When you were a young kid, did you and your friends ever “build” your own treehouse?
Maybe it wasn’t even a treehouse, but a fort with all the essentials that you and your friends need.
Or maybe it’s just you and your treehouse is your private space from everyone.
Whatever its purpose is for you, anyone who experienced treehouses knew it was a big part of your childhood.
Pete Nelson has been obsessed with treehouses since he was seven years old.
He became so enamored with them that it felt natural for him to start his work life in the construction business.
Pete moved to Seattle with his wife, Judy, where he continued to design and build single-family houses for a living.
This is also where he started writing his book, Treehouses.
To make the book come alive, he designed and built a treehouse in Saltspring Island, British Columbia, Canada.
He documented the entire build through a photo essay that was included in the book.
When the book was published in 1994, his phone rang endlessly with requests to build treehouses.
Pete Nelson became the Treehouse Master.
That’s how Pete met NBA superstar, Shaquille O’Neal.
The retired giant wanted to have his own treehouse in his backyard. Shaq told Pete that he and a friend tried to build a treehouse in the woods near his home.
When it was done, he stepped into it, he fell to the ground. Ouch!
This time, he wanted to bring in the expert.
That expert was the Treehouse Master, Pete Nelson, there to build Shaq his own treehouse.
Shaq let Pete work his treehouse magic because he knew it was going to be great. Pete isn’t the Treehouse Master for nothing!
All Shaq wanted was a place where he could hang out with his fellas to smoke cigars and have a drink while they play cards.
Otherwise, he was going to leave it all in Pete’s hands.
Do you think Pete can use his magic to make Shaq’s treehouse dream come alive?
The day of the reveal came and Pete did his best to cover Shaq’s eyes and lead him to the new treehouse.
It’s definitely a challenge for Pete to cover his eyes since Shaq stands at 7’1″.
He did it for a couple of feet and then Shaq cooperated with the surprise and kept his eyes closed.
When Shaq opened his eyes, his jaw dropped.
He bent down to give Pete a bear hug and wouldn’t let go. It was the best gift Shaq could ever get or want. He has only seen the exterior but he already loved it.
The treehouse was built a few feet off the ground. It had two platforms with two sets of stairs before you can go inside the treehouse. Shaq said it was a condo all on its own.
Pete had a reply to that.
He said it’s a speakeasy, referring to the only conditions and description Shaq wanted for the treehouse. The Treehouse Master loved Shaq’s reaction.
“Even people like [Shaq], big men, get all childlike when they see a treehouse,” Pete described.
When he walked inside, Shaq was astounded.
He couldn’t believe how Pete was able to transform a general description into something jaw-dropping beautiful. Inside the treehouse, he had a wine chiller, a wet bar, and a poker game table. Plus they even included a custom painting of the big man.
Even the door that leads into the treehouse was just like Shaq, bold and strong but also smooth.
All in all, Pete was able to make Shaq’s treehouse dream come alive. Best of all, it can definitely handle Shaq’ height and he won’t fall through again.
See more of Shaq’s treehouse in the video below!
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