Montana Treehouse Retreat Featured in Whitefish Pilot

FAMILY’S TREEHOUSE BUILD FEATURED ON DIY NETWORK

WHITEFISH PILOT: May 30, 2017 at 5:29 pm | By Heidi Desch

Many a child has spent a night camped out inside a treehouse in the backyard. But not too many folks are likely to have spent a night in a luxury treehouse complete with a dishwasher. 

Combining childhood fun with adult amenities is exactly the experience Darin Robison and Kati O’Toole are looking to create with their two-story treehouse constructed on their Dillon Road property. The couple for two years has been talking about, planning, designing and finally constructing the treehouse supported by Ponderossa pines. 

The couple is still putting the finishing touches on the interior, but when completed it will have a full kitchen, a full bathroom with a shower and two bedrooms on the second-floor loft. 

“We wanted to create a little utopia,” O’Toole said. “We wanted people to come and have a real, unique Montana experience.”

The couple had the idea for the treehouse when someone pointed out a listing for a casting call in the newspaper for the DIY network. 

The couple applied and were selected to be part of the TV show, “The Treehouse Guys.” The episode featuring their treehouse debuted this month and will air again on June 2 and June 15. 

For six weeks in April last year, a film crew documented the process of constructing the shell of the treehouse. Collaborating with the stars of “The Treehouse Guys” Robison and O’Toole wanted to make sure the treehouse was comfortable enough to live in including making the loft space with a ceiling high enough to stand in and allow for a sliding glass doors from the loft out to a deck. 

“That upper deck was important,” Robison said. “I wanted a perch where you could sit on and look out while drinking a cup of coffee.”

West Glacier builder John Colliander of Treeworks Log and Timberframe Construction made the 18-foot wooden spiral staircase for the treehouse. The staircase is made of larch treads attached to an 80-plus-year-old Douglas fir Robison salvaged from his grandmother’s woods.

“We really wanted to create a grand entrance,” Robison said. 

The couple, along with help from family and friends, have continued to complete the interior of the treehouse. They hope to be open for rent this fall. 

View more about the treehouse at: http://www.montanatreehouseretreat.com

Link to original article: http://www.whitefishpilot.com/article/20170530/ARTICLE/170539977

Snowpocalypse at Montana Treehouse Retreat!

Holy Snowpocalypse! The snow has hit us pretty hard at the Montana Treehouse Retreat, but we're not complaining. I took an evening stroll last night after a days work on the computer to get some fresh air. This venture even called for my REAL camera as this winter's scene was almost too good to be true.

Izzie the treehouse pup.

Of the 4 + years I've lived here, I have never seen this much snow on our property. I felt like I was in a dream. Moonlight, piles of fresh white snow leading to the TREEHOUSE and sweet serenity. I can't explain. Needless to say, I had a huge smile on my face. 

Thought I'd share some pics of my walk in hopes that I could transport you to snowtopia for just a moment. Hope your winter is treating you well.

-Kati 

Montana Treehouse Retreat: January Construction Update

Winter is in full force at the Montana Treehouse Retreat! We are loving the fresh piles of snow and all that beauty comes with it. The treehouse looks it's best dressed in white.

Just yesterday, we had our second snowboard lesson with our 3 year old Rowan on the property. I have also been doing some xc skiing on our groomed trail to catch a little bit of vitamin D here and there to beat my cabin fever. Needless to say, there will be many winter activities to enjoy on site for our guests in their own private woods, as well as surrounding areas...Whitefish Mountain Resort anyone?

I've been asked several times when the treehouse will officially be available for rent. I wish I had a definitive answer! At this point, we are looking more towards end of summer or next fall. 

In the meantime, I thought I'd show you some updated pictures of the progress of the project. We have the spray foam insulation complete thanks to Taylor Insulation, stage one plumbing finished thanks to Mildren Pluming and electric wired and ready to hook up thanks to Ambient Electric.

Darin has also custom created and welded some additional beefy steel supports for under the treehouse to make sure that it is 100% safe, solid and sturdy.

Click Through updated construction pics below:

We have plumbed not one, but TWO bathrooms for our guests to enjoy as well as a full kitchen space which will even include a dishwasher! The treehouse will have all of the luxury amenities that you enjoy in the comforts of your own home...UP IN THE TREES. 

Darin is currently busy planing, sanding and staining boards to complete the interior finishing wall touches. Ceilings are done. We are chipping away as fast as we can! Stay tuned for more updates as we progress.

Would you like to take a walk with me on site?

Click the video below:

Looking forward to seeing you in the trees sooner than later and HAPPY NEW YEAR friends!

Kati