Earlier this year we built an expansive project of five tree forts and five bridges, connecting in a gorgeous grove of redwood trees. It’s a Redwood Adventure!

A whimsical ground-level treehouse was already located in the secluded grove and the owners asked Barbara to make the little treehouse more friendly and more fun, and to add a more challenging tree fort to the grove.

Back in 2000, Barbara designed and built a custom play structure for the family at a previous residence for their young kids. Now, 24 years later, she was excited to design and build this floating village-in-the-trees for the family’s next generation.

The bridges, tree perches and decks wrap around the shady grove of redwood trees and the existing playhouse. Viewed from the surrounding lawn, the elevated walkways blend in with the landscaping and redwood bark.

The crew built a beautiful winding staircase around an oak tree that leads up to a climbing tower, also accessible by a rope net climb and crazy bar climb, then to the first bridge with swings underneath. This is the first of many ways up and down from the structure.

The client wanted the tan slide to blend in with the redwood trees and nutmeg stained fort, so Barbara brought in her nephew Sean to create a custom cover for the slide out of wood. It was many hours of painstaking work, but the final result is a slide the elegantly blends in while still being safe and functional.

A log bridge provides a balance challenge and leads from a tree perch to a climbing tower, finished with hand-knotted netting for many hours of climbing.

A 17-foot long swinging bridge leads from the tree perch to an 8x8 foot tree deck and rope net hangout below, a feature that often becomes a favorite hangout spot as the kids grow older.

The route between the rope net hangout and tree deck can be challenging, but ultimately worth the climb up the rope and rung ladder.

At ground level, there are a multitude of play accessories to challenge even the most active of kids. Hand-over-hand rings under the log bridge and a custom teeter-totter both add to the fun of this village of play.

The main 14x16 foot deck features an open air clubhouse roof for protection from the sun or rain and a relaxing spot to sit and color, eat or play.

An awesome rock climbing wall accesses the main deck and blends in with the redwood branches so well that it can barely be seen from the other side of the fort. The giant rope adds extra fun for scaling the wall to the upper level.

The treefort is getting rave reviews from all three generations alike. It’s something special to be able to build a play structure for a family that the kids love and then 24 years later build one for the the grandkids.

Barbara’s artist sketch provides a birds eye view of the overall design, showing how each of the areas link together.

The original structure Barbara built in 2000, a kids barn with carved climbing poles.