A treehouse oasis in a Buckhead backyard

Childhood Dreams Come to Life

Twenty-two years ago, Peter Bahouth bought a one-acre wooded property behind his Buckhead home. As he thought about what to do with the land, he remembered his beloved boyhood treehouse and decided to build an adult version. He designed a three-part treehouse and had it built in just six weeks.

The treehouse includes a cozy sitting area, a bedroom and a deck wrapping around a beautiful 200-year-old pine tree that Bahouth affectionately calls the “Old Man.” It’s outfitted with plenty of twinkle lights, premium eco-friendly linens, vintage décor and natural artifacts.

A nod to his childhood affinity for sleeping outside, he fashioned a bed to roll out and let guests sleep under the stars. Those guests enjoy exclusive access to a private bathroom just steps away inside the main house. Not without personal touches, one of the coolest elements of this treehouse are the 85-year-old windows that his mother gave him, with real butterflies between the panes.

“I’m not sure how long treehouses last generally, but I put a lot into them,” said Bahouth. Each year he has arborists climb and care for the trees, change out the bridge ropes and add swings and waterfalls. “Anyone can build a treehouse in their backyard, a walking trail or a garden,” he said. “All of those things can help make people calmer and relieve stress.”

Book Buckhead’s Coolest Bed

Good news for those with treehouse envy: In 2008 Bahouth, a retired environmental activist, decided to post his treehouse on Airbnb. The treehouse has become so popular that it’s one of the rental site’s most wish-listed properties in the world, with more than 2,000 people staying in the treehouse since he listed it. Read more about it at www.peterbahouth.com