Treehouse Designers Guide: Treehouses.com

Michael Garnier is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on treehouse construction and a pioneer in the field, but he prefers to think of himself as an "in-tree-prenur." He went to school for engineering but "couldn’t' stay awake in the classes." He was drafted and eventually landed in Oregon where he helped start a free clinic as a special forces medic. He fell in love with the area and decided to start a bed and breakfast, but didn't have much luck until he decided to build treehouses his guests could stay in. "People thought I was crazy," he says. "But it worked." Today Garnier oversees 15 units in his "treesort," but still offers his construction, design and consultation part-time.  

Based in:

Southwest Oregon

In the business since:

1990

Cost:

$25,000 and up

Most requested design:

The Treezebo

Specialty:

Durability. Garnier is the creator of the Garnier Limb, a widely used bolt that gives builders a place to bear the load of a treehouse on the tree.

Wow factor:

Garnier built a treehouse in a grove of redwoods in Marin County, California that is 25 feet off the ground and three stories high with a cupola, complete with birch bark wallpaper.

Project locations:

Garnier has built treehouses all over the country and beyond, and hopes to build a treehouse on every continent.

Fun fact:

Garnier claims that the highest concentration of treehouses in the world can be found at his "treesort," Out 'n' About, in southwestern Oregon.

Contact info:

treehouses.com
541.592.2208