home.  So if you’re thinking of building a treehouse, an outdoor sitting area (and lots of windows) is a must.

The best part of the houses were the cool little details – whimsical railings that were made from twisting branches, decks that wound to and fro, little artistic carvings and hidden lighting that made the interiors glow.

One house was accessed by a ladder, and a pulley for lifting your bags, which was pretty fun but would limit who could stay there.  I couldn’t imagine my parents wanting to “climb the tree” especially after dark.

Most houses had spiral staircases, but there was something special about the two that had a bridge.  One bridge was supported by cables and another built over a pair of giant chains.

Here’s a big surprise – the “emergency use toilets” in separate little rooms featuring a seat hovering over a bin filled with sawdust.  Yep, you’re doing your business in a bucket.  Lots of modern treehouses feature indoor plumbing and running water, but I suppose that adds a lot of weight and cost.  Note: there were more dignified shower blocks and private restrooms a short walk from the houses.

If you’re a fan of the show, you’ll be familiar with Nelson’s self-taught construction techniques, and one of the things we noticed was the evolution of different practices and styles.  These were some of Nelson’s earliest treehouses – so you can bet there are things he’d change if they were being built today.

Treehouse Point is in Fall City – about 30 minutes from Seattle.  You can stay the night for $250-350 per night (reservations here).  Or if you just want to tour the property, buy tickets ($18) at Brown Paper Tickets