The Montana Treehouse Retreat through Forrest Mankins Eyes.

We had the pleasure of hosting the talented Forrest Mankins on the property this past month for a few nights. Forrest is a photographer that I have followed for a while on Instagram. His way of telling his story through his lifestyle photography leaves you feeling like you are right there along for the adventure.

Check out the images he captured during his stay at Montana Treehouse Retreat! Thanks for visiting us! Cheers.

The Montana Treehouse Retreat is set in it's own secluded wooded area equipped with a campfire ring.

The interior looking out at Montana Treehouse Retreat

The custom hand crafted spiral staircase leading up to the Montana Treehouse Retreat sets the grand entrance for the property.

The treehouse at night is a magical place.

Winding up to the treehouse up the Douglas fir spiral staircase.

The master suite loft looks out over the forest with windows leading out to views of pine trees and seclusion. 

All images by @forrestmankins, Forrest Mankins.

To see more of Forrest's work: http://www.forrestmankins.com

Montana Treehouse Retreat featured by Lonely Planet

Escape into nature in this authentic Montana rustic tree house

Who says tree houses are for kids? A stunning tree house retreat in Montana is getting a lot of love from adults looking to explore the nearby pursuits of Flathead Valley, Whitefish Mountain Resort and Glacier National Park.

Built by Kati and Darin Robison, both 4th generation Montanans, who admit they had dreamt about building a tree house for quite some time. Built with the help of buddies and their respective dads, the completed retreat perches among the treetops but is easily accessible by a series of staircases leading up from the forest floor. The grand entrance is a spiral staircase custom crafted around a giant Douglas fir tree. “The tree house can sleep five comfortably but is also wonderful for couples and romantic getaways,” says Kati. “The setting is perfect for a writer’s retreat or romantic getaway with your own private wooded acreage.”

The first floor has a full bathroom with a full-sized shower and sink. Two living trees grow through the actual interior and two living trees are through the tree house decks. The two-storey wooden tree house has a silver spiral staircase that connects two floors while tree trunks run through the middle of the property.

“The master suite loft leads out to the 2nd story tree house deck through a sliding glass door, for the most relaxing space to enjoy a morning coffee overlooking your private wooded setting. The master suite loft also has a private half bathroom.

We used a combination of locally sourced materials and reclaimed materials to give it an authentic Montana rustic feel,” adds Kati. With a not insubstantial  500 square-feet of living space along with two outside deck areas, full kitchen, dishwasher, stove and three lush padded benches to entertain which also double as sleeping quarters.

A stay at the Montana Treehouse Retreat costs $399 per night with a three-night minimum stay required.

Words: Mark McConville/Mediadrumworld

Apartment Therapy Features Montana Treehouse Retreat Airbnb

This Montana Cabin is Built Around Four Trees

by NORA TAYLOR

Original Post on Apartment Therapy.

There’s something eternally appealing about a treehouse, isn’t there? As we get older, actual houses amongst the trees edge out the old school climb a ladder in your backyard version. This gorgeous house in Montana puts a new twist on treehouse living, with four trees growing through it, two on the deck and two in the living area. 

The two story cabin is tucked away in the woods near Glacier National Park. Somewhat reminiscent of The Burrow, folks enter the welcoming cabin via a spiral staircase wrapped around a large Douglas Fir. The two story, 500 square foot home is perfect for a romantic weekend for two (but can technically sleep five).

The first floor has a kitchen, full bathroom, two decks and padded benches that can double as sleeping areas but also look perfect for curling up and reading a book on a snowy day. The second floor consists of the master suite and yet another deck. 

The home is located on seven private acres and is close to numerous outdoor sites and activities including Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort and Flathead Lake. If you’re ready to run away to Montana, at least for the weekend, the home is available on Airbnb. 

h/t inhabitat

Rustic Fairytale Elopement at Montana Treehouse Retreat

There's nothing more romantic than eloping with the one you love in Montana. Any time of year, Montana has so much to offer with it's picturesque landscapes in all seasons including winter! Elopements are so much fun as they are so much more natural, less fuss and more about the couple's love than anything else. The treehouse is the perfect setting to say your "I Do's".

Lindsey Jane Photography captured this couple beautifully at the Montana Treehouse Retreat this winter in the snow. The end result is a dreamy fairytale rustic elopement. It reminds me of scenes from Snow White, except with a cute pup and with a Montana twist. 

A treehouse, your big love and your fur baby. What more could you need? See for yourself.

Special thanks to local vendors:

Photography: Lindsey Jane Photography

Tasty Treats: Fleur Bakery

Makeup: Angela Dowda

Hair: CS Bridal Styling

Dress:  J Scott Couture

Flowers: Mums Flowers

Bride and Groom: Jana & Logan Lamm

Photo Assistant: Rebecca Schaffer

Montana Treehouse Retreat Featured on Time.com!

The 10 Most Popular Treehouses Right Now, and How Much They Cost to Rent

By MEGAN LEONHARDT 

Time.com

November 14, 2017

If the typical hotel stay is too passé, consider staying somewhere extraordinary during your next vacation—like a treehouse. 

