Dirt and Sparks are Flying

 

Today we made more progress....at least until our afternoon rain delay! We are still digging, leveling and getting posts in the ground. We've been ma- handling about 400 pound 6" steel posts into the ground.

I took a couple videos today of the hole drilling and some post cutting. It will be good to get out of the dirt and into the trees.

So far I have not found a good vantage point to get a good photo of the height of the platform. Its surprisingly high. Even though our bridge to the from deck will be a nice level walk, the slope of the hill creates about 18 feet of height at the back deck.

We are currently conducting a Sleep Free in a Tree Contest where we are asking for our followers to submit clever slogans for our tree house resort. If you think you have a Great slogan for us to use, just submit it here or on our facebook page at: Branson Tree House Adventures.

Today The SERIOUS Work began

I'm not sure what we will consider to be our actual first day of work since we've been messing around out in the trees for almost a week now. BUT. Today we kicked it up a notch, so we may have to call June 24th the first real tree house work day.

Our project begins with clearing out just enough space to get some support posts in place. These will become the base structure that will enable us to get the height we are after in a safe way. They are steel and must be anchored deep in the ground. That starts with drilling a big hole (or several of them!)

The ground here is so rocky that we have to clear the holes out occasionally before we proceed any further. As tough as the equipment is, it's been challenged a time or two already.

John's not afraid to get into the dirt. (Good thing he's younger and more agile than me) I think he was fishing a big rock out of that hole. The hillsides have been a little bit of a challenge for the equipment too. He said that everything keeps wanting to roll downhill as he's drilling.

Alex has been a huge help. (Even younger and more agile than John or me.) He's been getting in on all of the action. including dragging the 400 lb posts down the hill and helping get them stood upright.

The last step for each post is getting them set in concrete. Oddly enough that's been the easiest job so far.

Today I was asked if there would be electricity in the tree houses. There will be electricity, heat and A/C, hot and cold running water, a kitchen, a bathroom and flat screen TV with satellite. No lack of amenities here!

One of our unique features will be off the back deck. (Do I leak the secret out now????? Why not!) We plan to build a bridge of the back of each deck out to a sitting platform in a nearby tree for what we call the "Coffee Deck". It will be a private sitting area for just your tree house. We think that will be one of the more popular features of our tree houses.

Of course we intend to have some with Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces and outdoor showers. Hmmmmmmmm, not too sure about that last one. We understand that it's the most popular feature in other tree house resorts.

If you want to follow along with the progress, I STRONGLY recommend that you subscribe to our tree house news using the form to the right of the page. It will keep you up-to-date on EVERYTHING we are doing!

Go to our facebook page and "Like" it at: Branson Tree House Adventures
Our Tree House Website: www.bransontreehouseadventures.com (still under construction)
Our Campground website: www.acornacrescampground.com (also under construction)

Share this with your friends. Let them know that we plan to have our first tree house complete by the end of August.

And if you are one of the ones who just can't wait to see the process first hand. Our cabin number 70 has a front row seat to the construction from it's back deck. So if you want to watch the action from the comfort of your private viewing area, call 1-800-3382504 and tell them you want Cabin 70 so you can watch the Tree House being built!

The Work Begins

Today we began digging around the first tree house site mainly looking for the utilities that are buried at one of the tent camp sites at Acorn Acres Campground. So far we have only had a few hours a day to deal with tree house sites, but tomorrow, we will be able to spend a little more time actually getting the site ready to build.

The picture on the right was taken from the parking platform at tree house site 1. We've been able to determine that the floor of our first tree house will be about 13 feet in the air. That's kind of exciting. It's a little higher than I was expecting, but it's a height that will keep the floor of the tree house level with the parking platform. Our first cabin will be a family friendly cabin sleeping 2 adults and up to 3 kids. The picture on the right will be the view from the back deck.

Our tree house project is going to be the realization of a 15 year dream. Shelley and I visited a tree house resort that long ago and have talked about it since then. Even though this is the culmination of years of thinking and planning, we know the results of our work will not be for our enjoyment alone. We are every bit as excited to see the reaction of our guests as they find some fulfillment of the tree house adventure dreams of their own.

We look forward to the input and suggestions offered to us by others. Don't be afraid to send us pictures of ideas you think would work in a tree house. Pin them on our facebook page at: Branson Tree House Adventures. ALSO, We are running a new "Free Night in a Tree" contest.

Here's what we are up to. We need a good slogan for our resort. We are asking you to submit your creative slogans to the facebook link above or even here on the blog. Get your thinking cap on!

We are FINALLY in the Trees!

I've promised to begin adding information about our tree house construction and while I've been accumulating material, I've had very little time to get it published. But things are moving forward.

