16 Treehouses People Actually Live In
When we were kids, most of us wished we had a treehouse with rope ladders and hidden hiding places. While cardboard boxes and imagination were typically involved in those childhood fantasies, some adults have elevated the idea to remarkable heights. These are not your normal backyard play structures; rather, they are actual homes complete with electricity, plumbing, and all the other modern amenities you might expect.
Treehouse living has become a viable alternative to traditional housing options, ranging from affordable tiny homes to luxurious eco-retreats. These 16 amazing treehouses are inhabited all year round.
The Redwoods Treehouse
This architectural wonder spans three enormous trees and is tucked away 50 feet above the ground in California’s towering redwoods. The 1,200-square-foot house was designed over two years by the owner, a former tech executive, and features floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking views of the forest. The building has two bedrooms, a complete kitchen, and a fairy tale-like spiral staircase that circles the main trunk.
Treehouse Point Village
This Washington State community features multiple treehouse homes connected by elevated walkways through old-growth forest. Each unit ranges from 200 to 400 square feet and includes basic amenities like running water and electricity. Residents describe it as living in a hobbit village, where neighbors communicate through tree-to-tree bridges and morning coffee happens 30 feet off the ground.
The Mirrorcube
— Photo by Kedardome
Sweden’s Mirrorcube treehouse looks like it’s floating in mid-air thanks to its reflective exterior walls. This 13-foot cube rests on a single tree trunk and contains a double bed, small bathroom, and a sitting area. The mirrored surfaces blend so seamlessly with the surrounding birch forest that birds occasionally need to be guided away from the structure.
Djuren Treehouse
Also located in Sweden, this egg-shaped dwelling hangs from sturdy pine branches like an oversized bird’s nest. The interior features curved walls, a skylight for stargazing, and a compact design that maximizes every square inch. Living here feels like inhabiting a giant seed pod suspended in the canopy.
Free Spirit Spheres
These spherical treehouses on Vancouver Island look like something from outer space but provide surprisingly comfortable living quarters. Each 10-foot diameter sphere contains a bed, small kitchenette, and curved windows that offer 360-degree forest views. The gentle swaying motion in the wind creates a unique living experience that residents say feels like being rocked to sleep each night.
Chateaux Dans Les Arbres
France’s ‘Castles in the Trees’ development features luxury treehouses that rival ground-level mansions. These multi-story structures include full bathrooms with clawfoot tubs, gourmet kitchens, and wrap-around decks perfect for morning wine and cheese. One resident jokes that their mortgage is literally tied to a tree, but the investment has paid off in pure happiness.
The Ewok Village
This California treehouse community earned its nickname from the elevated walkways and rustic wooden structures that echo the forest moon of Endor. Seven interconnected homes house families year-round, complete with a communal dining hall and children’s play areas built into the tree branches. The community operates on sustainable principles, collecting rainwater and generating solar power.
Out’n’About Treehouse Resort
Oregon’s permanent treehouse residents live in structures ranging from cozy 200-square-foot cabins to sprawling 800-square-foot family homes. Each treehouse features unique designs like the Swiss Family Robinson-style rope bridges and multi-level platforms that follow the natural shape of their host trees. The community includes artists, writers, and retirees who’ve traded traditional housing for canopy living.
Treehotel’s Year-Round Units
While many of Sweden’s Treehotel rooms serve tourists, several units house permanent residents who work remotely or run local businesses. The Bird’s Nest treehouse, camouflaged with 340 wooden branches, provides a 13-foot cube of living space with all essential amenities. Residents report that winter snow creates an incredibly peaceful cocoon effect.
Primland’s Treehouse Suites
Virginia’s Primland resort includes permanent residential treehouses where owners spend months at a time. These luxury structures feature stone fireplaces, full kitchens, and master bedrooms with private balconies overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. The treehouses represent a new category of second homes that feel more like tree forts for grown-ups.
Nothofagus Hotel Treehouses
In Chile’s Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, these volcano-shaped treehouses provide year-round housing for park employees and researchers. The structures blend seamlessly with the native forest while offering modern conveniences like heated floors and high-speed internet. Living here means waking up to the sounds of exotic birds and the occasional glimpse of rare wildlife.
Cedar Creek Treehouse
This Washington State landmark sits 50 feet high in a 200-year-old cedar tree and has housed various residents over the past three decades. The observatory-style structure includes a wood-burning stove, small kitchen, and a sleeping loft accessible by ladder. Current residents describe the experience as living inside a living tower that grows and changes with the seasons.
Hapuku Lodge Treehouses
New Zealand’s Hapuku Lodge features permanent residential units built on stilts among native kanuka trees. These glass-walled structures offer ocean and mountain views while providing modern amenities like underfloor heating and full-size bathrooms. The design maximizes natural light while minimizing environmental impact on the surrounding ecosystem.
Treehouse Grove
This intentional community in North Carolina features eight treehouse homes connected by elevated walkways and communal gathering spaces. Residents range from young families to retirees, all drawn to sustainable living and tight-knit community bonds. The treehouses incorporate recycled materials and renewable energy systems while maintaining the whimsical feel of childhood dreams.
La Cabane Perchée
With its floor-to-ceiling windows and geometric lines, France’s “Perched Cabin” is a prime example of ultra-modern treehouse design. The structure gives the impression that it is floating in space by drastically cantilevering from its host oak tree. High-end finishes and a minimalist interior design demonstrate that comfort and luxury don’t have to be sacrificed for treehouse living.
Gibbon Experience Treehouses
Many of these canopy-level residences, which were initially built for Lao ecotourism, are now occupied by permanent residents who work in forest conservation. The main means of transportation are zip lines that connect the 130-foot-tall structures. Living here necessitates an adventurous spirit and a comfort level with heights that most people never encounter.
Growing Up Never Felt So Good
These 16 remarkable instances demonstrate how treehouse living has progressed from childhood dreams to a respectable alternative to traditional housing. From Chile’s volcano-shaped sanctuaries to Sweden’s advanced mirror cubes, people all over the world are realizing that living in nature may be the best way to establish a connection with it. These upscale neighborhoods provide a haven and motivation to reconsider where and how we choose to live as housing costs rise and environmental concerns increase.
More from Go2Tutors!
- 16 Historical Figures Who Were Nothing Like You Think
- 12 Things Sold in the 80s That Are Now Illegal
- 15 VHS Tapes That Could Be Worth Thousands
- 17 Historical “What Ifs” That Would Have Changed Everything
- 18 TV Shows That Vanished Without a Finale
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
