BLUE RIDGE, Ga. — Ask anyone born in the ’60s, ’70s or ’80s about their favorite treehouse and they’re likely to tell you about a one-room wooden structure in their backyard or one of their friends, that was built one weekend.

As that generation grew, so did their treehouse dreams.

These days, treehouses stand as some of Airbnb and VRBO’s top properties.

What can guests expect on a visit to a treehouse these days? How about hot tubs, fireplaces, outdoor showers, lofts, balconies and more?

Buckhead is home to one of the most famous treehouses in the world. This three-room treehouse ranked as Airbnb’s No. 1 most wish-listed property in the world. The next available night for rent at the property is in June of next year.

Atlanta is also home to the Alpaca Treehouse. Featured on a number of different television shows, the escape to the Alpaca Treehouse includes luxury living in a beautiful bamboo forest that’s on a working farm.

Up the road in north Georgia, Linda and Ken Roth built a couple of treehouses in the Blue Ridge area.

It wasn’t planned.

The couple owned a cabin in the area and worked with builder Junior Deal from Blue Ridge Treehouse Builders to construct a garage on the property. Once the garage was built, they were very happy with the results but moved on. Several years later, Deal approached them about his dream of building a treehouse. After plenty of discussion, the Roths decided to give it a go, combining their input with Deal’s, to create an investment property.

Canopy Blue was the first project. It’s a three-story treehouse located in the Aska Adventure Area. It features 1,200 square feet of decks overlooking the national forest. Suffice it to say, no child’s treehouse ever looked like this.

“Through the base of the tree trunk is a tube allowing viewing below where bird feeder hangs,” Linda Roth said. “We had considered a deer feeder but knew that might attract bears, so birds it is. Just a cute factor that guests seem to love. The treehouse is all about putting smiles on the guests’ faces and allowing them some good getaway time.”

Inn The Ravine came next.

“It is high off the ground with lots of soaring windows of varying shapes and sizes, allowing you to feel literally tucked in the trees,” Roth said. “It is slightly larger, with a California king, queen and twin providing sleeping for five. It has a fireplace with the most amazing screen door you’ve ever seen built by a local.”

With many vacations canceled due to COVID-19, both spots offer a spot where guests can socially distance, relax and enjoy some fun activities.

“It is a great place to unwind,” Linda Roth said. “It is just so relaxing and nature filled. There is a hiking trail you can walk to that goes forever if that’s your thing. Or you can just hang in the hot tub and view the quiet surroundings, or swing on the porch overlooking beautiful views with a cup of coffee and a good book. These small spaces allow for real conversing and being together, which we find families very drawn to.”

Hanging out, swinging, enjoying a good book and time with friends and family - maybe the treehouses of today aren’t so different from those childhood ones.

Cox Media Group