Treehouse for adults

Built in 2011, the treehouse at the Wandawega Lake Resort tent city in Elkhorn, Wisconsin is striking at first sight. Cabin owners Teresa Surratt and David Hernandez, along with a group of very talented and kind friends, built this creation of love, located in the center of the town.

Below are photos of the construction process, the result and the touching story of how the treehouse was built in memory of Teresa's late father.

(Total 15 photos)

1. Shortly after Teresa and David bought Wandawega in 2004, Teresa's father updated the purchase with a rope swing on a large elm tree in the center of the camp. But a year and a half later, Teresa's father, Tom, died. “Almost immediately after that, we learned that the tree was susceptible to Dutch elm disease. I was devastated. I couldn’t just cut down this tree,” Teresa says. (Photo: Bob Coscarelli for Chicago Home + Garden)

2. Even though the branches of the tree were dying, the trunk was still quite strong, so the couple, along with some friends, started thinking... about a grand project. (Photo: Tereasa Surratt)

3. It all started with a tree. (Photo: Tereasa Surratt)

4. Tom's Treehouse was built for free, thanks to the amazing generosity of Teresa's incredibly talented friends. (Photo: Tereasa Surratt)

5. They selflessly donated their time and skill to make the tree house a reality. (Photo: Tereasa Surratt)

6. The couple decided to build a three-level cottage in which the tree passes through the veranda and rises higher through holes in the floor in three places on the ground floor of the house. (Photo: Tereasa Surratt)

7. The house is decorated with a homemade chandelier made from deer antlers found in the barn. (Photo: Jacob Hand for Designtripper)

8. A significant part of the wood has been recycled, and almost all interior items were brought to order, all of them are antique or handmade. (Photo: Jacob Hand for Designtripper)

9. The veranda is illuminated by homemade lamps made using cans and a set of light bulbs from Home Depot. (Photo: Jacob Hand for Designtripper)

10. One of the branches of the tree grows from the floor of the first floor and passes through the window. (Photo: Jacob Hand for Designtripper)

11. Most of the interior items were purchased at flea markets, thrift stores and eBay. (Photo: Bob Coscarelli for Chicago Home + Garden)

12. There is a bedroom on the second floor. It has a unique wall lamp, which was remade from an old lamp found on the territory of the town. (Photo: Bob Coscarelli for Chicago Home + Garden)

13. Also, in the house there are pillows made from old bags of flour. (Photo: Bob Coscarelli for Chicago Home + Garden)

14. And tree stumps converted into bedside tables. (Photo: Jacob Hand for Designtripper)

15. In general, Teresa and David were assisted by four friends: Bladon Coner from Bladon Conner Design Studio, Sean Egaze and Tyler Peterson from StoneBlitzer, Steven Teichelman from This is Threefold and Angela Finney from Post27 (Photo: Harrison Hillman