Everybody's Treehouse is back in business.
The Mount Airy Forest attraction in Cincinnati reopened Sept. 25 after more than two years and $413,000 worth of repairs.
The 20-year-old feature, a favorite for school field trips, now has a new roof, secure railings and a fortified foundation.
"We're not just fixing this for next week," said Rocky Merz, spokesperson for Cincinnati Parks. "We're fixing it for the next decade."
Treehouse 'just falling apart,' park official says
Cincinnati Parks closed the treehouse in January 2024 to address deteriorating wood and loose railings on the 200-foot path leading to the treehouse. The deck rails around the house were wobbly, supported by metal bracings that created a tripping hazard. An ash tree that once supported the path was dying and needed to be replaced.
"It was just falling apart," Merz said.
Parks brought in a structural engineer to assess damage and design fixes.
The refurbished structure is now partly supported by the trunk of a giant white oak, stripped of bark and smooth to the touch. The underside of one section of the pathway was rebuilt in full. Wooden railings atop deck walls were replaced with metal ones.
The final improvement, replacement of the treehouse's distinctive roof, was completed in recent days. The roof is a shake style, constructed with wooden pieces split from logs rather than uniform shingles.
Texas visitors declare treehouse 'cool, 'creepy'
A Texas family inaugurated the treehouse after Merz removed a barrier and erected a "now open" sign on Sept. 25.
"We just wanted to hike and then eventually we saw this on Google maps and then we wanted to come here," said Marley Baktiari, 6, visiting from Richmond, Texas, 30 miles south of Houston.
She declared the treehouse "cool" and especially liked the long entry path.
Sister Peyton Baktiari, 8, said she'd be telling Texas friends about the visit. Her report: "There was a huge house. It was very creepy."
Mom Caitlin Baktiari said the family, in town to see a friend attending the University of Cincinnati, visited the park in search of "a little bit of elevation change and exploring." And with temperatures in the Houston area still around 90 degrees, they were happy that "sweater weather" had arrived in Cincinnati, she said.
Opened in 2006 with $500K pricetag
Everybody’s Treehouse opened in 2006 at a cost of about $500,000. Billed as a fully accessible park feature, it attracted dozens of donations from corporate and civic groups, along with 4,000 hours of volunteer time. The treehouse stands about 14 feet off the ground. The house and ramps, together, span about 1,500 square feet along Trail Ridge Road in the north part of Mount Airy Forest.
The just-completed upgrade was its first full overhaul.
The treehouse opened in time for two events in Mount Airy Forest, Cincinnati Park's largest site:
- Trailfest runs 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 26, with a morning bike ride and variety of afternoon hikes, plus food trucks and live music.
- Conservation work follows on Sept. 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with volunteers removing invasive plant growth in the west part of Mount Airy.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: After $413K upgrade, Everybody's Treehouse reopens in Mount Airy park