It's a bit funny. We have been so focused on getting our tree house property purchased that we almost failed to remember that we were also taking on a large RV Park and campground business right in the middle of the busy season. AND
Both the Brewers and the Teigs have our own businesses separate from the tree house resort to keep going as well. NO EXCUSES. but it has been a frantic couple of weeks. ( I guess it's better to have too much to do than looking around for something to do! SO anyway, now that the campground / RV Park is mostly under control, (thanks to some really good staff) we are "In The TREES!"

A couple days ago we started locating the utilities we will be bringing into the site of our first tree house. We shot a laser level from the parking area back to the trees and discovered our first tree house will be about 13 feet in the air in front and about 18 feet in the back. HOW COOL IS THAT!

We will be building decks on the front and the back. OH and by the way. YES.......they will have running water. That seems to be the predominant concern we are hearing. After all this time. (8 months to be exact) it's exciting to actually be finally into the first stages of construction.

Ground Breaking and Advanced Discounted Reservations!

SO, HERE WE GO!

Today, John ( who is fearlessly pictured to the right with tree climbing gear) trekked to the back of the property and took a few pictures along the way. Tomorrow we will bring in equipment to break ground for the first tree house.  (watch for videos)

We are also ready to announce our "discounted" advanced reservation details. We have wanted to do this for months but were a little hesitant because of the delays we were experiencing getting the place bought in the first place.

Now that its done, we are fairly confident in our construction time line.

SO, As promised, we will be releasing the details to our subscriber list FIRST. If you are not a subscriber to our email news and updates, you can do that right now with the small form on the right of this page.


Oh, by the way. How's that for a cool pic on the left? We will have a hiking trail back to this spot at some point!

Anyway, back to the reservations.

If you have not subscribed, DO SO NOW at the form to the right of the page. You will receive an email tomorrow morning with detail of how to be among the first to Sleep In A Tree!

The fun is about to begin!

I will let you in on one little secret......

We will be limiting the number of nights available at the discounted rate. You DO NOT want to miss the information.

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

How about that cool picture to the right!

Hiking trail destination!

The Big Adventure Begins

So here is the story. We have kept the location and plans pretty much a secret for the past 8 months while we negotiated, re-negotiated, strategized and wrote and re-wrote business plans and bank proposals. Today at 10am we finally made it to the closing table and completed the purchase of what will become our tree house resort!

What we have been working on is the purchase of a 45 acre campground and RV park. The facility has 79 RV camp sites and 6 beautiful cabins. Along with a screened in pavilion that accommodates about 100 people, a pool, game room, laundry, small store and gift shop, shower houses, playground and all the amenities you would expect at a very nice campground.

The Campground and RV Park occupy about 13 acres right on the flat crest of the property. The rest is made up of sloping hillsides covered with Ozark hardwood forest. This leaves about 32 acres for us to select tree house sites and build.

While strolling around the property, you can hear the steam train whistle from Silver Dollar City on the next hill over. White squirrels run around in the trees and under growth. (I tried getting a video of one today but he got up into the trees too quick for me) all in all the park is a well kept and very comfortable property.

We spent some time today doing a little surveying and have already ordered the structural material to start on the first tree house. I am excited to get this thing underway. We spoke to one of the staff members of the camp today after we laid out our vision for the property. He's a retired gentleman (that is actually in the photo to the right by the pool) He responded, "I haven't been this excited in 20 years!" .............. That's special!

The campground is Acorn Acres and we will keep that identity as we are building the Branson Tree House Adventures identity. I believe the two will go together just fine. You can book campsites and cabins RIGHT NOW! Call them in or reserve them on-line.

As far as the Tree Houses...........We start construction this weekend. Our target completion date is early August. Just 2 months from now.

I'll be posting information on making advanced reservations within a few days! I'll be throwing a couple of videos out on facebook later too. You can see them at our Branson Tree House Adventures page.

 

One Final Day of Waiting

Its been eight months ago today (back on October 1, 2013) that we took our first tour of the property that will become the Tree House Resort. After eight full month, we are now only one day away from the reality of owning one of the best properties in one of the best locations in the Branson Entertainment region.

This project has been in our minds for over 15 years. It became a little more serious three years ago when we started purchasing vacation properties. The final nudge over the edge took place last summer when meeting with good friends and business partners John and Shannon. I consider them some of the best "big dreamers" I have ever met. After discussing the possibility, our response was, "Why not us?"

Tomorrow, all of the dreaming, planning, brain storming and preparation will become reality. We are so excited to announce our location and plans. Starting tomorrow, we will begin to release the information we have been teasing you with for the last four months.

Fasten your seat belts and get ready for a wonderful adventure.

SEE YOU IN THE TREES!