DIY treehouse inventor creates Ewok world in rural Oregon

In 1974, fresh out of the army, Michael Garnier went to rural Oregon to try to make a living off the woods. He tried making furniture, fences, pole barns, and selling organic, psychedelic picture propellers (to see Fantasy Flakes), but finally, it was a treehouse that got him all the attention.
Modeled after the treehouse he had once built for his kids, his first treehouse B&B was completed in 1990. Today he has 9 treehouses for rent, 20 staircases, 5 or 6 bridges, several platforms and zip lines for rapid descent, and at least one fireman's pole. Some of his treehouses even have toilets, running water, and showers, though he warns guests to "stand when they flush".
Over the years, Garnier has become a legend in his industry and helped invent a better way to build a treehouse. Instead of bolting wood to wood (i.e. beams to the tree), Garnier and his colleagues at the World Treehouse Conference (an event he used to host) developed a way to attach steel bolts and cuffs to the tree.
Dubbed the Garnier Limb (or G.L.), this open-source design can support 8,000 pounds. Garnier sells GLs of all different types as well as plans to build your own treehouse. His DIY treehouses are for 12-foot trees ($150) and he sells about 30 or 40 plans per year.
Original story: www.faircompanies.com/videos/v...

[@traceykays433]

I’m in love with this man.

[@willmaybe8121]

this guy is EXTREMELY TALENTED! No other way to state it!

[@jennyturner6348]

This is incredible , since a child I ve always dreamed of one day owning a real Ewok Tree house - never mind a village! This would be my Disney Land! I absolutely love it Living and blending in with beautiful nature! This guy is amazing!

[@BltchErica]

you know everyone does that right?... adults these days

[@ourproductions4852]

same because i like treehouses they are really interesting and kids can clean the house and pretend that's their house

[@nerdmom920]

What a sweet guy, with his little dog following him around. Genius idea.

[@SargonBighorn]

Outside of PDX all of Oregon is rural. Love this sort of stuff. Rock on.

[@jesschappell647]

How cute is the dog just following him around like its no big deal being so high from the ground

[@rnehydfro3831]

LOL love the voice modulation when he says "like an ewok or an elf"

[@SpitFireOrganics]

Super cool. I'm glad he fought for what he believed in

[@booooomSPLAT]

I adore the little dog that follows him around...

[@Malegnius]

Yet another fascinating and very much inspirational video!

[@samuraiyao]

Treeiffic, you damn right!!!!! I have three dogs, single and I am an outdoor enthusiast, this place would be heaven to me!!!

[@Missioneer]

So innovative... I envy this guy.

[@NatediMaggio]

This is awesome im moving to a treehouse in Oregon this place is truely amzing

[@serenalee2187]

I've always loved tree houses. My neighbor built one back in the late 70s around a huge redwood tree off Polo Drive in Aptos, California. It was so beautiful.

[@EvaKarrin1]

I love this guy, a national hero!

[@Johannes00]

This was very educational, I have so much more respect for the tree health after watching this.

[@justangvano]

Thanks for leading the way in tree house building.

[@Joseywales414]

I’m retired Army, I don’t like the hippy way of things but I super freaking love this ! You should write a book for the people on your starting out and your developing into this business. I live in West Virginia and wish we had something like this here. Great work. Write us a book please with pictures, & designs.

[@essdubya5119]

What is the "hippy" way of things? Does this refer to individuals with larger pelvic dimensions?

[@elayneburt4345]

This is great... We built our daughter a tree house about 12 years ago at our cottage near to Gravenhurst, Ontario. It's in the gorgeous Muskoka area. The tree house has a view of a small lake through it's large window. Three cheers for creativity. I'll put this place on my Bucket List for Oregon. : )

[@magicalspiritwolf]

some people might've called this guy crazy, or 'out there' but I call him imaginative and inventive. He is a great example of following your dreams. He wanted to make money off of the trees and wood... And he did.

[@Cybertronic72388]

I enjoy listening to this guy's voice.

