Walking across the bridge to the Burl at TreeHouse Point is like being transported into a fairytale. Overhead, branches draped in soft moss form an opulent canopy. At the end of the bridge, a mighty fir rockets from the forest floor, soaring 200 feet into the air. The Burl curls around this prodigious trunk at 14 feet from the ground.
The Burl is known as the honeymoon suite, as many newlyweds choose it for its amenities and proximity to the Raging River. It’s the only treehouse at TreeHouse Point with a plumbed toilet, and one of only two with more than a single story (the Trillium being the other). The Nelson Treehouse crew created the Burl in 2013, making it the youngest treehouse at TreeHouse Point.
Today, we’re looking back at the construction process and taking you on a tour of this special treehouse retreat.
The Douglas fir that hosts the Burl is over 300 years old and 200 feet tall. At human height from the ground, its diameter is nearly five feet.
The Burl was one of our first projects with tons of custom steel hardware, from the 40-foot steel beams of the bridge, to metal struts supporting the platform. We collaborated with Redmond Welders on the steel work. This was a real engineering milestone for us!
Pete and the crew rely heavily on scaffolding to build safely while in the trees. It also makes it much easier to keep tools close at hand.
A 40-foot steel bridge spans the distance from the hillside to the Burl’s front door. Collaborating with engineers on this beefy steel structure was one of Toby’s first tasks as a project manager with Nelson Treehouse.
A path below the bridge runs down to the Raging River, whose babbling is audible from the treetops.
The crew covered the exterior in cedar shingles—as these weather with time, the Burl looks more and more like a natural outgrowth of the tree.
Steel struts with TABs support this single-tree treehouse.
Natural branch railings border the rounded entry deck.
The Burl has three crow’s nests: one just above the roofline, one at 30 feet, and one at 140 feet up the fir. Originally, a steel ladder led to these towering platforms—for safety purposes, the crow’s nests are no longer accessible. But don’t worry: the views from the Burl’s deck and sleeping loft are perfectly breathtaking!
The higher up you go in a tree, the more it moves—so you can imagine what an adventure the 140-foot crow’s nest was.
Just inside the door lies a built-in counter with a coffee and tea station.
Wide windows and comfy armchairs make for a reading nook with unbeatable views.
Doors open to a second deck, which looks out toward the river.
Back by the armchairs, a ship’s ladder rises to the sleeping loft. This floor holds a queen-sized bed and a half bathroom with running water. Plentiful windows remind you that you are sleeping in the trees.
Guests can lower a barrier that hinges down to block the ladder, keeping sleepwalkers safe and sound.
Many members of our crew cite the Burl as one of their all-time favorite treehouses because of its organic design and gorgeous setting. It’s no wonder why couples opt for it as their honeymoon suite!
We hope you’ve enjoyed taking a virtual step inside one of our favorite treehouses.
To book a stay in the Burl, visit treehousepoint.com.
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