An individual dedicated 14 years of their life to building the world’s largest treehouse. But it’s only upon looking inside that you’ll be surprised.

INTERESTING

The owner, Horace Burgess, claims that God instructed him to build the house. It is also known as “The Minister’s Tree House.”

Nearly 250,000 nails have been used since 1993 to construct the ten-story house, which sits on a foundation of six oak trees.

The total living space measures over 3,000 square feet.

Although the construction of the entirely wooden house took 14 years, its value was estimated at around $12,000.

Who would build such a thing? One might think the person is crazy.

Burgess said God commanded him to build the treehouse in 1993, assuring him that he would never run out of wood.

So far, it seems God has kept his promise.

The structure includes a large central area that can be used for prayers and basketball games, as well as a penthouse floor on the tenth level.

Also included is a half-ton church bell.

The many wooden planks now bear the markings of visitors who have toured the house.

In 2012, the house had to be closed due to fire code violations.

The local fire department feared that a fire could break out, which would be catastrophic for the fully wooden structure.

Eventually, it happened… The world’s largest treehouse, a 97-foot-tall wooden structure in Crossville, Tennessee, was completely destroyed in less than half an hour.

In the early 1990s, Harold Burgess, the architect, said in an interview, “When you build a treehouse, you’ll never run out of material.” And it happened.

The Minister’s Treehouse was constructed over two decades using raw wood donated by locals.

The villa comprised 80 rooms, including classrooms, bedrooms, and a kitchen, spread across five floors and held together by an 80-foot-tall white oak.

A large porch connected the levels via a winding staircase.

The interior design, which included a hand-carved Bible, a tall cross, and wooden church pews, blended humorous and spiritual elements.

The treehouse attracted tourists seeking a unique experience, as it was also used for religious services.

In 2012, state fire marshals banned tourism in the treehouse due to multiple code violations.

When the state fire marshal ordered the building’s closure, Burgess placed a sign saying, “Closed by State Fire Marshal.

File your complaints with them.”

Captain Derek Carter of the Cumberland County Fire Department was already on-site when local police were contacted to report the fire.

Macy Leatherwood, a resident of Pigeon Forge, spent Christmas 2018 with her family at Cumberland Mountain State Park.

Although she could only see the house through the fence, she had a beautiful view.

She was dismayed to learn that the house had been destroyed.

Captain Carter, who visited the treehouse as a tourist before it was closed to the public, described it as a “death trap.”

He summed up the experience by saying, “It was very cool, but also very dangerous.”