Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Huge Treehouse in Crossville, Tennessee


Bet you didn't know that we have a HUGE TREEHOUSE --right here in Crossville, Tennessee. A friend told me about it back in 2007 (after we had lived here for 4 years)---and I didn't believe her. But--she was right!!!! To make a long story short, George and I got in the car and found that treehouse!!!


Here's the 'scoop' on this treehouse:
-It rises 97 feet into the sky!
-The support for the treehouse is provided by a live, 80-foot-tall white oak 12 feet in diameter at its base. Six other trees brace the tower-like fortress, but Burgess says that its foundation is in God.
-The treehouse has 10 floors, averaging nine to eleven ft. in height.
-It was built by Horace Burgess, who says that he built it for everybody. He calls it God's Treehouse.
-Burgess says that he has never measured its size, but estimates it to be about 8,000 to 10,000 square feet.
-Burgess (for some reason) has counted the nails that he has hammered into the wood---258,000 give or take a few hundred!
-Burgess said that most of his materials are recycled pieces of lumber from garages, storage sheds and barns.
-Burgess said that the Lord told him: "If you build me a treehouse, I'll see that you never run out of material."
-In his 14th year of construction, he is not finished!
-Burgess said that he thinks he has sunk about $12,000 into the project.
-Burgess 'claims' that it is the WORLD'S largest treehouse- and nobody has ever challenged this statement!


Can you believe that this treehouse is here in Cumberland County? They say that there are 400 to 500 visitors to the treehouse every week, mostly from out-of-town. And to think: I never even knew it was here until an out-of-state friend told me (since she had read about it). If you'd like to read more about the treehouse, click HERE. There are also several articles about it on the internet. Just google: Treehouse, Crossville, TN.


Some of the pictures are from the internet--and some are ones we took. Above and below are several pictures of this HUGE HUGE Treehouse, called the Minister's Treehouse. Amazing, huh????!!!!













































Hope you enjoyed one of the 'famous' things in our little town of Crossville, Tennessee. If you ever come through here, be sure and make plans to see this treehouse. It's truly awesome.


Hugs,

66 comments:

Matt Kopikarat said...

Hi Betsy..the house look beautiful. I'll move to the new house next week. Nice photos.

Deen

Darla said...

My word! That's some treehouse there Betsy. I'll show this to my girls today, they are going to love it!!

Kathy W said...

LOL that's proably nicer than the house I live in now. Pretty cool looking.

Kirigalpoththa said...

wow! that is awesome creation!

T said...

How cool!

Next summer the girls and I might have to make a trip to see it.

Beth said...

Oh my goodness...that is absolutely amazing. And a fascinating story behind it. I love that the builder said that if he couldn't bring people to Heaven, that at least he'd get them closer! God bless Mr. Burgess for sharing God's Treehouse with everyone.

I've got to ask, Betsy: How high did you and George go in the treehouse?

Adrienne Zwart said...

Wow, that's amazing! Were you able to climb up in it?

Anonymous said...

can i come play in the treehouse?

Thistlebrooms said...

Boy, I've seen 'Tree Houses' before but 'NOTHING' like this one...
You can really play 'Hide & Seek' in it and NEVER be found!!!

Thanks for sharing the Beauty and Story with us Betsy...

My Best...Marilyn

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is so awesome. Reminds me of Robinson Curusoe!!!! Imagine all the stair climbing...ughhh!

Carol Murdock said...

WOW! Who knew? Took a lot of dedication didn't it! xoxo :)

Carol Murdock said...

Oh Betsy, I forgot to tell you I LOVE the new header!! :)

Arkansas Patti said...

Love the tree house and have a ton of questions that the article you linked didn't answer. Will do more research.
What a cool thing to have in your area.
Truly an amazing structure. Thanks.

Rose said...

