Posted on 06/25/2014 10:20:57 PM PDT by WhiskeyX
In the early 1990s, landscaper Horace Burgess bought some wooded land on the outskirts of Crossville, Tennessee. One of the bigger trees, next to a dirt road, caught his eye. He decided to build the world's largest tree house in its branches.
[....]
God doesn't make housing offers every day. Horace got himself ordained as a minister and went back to work. God showed Horace what the tree house would look like ("It was like a vision") but didn't tell Horace how big it would be. "If He had," Horace said, "I would've tried to talk Him out of it."
Eleven years of labor later, Horace had what he'd originally wanted: the largest tree house in the world. It spreads across not one, but seven big trees that grow through its floors and out of its windows. It soars 100 feet into the sky. Built without blueprints, its dimensions are a mystery even to Horace, who guesses that it covers around 10,000 square feet.
[....]
Update: The treehouse has been closed by the Tennessee Fire Marshall, who says that it's a tourist attraction and therefore must conform to state building codes.
Well, for a public attraction it would not be good if it went up in smoke with visitors in it. Don’t know why he can’t keep it private, though.
Money does he charge admission.
>>Since Horace stopped new construction in 2004, nearly every square foot of the structure has been vandalized with graffiti, some of it praising God and Jesus (”I don’t know how to take that,” Horace said). Flooring has been ripped out, windows smashed, furniture hurled from balconies.<<
No good deed goes unpunished, apparently.
>>The treehouse has been closed by the Tennessee Fire Marshall, who says that it’s a tourist attraction and therefore must conform to state building codes. Horace says that it’s a treehouse, and there are no codes for a treehouse. And it’s proven to be well-built despite the footfalls of thousands of visitors over 20 years. For now, however, the gate to its driveway is locked.<<
Aaaaaannnd, as if right on cue, the oppressive nanny-state government takes a self-righteous dump on the whole thing. Bloody f’n typical.
No from what I understand he does not charge anything. He does have a place for donations. There's a show on one of the satellite/cable networks where a contractor/architect builds custom treehouses for clients. I can't remember the name off the top of my head but I did see the episode about this mans in question treehouse and the expert coming there at the owners request. That guy considers it safe it seems.
The man whom he called to help him after he was recently closed down is recognized nation wide as an expert and he even came there at the owners request to help bring it up to code. Looking at it on TV it doesn't look like a fire trap. He does have fire escapes.
The owners ALLOWS persons to come in free and pray or whatever. He didn't build it for commercial gain. My guess is they are likely wanting a sprinkler system now. Or someone has their eyes on a purchase.
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