[@Danhor7]

Amazing craftsmanship. Added a weekend here to my bucket list.

[@scottmaclean3533]

Very interesting. Funny we need permits for anything and everything these days!

[@general5104]

It's a FILING fee, so they can go up on your property taxes.

[@kernowrock555]

'You' ' Sir ...are an inspiration! Beautiful home with flexible brackets.. simple and strong .

[@wingmanalive]

True dedication to what you love. Awesome tree houses and your own is beautiful. You obviously have been doing this for MANY years!

[@kirstendirksen]

@Jason1975ism I know what you're saying though I also think Michael is a realist and didn't want to live off of someone else while trying to live his dream. I think mainly he wanted to be sure he could continue to live in the woods so he struggled for awhile trying to find something that would work. He took care to make that clear.

[@Minetainment]

This is treetastic!

[@electricarrows]

I'm definitely going to add this to my bucket list!

[@mxkxylplk]

it's really treemendous and inspiring

[@jhw7742]

WONDERFUL! I hope, you always stay safe, have FUN with the Project....I feel, that in coming paradise we will have only Houses, which are built with our deep Mind / HEART *

[@angelapinheiro7381]

very cool, two thumbs up!

[@POONyukfai]

wow hats off to this guy! His connection with the tress reminds me of a reversered version of the book "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein but with the proper ending.

[@NSResponder]

Huge fan of Garnier. A great engineer and inventor.

[@deegunter107]

Reminds of the Myst game. Treehouses with puzzles to solve just made me want to live there up in the trees!

[@franklinfolsom1]

I played (music) at the treehouse convention in 2000 in Takilma .... This place is so awesome truly one of a kind...... :)

[@peter8488]

That's nice, and he can charge what he thinks is a fair price, if you pay that's on you, $150, that's not bad considering how beautiful the surroundings are, the amount of work involved and a unique experience, as he said it's not for all but those who don't want a homogenized hotel environment this is great.

[@RMJ1984]

So much respect for this guy!,

[@williamblakeley3744]

Wow You Are Amazing..Hope your making what you Deserve ..THEM TREE HOUSES ARE GRATE..

[@AJLangford]

What an amazing place - what an amazing guy.

[@raggenjohansson3576]

This is soo cool! If I have a trip to Oregon, i realy need to visit this place :-)

[@glowinthadark]

So awesome!!! I want to do this 😁

[@TheTreehouseShop]

THE ONE AND ONLY💯Greetings from se Dschörmans✌

[@divaleighous]

What an amazing place - Thank you for sharing this video with the global community. New Zealand

[@flyingsoloranch]

What a smart man! I love these clever ideas and seeing people excel.

[@380Banshee]

They will give a permit for a crappy mobile home park(aka. eyesore) in a second, but dont try to build paradise like modern day Swiss Family Robinson, thats so nice mucho respecto!

[@mjohanson1281]

You are the pun winner. I like to trim trees. I usually take a third off a tree. I like to leave the lowest branches and encourage them to grow by providing light. Tree probably wont fall down. Allows water and air and sun to penetrate.

[@florenlebaron524]

I absolutely love this. Beautiful.

[@pyro3339]

one with nature. simply awesome. now imagine what you could do with a redwood

[@ooonurse33]

I live in a wooden A frame built int the early 70's by a man who I assume was a lot like this man, it is my dream home, I only wish I could make things like this. These are the kind of people who inspire me, good on him for standing up to the code nazis:)

[@Dc328]

You're doing great things! Treehouse's are my passion!

[@TheBoyFromNorfolk]

Brilliant. I love the Garnier Limb design, it's beautiful.

[@R4G3FULL]

Kristen, you should have a show, seriously, your videos are fantastic.

[@turbogrin]

Great Job there Guy !

[@TheHolyMongolEmpire]

Wow, weird I come across this video, my family and I stayed here about 10 years ago. It was effing sweet.

[@jestergnome4717]

I liked the part about the tree

[@Smokeyedits209]

Way cool !! 👌 very nice job and great vision👍

[@marcandsebe]

My first trade is a carpenter and joiner. I would love to build and make money building tree houses. Yours are brilliant.