Oh Betsy, this is amazing. I have thoroughly enjoyed this post...got to remember to check out your links later....Bright Eyes is here and I don't have time now.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Wish I would have known about it when I lived in the area. I love stuff like this. Pretty amazing.
Marnie

SmilingSally said...

What a dedicated man Horace is! This is what we should all do: listen to whatever God is telling us to do. I think I like it.

Susie said...

Betsy that is an amazing tree house. I've never heard of it myself. I would love to see it in person. When I was a kid I loved to climb trees until my mom would hollar to get out of it. She was afraid we would fall and break a bone. She was probably right.

Hope you have a great day!

Tina said...

That was truly amazing and he counted the nails!!...how nice it was so close to you and you got to see it! I know there are many sites around me that I haven't visited yet and we have lived here a long time..the way of the world, I guess, we travel forever to see sites but bypass the ones in our own backyard..tee he

Karin said...

Love your reflection header - you've captured the colors well!! I just want to sit there and relax!!

The tree house story is amazing!From all the scrap stuff in this world, no one need be without a shelter! I'll go check the web site later - off to work......

Cicero Sings said...

Funny how we often miss seeing our own local attractions! Sometimes we do the tourist thing ... just to see what others see.

Quite the tree house!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: That is awsome, I'll have to see it the next time I'm through that way.

Snap said...

Now that's a tree house! WOW! Cool! (or is the *in* word Awesome?!!)

Anonymous said...

WoW WoW WoW! Just one WoW wouldn't do - It takes at least 3 on this one!

Amazing - That's a whole lota wood & it really IS HUGE!

NCmountainwoman said...

Like many of the others in the news clip, I would love to meet this man. Ever the skeptic, I do wonder why God would choose a treehouse in Crossville, TN to spread His word. It is an amazing sight and definitely a place to take visitors.

Mark Kreider said...

It's amazing what one person can do when he has the vision and commitment coupled with the joy of doing. This could be any boy's dream.

Wendy said...

Oh my goodness! Such splendor! Such magnificence! What a vision Mr. Burgess has! Nice that he shares this with everybody. Oh, I quite understand about not knowing things in your own hometown. There is still quite a lot I don't know about my hometown either! Ah well, life is full of discovery, isn't it?
Thanks for sharing. If I travel your way, I'll be sure to check out this treehouse!
Hugs

Sunny said...

That is so cool!
That certainly is a labor of love.
Your new title shot is beautiful, the reflections are are lovely.
Sunny :)

Kelly said...

That is some tree house! Do they live there, or is it a tree house for fun for anyone to visit. He said it was everyone's tree house...

Diane AZ said...

Fantastic treehouse! Pretty funny that you didn't know it was nearby until your out-of-state friend mentioned it.

Dirt Princess said...

Now thats cool!

Rosa said...

Wow! I'm going to have to keep that in mind to visit!! How fun!! xo

Peggy said...

Now thats a treehouse!!!

Jen said...

Oh cool. Glad God didn't call upon me to do this. ha! Did you go inside?

Jo said...

Burgess' treehouse looks surreal. It sure is huge. Thanks for sharing. (((Hugs)))

Rita said...

Betsy You are right it is truly amazing!! what a wonderful story. If I am in your neighborhood will check it out.
Thanks for sharing. Your stories are always so fun!!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

This is just too amazing for words! The Power of God...incredible. I want to drive over there and see it.

I have an award for you!

Janice K said...

Your new header is beautiful, Betsy. However, it reminds me that soon there will be tons of leaves to be raked around here. Thankfully, my husband takes care of that.

The tree house......kind of like a "work in progress".....kind of like our lives in the "Hands of God."

May He bless your day!....Janice

Betty said...

Amazing has been used over and over,but what else could you say,it is just that. I would love to see it in person.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

As many times as I've been through Crossville, I've never seen or even heard of this before.
I will have to put it on my list of to do's, it is simply amazing.
I helped with the landscaping at the local post office, there in Crossville, is it close by ?
Love your new Fall header, so tranquil and relaxing, and looks like your neck of the woods, on the Cumberland Plateau.