No joke: Not just for kids anymore, treehouses are becoming a popular lodging option for travelers looking to create a memorable experience. In fact, the demand for treehouses increased more than 30% over the past year, according to vacation rental booking site HomeAway. 

Many of the most popular vacation rentals, including these treehouses, are near national and state parks, HomeAway finds. “Groups and families want to combine outdoor adventure with the comforts of staying in a home away from home,” Karen Fuller, HomeAway’s senior director of global market research, said in a statement. 

Here, we look at the 10 most popular treehouses HomeAway offers—and how much it will cost you to stay in one of these spectacular nests.

3. Luxury Montana Treehouse Retreat

Looking for unique lodgings when visiting Glacier National Park? This perch is just a short, 25-minute drive away. You enter the double-decker treehouse via a spiral staircase built around a giant Douglas fir tree. This treehouse sleeps six, with one bedroom and a large sofa bed in the living room.

Link to original article:

http://time.com/money/5018762/amazing-treehouses-rental-homeaway/

Ski Whitefish and Stay At The Montana Treehouse Retreat!

Book Your Winter Getaway at Montana Treehouse Retreat

Ski season is right around the corner in Northwestern Montana. We are scheduled to have our first significant snow with this week. Have you started dreaming up winter vacation plans? Why not have the ultimate winter vacation and pair a trip to Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort with a stay at The Montana Treehouse Retreat!

Birds eye view of The Montana Treehouse Retreat, PC: Great Northern Drones

Our luxury treehouse is just minutes from the top of Big Mountain and we would love have you stay with us! This double decker treehouse, outside of Whitefish is the perfect unforgettable weekend getaway. Our luxury treehouse is equipped with a full kitchen, dishwasher, 2 bathrooms, a full shower and sleeping quarters for up to 5 people. 

Enjoy a hot toddy on the deck or cozy up with a hot cup of coffee on your own private balcony overlooking your own private forest off of the master suite deck! 

There is no roughing it at the Montana Treehouse Retreat! You will also have your own private wooded property for an outdoor fire. There is plenty of space on the grounds for nature walks, cross country skiing and sledding for kids!

We look forward to having you stay with us this winter and can't wait to meet you!

To see more photos and read more about availability of our listing or BOOK A STAY visit our Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/18627194

Contact owner Kati at: 406-890-9925 if you have any questions or would like help booking your stay!

Arboreal Abode in Big Sky: Treehouse Guys Features Montana Treehouse Retreat!

Many have asked where they can watch our episode of "The Treehouse Guys" on DIY Network featuring the Montana Treehouse Retreat.

Click thIS link to watch on Amazon.

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

Montana Treehouse Retreat Featured in Flathead Beacon

Castle in the Sky

Whitefish couple's new luxury treehouse retreat featured on DIY Network's television show

BY TRISTAN SCOTT // FLATHEAD BEACON//MAY 18, 2017 // PHOTOS: GREG LINDSTROM

Kati O’Toole and her husband, Darin Robison, have transformed their lofty dream into a reality with their new business venture at Montana Treehouse Retreat, a unique backyard escape that spirits guests into the treetops.

Literally.

Campers looking for an outdoor experience that transcends pitching a tent or renting a cabin in the wilderness will get a thrill out of the latest trend of lodging — a vacation rental in the sky.

Located on the couple’s wooded 7-acre property off Dillon Road near Whitefish, the retreat incorporates the growing popularity of custom luxury treehouse dwellings with the mountain allure of Montana.

Professional treehouse designers have capitalized on the trend by building everything from breweries to recording studios, but a rising number of backyard escapes are cropping up across the nation, advertised as guest rentals on the online hospitality service Airbnb.

The couple’s treehouse made its television debut on May 15 on the DIY Network’s show “The Treehouse Guys,” whose crew visited the Flathead Valley to help frame the structure, which spans four trees — three larches and a ponderosa.

In addition to showing the early construction of the treehouse, the segment also features local activities and amenities of the Flathead Valley, and will re-air next month.

From the moment that O’Toole and Robison purchased their property five years ago, they’ve entertained visions of building a treehouse in their expansively forested lot, but with a growing family, full-time jobs and a basket of home projects, they were short on time.

“We’ve always wanted to build a treehouse,” O’Toole said. “It’s been a dream for a long time. But never in our wildest dreams did we think it would look like this.”

Both fourth-generation Montanans with a passion for the outdoors, their passion project was sidelined as they worked to keep up with their 3-year-old son, Rowan, and newborn baby, Ry.

When a friend pointed them to a casting call for the television show, they navigated a series of lengthy interviews and were selected for an episode.

O’Toole and Robison applied for and received a conditional use permit for their property, with the county Board of Adjustment granting approval for up to three high-end treehouses available for nightly rental.

The build crew with the Treehouse Guys — B’fer Roth and his team of “tree muskateers” — completed the frame of the treehouse in about six weeks and provided their expertise, while Darin and a crew of friends and family helped build a giant log spiral staircase, milled the siding and interior paneling, and anchored the structure to the trees.

