A Photographer Ventured Inside Minister's Treehouse In Tennessee... What He Found Was Amazing
Joe Polecheck
Author
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Editor’s note: As of late 2019, the treehouse is no longer standing. Please enjoy the photos below as a reminder of this remarkable structure.
Located just outside of Crossville, TN, the 97-foot-tall tree house and church is supported by a still-living 80-foot-tall white oak tree, with a 12-foot diameter base, relying on six other oaks for support. In true southern style, every story is fully surrounded by a deck. And there are no “Private Property,” “Stay Off the Grass,” or “No Climbing” signs. Even though the building has been closed by the state Fire Marshall, the treehouse’s builder, Minister Horace Burgess, says the treehouse is God’s house and everyone is welcome.
As he tells the story, in 1993 Minister Burgess was praying when God told him, “If you build a treehouse, I’ll see that you never run out of material.” Inspired by this vision of god, the quiet minister set out to build the largest treehouse in the world. His treehouse stands 90 feet tall and contains roughly 80 rooms of varying size, many filled with large carved wooden statues. The entire structure stretches five stories, complete with a church, choir loft, large spiral staircase, and a bell tower.
Despite some trouble with vandals, the treehouse still makes for a fantastic visit and a truly one-of-a-kind sight.
Have you ever made the trek out to Minister’s Treehouse? What was your experience like?
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