Becca's Dirt said...

I love the new header Betsy. It is very thoughtful. What a tree house. Hard to believe he is still building - it is already so huge. Put on my bucket list.

Leedra said...

Had not heard of this. The first photo looks scary, but some of the other ones look like a rustic house instead of tree house.

Your roses are beautiful (from previous post), especially like the triple bloom. I agree when the Autumn Joy Sedum changes color fall is right around the corner.

Still haven't posted yet, just doing a little visiting.

Mandy said...

Thanks Betsy! I had no idea we had something like that right up the road from us!

My kids would love that. We'll have to plan to get up your way and see it!

RA said...

Wonderful tree houses! Very interesting to see. Have a great day, Betsy. Hugs and love :)

Anonymous said...

How fun is that? However, if I'm ever in Crossville I think coming to see you Betsy would be much more fun!

Janie said...

Wow, that is a very cool treehouse. Great photos.
Love your new header, too.

Nina said...

I've never seen let alone heard anything like it! Amazing! It will be on my we have to go here lists! Thank you for bringing this wonder to our attention. I love it! Love and Light, Nina P.

blushing rose said...

As often as we've been down there I'd not heard of this. Very interesting ... he is following the 'word'.

Have a great week. TTFN ~Marydon

Anonymous said...

Truly amazing and looks like great fun!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

That is quite an amazing structure.I can see it would draw lots of tourists.
Blessings,Ruth

storyteller at Small Reflections said...

WOW ... that's AMAZING! I love your new header too ... it's gorgeous ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Loran said...

What an amazing treehouse, I've never seen the likes of it. Wow!

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

That is awesome!! Smiles my friend...m...

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Now that's what I call a Treehouse!!! How cool that it's in my mom's hometown. :0) I'll bet they don't know about it either.

Great pictures...

Steph

naomijane said...

i so wish to stay in a tree house sometime...in btw gr8 pics..

SquirrelQueen said...

That is the most awesome tree house I have ever seen, truly remarkable. I just saw a program the other night about some tree houses in Washington and Oregon but they were tiny in comparison.

Judy

marmee said...

that is so interesting...my kids would love to see that and go straight to the top. does he actually live in it?

Inday said...

Gathering 56 comments plus mine that would make 57 for a 10 floor huge huge Tree House, bless Horace Burgess.

His intention is good, so it's no wonder why he wouldn't be blessed.

You are truly wonderful to share your local blessing to us Betsy.

Thank you for the caring and thoughtful comment left on my main blog.

May I invite you to come and visit this and pick up your SURPRISE
please?

Thank you again!

PS I'll keep the link so I can google further about the tree house. I hope Mr Burgess entered it in the Book of Guiness, however it is spelt.

Michele said...

Gee... what a terrific treehouse. It's early right now but when I get home from work, I know my husband would LOVE to see this, so I will have to return to show him this post! What fun!!

Hugs and smooches to you, my friend. I hope you two are doing well.

~Michele

Cheryl said...

What a neat post, I would love to visit it! Thanks for sharing this treehouse with us.

Diane said...

I love the tree houses, Betsy. I'm not sure I'd go to the very top of them though. Treehouses are so free spirit.

Lagean Ellis said...

Oh, that is neat! I'd like to come see it. Right after the visit to the cabin in the waterfall.

Clara....in TN said...

I would love to see that. Is it there just for looks? Can you really climb to the top if so desired? That is amazing.

Connie said...

Wow, that is really neat, Betsy! Thank you for sharing those pictures. What a fun place to visit that would be. :)

Mary said...

Amazing! Hard to believe it is a treehouse! So huge!

penny said...

What a huge undertaking to build this wonderful tree house. I love the thought behind it...

reba said...

Wow....that is something. God uses those who want to be used. Bless his man and I pray for guardian angles all around him. Thanks for sharing.