Because it’s not connected to the earth, the house moves with the trees during high winds and as the trees grow.

The 18-foot wooden spiral staircase leading up to the entrance of the treehouse wraps around an old Douglas fir that had been struck by lighting on Robison’s grandparents’ property. The top blew off in the wind, leaving a 60-foot stub that Robison thought was perfect for his treehouse.

“It was definitely the right one for the job,” he said.

The maximum size of a treehouse is determined by the number of trees available to serve as its foundation. A single large, healthy tree can support a 350- to 400-square-foot treehouse, according to the builders, while two or more trees can hold a 700- to 800-square-foot structure.

O’Toole and Robison plan to begin renting their treehouse in November once they’ve completed the finishing touches, and construct two additional custom treehouses on their property in the coming years.

The two-story treehouse features all of the amenities including septic and sewer, a small kitchen on the lower level, as well as a living area and full bath. It rents for $500 a night, with a minimum of three nights and discounts available for weekly rentals.

O’Toole said she has already begun receiving inquiries, and predicts an uptick in interest following the airing of the show.

“It is a luxury experience. There’s nothing primitive about it,” O’Toole said. “It’s nicer than the home we live in and I think people are really going to enjoy staying here.”

For more information and to book a getaway, visit http://www.montanatreehouseretreat.com/ and to learn more about The Treehouse Guys check out http://www.diynetwork.com/shows/the-treehouse-guys.

LINK TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE IN FLATHEAD BEACON: http://flatheadbeacon.com/2017/05/18/castle-in-the-sky/

Montana Treehouse Retreat Featured in Daily Interlake

WHITEFISH COUPLE’S TREEHOUSE FEATURED ON DIY NETWORK

May 14, 2017 at 5:00 am | By LYNNETTE HINTZE Daily Inter Lake

Kati O’Toole, Darin Robison and their children Ry, 5 months, and Rowan, 3, outside their treehouse on Thursday near Whitefish. The treehouse retreat will be featured Tuesday, May 16, on the DIY Network. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake

Once upon a time, treehouses were relegated as play spaces for children.

Not so anymore.These days treehouses are trendy. They’re unique abodes for folks who want a slightly different lodging experience, and they range from rustic to upscale.

Treehouses also have their own television show now. The DIY Network’s “The Treehouse Guys” follows a team of builders and designers around the country as they create and build custom treehouses. Last year about this time, they spent six weeks near Whitefish framing a treehouse for Darin Robison and Kati O’Toole, who own Montana Treehouse Retreat off Dillon Road.

The show featuring the local treehouse airs at 9 p.m. Monday on the DIY Network. In addition to showing the construction of the treehouse, the segment will feature local activities and amenities of the Flathead Valley.

“We dreamed about building a treehouse,” O’Toole said.

The young couple thought it was an attainable goal that might take a while to achieve. Robison owns Ace Landscaping and O’Toole is a music producer for an online record studio based in Los Angeles. They have two sons, Rowan, 3, and Ry, 5 months, so life already was extremely busy when someone suggested they check out an advertisement in the Daily Inter Lake about the DIY Network looking for locals interested in being part of The Treehouse Guys show.

After a lengthy interview process, they made the cut and the project was set in motion.

The first order of business was to get a conditional-use permit to allow the treehouse on their property southeast of Whitefish. The county Board of Adjustment granted approval to develop their seven wooded acres with up to three high-end treehouses open to the public for nightly rental.

Once the treehouse build crew — B’fer Roth and his band of “tree muskateers” — had completed the frame, there was still much to be done. It’s been a collaborative project and a very positive experience, Robison said.

John Colliander of Treeworks Log and Timberframe Construction of West Glacier built the spiral log staircase that winds around a gigantic tree Robison harvested from his grandmother’s yard near Echo Lake. The root of that special tree will be turned into a countertop for the treehouse.

The couple’s fathers — Mike O’Toole of Polson and Ryan Robison of Columbia Falls — have helped out, as have Sean Donovan of Whitefish and Robison’s brother Dave. Bigfork architect John Robinson drew up the final plans for the unique, two-story treehouse.

Finish work will proceed over the summer, with a targeted opening date of Nov. 1.

Four living trees have been incorporated into the treehouse — two on the deck and two in the interior. The dwelling features a master bedroom loft on the upper level with half-bath and sliding glass door to a deck.

The lower level will have a small kitchen, living area and full bath.

It’s a one-of-a-kind dwelling that will rent for $500 a night.

“We’re thinking honeymoons,” special getaways for guests, O’Toole said.

Within the next five years or so the couple hope to build two more custom treehouses on their property.

Offering something out of the norm was always the plan.

“There are so many regular cabins for the rental market,” Robison said. “We wanted something unique.”

For more information about Montana Treehouse Retreat go to www.montanatreehouseretreat.com.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.

Link to original article: http://www.dailyinterlake.com/article/20170514/ARTICLE/170519928