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:

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

    Deen

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

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

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  4. How cool!

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

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  5. 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?

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

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  7. can i come play in the treehouse?

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  8. 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

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

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

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

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  12. 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.

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  13. 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.

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

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  15. 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.

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  16. 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!

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  17. 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

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  18. 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......

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  19. 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!

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

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

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  22. 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!

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  23. 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.

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  24. 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.

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  25. 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

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

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  27. 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...

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

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

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

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

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  32. 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!!

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  33. 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!

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  34. 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

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  35. 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.

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  36. 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.

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  37. 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.

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  38. 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.

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  39. 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!

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

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

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

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  43. 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.

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  44. 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

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  45. Truly amazing and looks like great fun!

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

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

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

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  49. 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

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

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  51. 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

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

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  53. 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.

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  54. 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

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

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  56. 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.

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

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  58. 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.

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

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

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

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  62. 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.

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