[@mirandahavard]

I wish I could have a school for kids made out of tree houses dreamer

[@keithconfidentiality2834]

Man, this is amazing.

[@nagaempress]

You made my morning by just posting something. I love your channel!

[@ErichoTTA]

Great video! It's every kid's dream.

[@thomasrainbow]

Amazing! Michael seems like one cool dude. May have to pay him a visit.

[@susanwilson3996]

Exactly the comment I was going to leave, thanks for saying it for me ! Peace and Love :)

[@Dantheman2010ish]

More people should live WITH nature!

[@Dutchhomepage]

Some can only dream about this, but this is for real! Great technics!

[@toddnaplestileguy]

I love using all of my available resources to reach my fullest potential, I was Blessed with my hands,And to look at a picture of something,Anything,And built it just like or even better,Michael Garnier is the Godfather of tree houses,I'm just a guy that works with wood and stone :) BE BLESSED

[@Lost8Wizard]

Oh, Love Michael place! Live a dream come true!

[@SizzledBeef]

The kids must love grandpa's house.

[@nathanielschroeder1321]

The city wants to put a value on any improvements you have on a piece of land that they feel they own for tax reasons. A tree house doesn't fit into their model of determining what to tax you. I'm glad you won the fight and did what made you happy for a living.

[@MrRandomman27]

I love this guy!!!

[@z1xs194]

I like tree houses so good videos

[@SizzledBeef]

That is truly the greatest most amazing thing i have witnessed so far in my life. Whatever inspired the idea to do this what i hope gets me to do something this incredible.

[@david32901]

WOW, this is awesome

[@Sheilamaizi]

I love, love, love it!!!!!!!!

[@NOUSERNAMESLEFTFUUCK]

Treeific, treemendous. haha love it.

[@davekimbler2308]

NICE !!! I would love to live with my head in the clouds . Please keep up the good work !

[@codyfalkner3064]

really cool tree house, looks like an awesome place to live

[@Nelalipe]

OMG! Wonderful! This is so nice! ...

[@craftlover9]

Brilliant, love it! Wish I lived there!

[@JasonOlea]

This is AMAZING!!!!

[@Murdoc2080]

His tree puns are unmatched 😂

[@paddywack88]

Looks so laid back living there. Gotta move to America!

[@MnktoDave]

This was really cool!

[@pacificrules]

Unique and very brilliant...

[@tony2983]

They throw an awesome 4th of July party there every summer. Amazing fireworks that go for over for hours. Takilma OR rocks.

[@FlavorOfDanger]

Kirsten, I love watching your videos! Thank you for choosing to put your money where your mouth is. I saw the largest treehouse video months ago, and enjoyed seeing how this evolved. The 'GL' is a HUGE advance in organic tech, and now I know.

[@donhoward4924]

Nice work.

[@Gecko777Man]

Very cool!

[@benice3117]

This is too amazing. I'd love to live in one of these...

[@Eterea1986]

Love this man

[@morganmore6]

I love your dog and great home

[@dp2pl8]

Mythbusters is going to blow this thing open. nice of them to give a pioneer a tip of the hat

[@ZebbMassiv]

I wish I had a glassblowing studio in the trees like that. ah the dream.

[@anymaru]

Seems Pete Nelson owes this guy a debt of gratitude.

[@akumabito2008]

That's awesome!

[@judymarvin7884]

I've been there before its so much fun

[@MillionthUsername]

Wow. I always get lost in these videos. Aside from being informative, they're always so peaceful and relaxing. I guess it's the lack of music, loud idiotic voice-overs, and fast crazy edits and gimmicks that are so typical of most media presentations. This style allows the viewer to truly absorb and appreciate what's being communicated by the subject as they explain their little corner of the world to the rest of us. Very cool.

[@ViBrentStudios]

amazing!!

[@watsonsfive5737]

wow that is incredible

[@12comrades]

Wow, awesome.