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Grey Ghost
04-06-2011, 6:52pm
Click on 'slideshow' for pics. I see it at least once a week..it's behind a Mexican restaurant that I frequent.

http://calhountimes.com/view/full_story/12648486/article-MTV-Cribs-films-unique-local-home?instance=home_news_1st_left

MTV’s celebrity television show Cribs recently took on a local project as a team started production at a tree house in Calhoun.

Sam Edwards, a writer turned architect has been living in the treehouse downtown for the last 20 years. According to Edwards, MTV producers recently contacted him to be a part of this season’s Cribs. Production began at the house on Saturday after the crew met for a pre-production walk-through Friday afternoon.

Alongside Edwards in this reality television spotlight was an old family friend, Ryan,* who was asked to be on the show based on his knowledge of the house since he has seen it evolve as he grew up, he said.

“I remember going to eat at the restaurant, and dad would bring me up here,” said Ryan.

According to Edwards, Ryan has been one of only a few people who has seen the house in every phase.

Producers of Cribs declined to speak to the Calhoun Times during pre-production as to how or why they chose Edwards’ home for the show at the home on Friday.

A tree to call home

Edwards began construction on the tree house in 1991 after moving back to Calhoun from Los Angeles. He and a friend were opening a restaurant, but Edwards needed a place to live and write a book, he said. So the treehouse building began.

Edwards said he had built 40 to 50 tree houses for his friends growing up and was always gifted with hammer and nail.

“The fun wasn’t in playing in them,” he said. “For me, it was in building them.”

According to Edwards the house started out as a 600-square foot box of plywood, but quickly began to evolve into an architectural wonder.

Over time Edwards added several curiosities: a bathroom made from an old submarine, which had originally been constructed for an Elvis movie; a portion of a plane that serves as a guest bedroom; a boat for a master bed-room and a sunroom in an old helicopter.

“I didn’t mean to build this thing. It just kind of happened,” Edwards said.

The entire structure is between 10 to 14 feet off the ground throughout, and a great deal of the tree is still ex-posed inside the house. Because of the bizarre nature of his residence Edwards is unable to get it insured; however, he does have multiple escape routes in the event of a fire, he said.

According to Edwards, the city of Calhoun has always been gracious to him as far as building codes and regulations. In return, he has tried to help put Calhoun on the map, he said.

Since its completion, this treehouse turned local landmark has brought producers from Europe, Asia and all over the United States. According to Edwards, his house has been featured in coffee table books, magazines and on numerous television shows. More than 20 publicity crews have visited the house since its construction, he said. Some have even hailed his home in the tree as the most famous treehouse in the world, he said.

JRD77VET
04-06-2011, 8:31pm
:crazy:

Kerrmudgeon
04-06-2011, 8:32pm
Always intrigued with tree houses every since the first Swiss Family Robinson movie, and going through the one at Disney World. But that one is a bit of an eye sore from the outside. IMHO. Nicer looking inside. Cozy!
:frog:

joecaver
04-07-2011, 4:25am
not bad on the inside but it looks like azz from the outside.

Ocalaguy
04-07-2011, 4:42am
What an eyesore. I guess there's no building codes in that area.

Sea Six
04-07-2011, 5:53am
I've seen some REALLY cool tree-houses, and that ain't one of them.

That thing needs to be torn down. Brings down the neighborhood. :yesnod:

Z06David
04-07-2011, 7:22am
I poop in an airplane, where do you poop?

No seriously, that dude is a vagina destroyer

Sea Six
04-07-2011, 9:37am
OP, that's an interesting story, but that dude has the decorating taste and style of a homeless person. Seriously.

I can't imagine what the rest of the houses in that neighborhood must look like, if the area allows permits for that sort of thing. Or it must be that there is no permitting process, or zero enforcement.

:sadangel:

mikeg826
04-07-2011, 11:07am
I see at least 25 building mistakes with that house


So does he get his USMail home delivered? What would his address be 1 Maple Tree Calhoun, CA ?

Sea Six
04-07-2011, 11:16am
I see at least 25 building mistakes with that house


So does he get his USMail home delivered? What would his address be 1 Maple Tree Calhoun, CA ?

It comes by airmail.

:yesnod:

Grey Ghost
04-09-2011, 6:53pm
It's actually in the city and I think they (officials and owner) love the attention it generates. It's been featured on several TV shows. There are no other houses too near it. Looks just as bad in person as in the pics. I can't imagine living in the thing.

Yamma
04-10-2011, 7:12am
While not the least bit attractive on the outside, that thing is pretty neat!

Chuck A
04-10-2011, 8:00am
very interesting indeed