Treehouse dream comes true for Powell River brothers (VIDEOS)

Many youngsters dream of a treehouse in their yard and for two young Powell River boys that dream has come true.

Mason and Sawyer Sanderson have a lot of sweat equity in their treehouse perched on tree trunks, 10 feet above the ground.

Mason received several power tools for Christmas and put them to use on the project that started on May 15.

“It all started when we took down trees in our backyard to build a shop,” explained their father Ken. “Mason had always wanted a treehouse and asked if we could build one.”

Once seven or eight trees were taken down, three trunks were left standing in a corner of the yard that hold up the platform with the addition of two 6x6 posts.

“My favourite part was putting on the shingles with a power nailer,” said Mason.

“I liked the framing, putting on the plywood and putting the walls up,” said Sawyer.

Ken’s partner Jasmine Lawrence said it was a good learning experience.

“It was the only time they got up early,” she added. “They put in some 14-hour days and finished covered with sweat.”

Ken agreed they worked extremely hard and wanted to keep going after a long day.

Even Jasmine’s daughter Freyja participated in the project and wants to host a party in the treehouse.

“She’s really excited about the whole thing,” said Jasmine.

The treehouse platform includes a 10x10 room and a deck. Inside an old Ford truck seat that acts as a couch and chair sit on a rug. Most importantly there is a flat screen television that the boys use to play their video games on.

Still unfinished, the treehouse needs a door and an addition to the deck so the boys have a safe area to take off on their zipline “because what is a treehouse without one.”

Jasmine said with school being shut down and now summer vacation, she is happy that the boys are outside all day in the fresh air, playing video games, then riding the zipline and jumping on the trampoline.

“In the morning, they fill their backpacks with their video games and snacks, then climb the ladder into the treehouse,” explains Jasmine. “At night, they pack up their games and ride the zipline down to the ground and come in the house.”

She said their house used to be filled with noise from the games and the boys bickering.

“Now the house is so quiet and we don’t even know if they are arguing,” she added. “There was a time limit on game playing in the house but the same rules don’t apply in the treehouse.”

Putting up the zipline required contributions from the neighbours on either side of the property. One allowed the line to be attached to a large maple in her yard and on the other side, the line is anchored with a hydro pin and turnbuckle with a wire that goes around the second neighbour’s cedar tree stump.

“We have great neighbours who agreed to help,” said Ken.

He said he is happily surprised with the response of people driving by on the highway in front of the property.

“They are honking, waving and giving us the thumbs up,” he added. “We’re now known as the place with the treehouse.”

The couple laugh as they talk about how the treehouse evolved. “It cost a lot more than we originally planned but one thing led to another,” said Jasmine.

“Who knows what will come next?” said Ken with a big grin. “We’ll have to see what happens.”