Treehouse Masters - Wild butterfly escape

Pete: THE TREEHOUSE JUST GREW UP. NOW TREEHOUSES ARE BIGGER, HIGHER, AND MORE OUT OF THIS WORLD THAN EVER BEFORE. I'M PETE NELSON, THE TREEHOUSE MAN. I TRAVEL THE COUNTRY WITH MY TOP-NOTCH CREW... All: OH! Pete: ...BUILDING THE MOST AMAZING TREEHOUSES ON EARTH, CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH NATURE. WHAT THE HECK IS A GOAT DOING IN THE TREEHOUSE? AND WITH EVERY JOB, WE GO OUT ON A LIMB... ...TO MASTER THE ART OF THE TREEHOUSE. AAH! -- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS Pete: CHICO, WHAT DO YOU THINK? ANY WORMS? ANYTHING TO ROLL IN THERE? NOW WHAT ARE YOU UP TO? I'M REFORESTING. LOOKIT. I'M READY TO PUT IN THIS SWORD FERN. SO, I'M TURNING IT ALL BACK TO NATURE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I JUST GOT A GREAT CALL FROM A REALLY NICE FAMILY IN INDEPENDENCE, OHIO -- MARK AND CHRISTI TRIPODI. AND THEY HAVE EIGHT CHILDREN. HOW COOL IS THAT, EIGHT KIDS?! ANYWAY, THEY WANT A TREEHOUSE, AND THEY HAVE $90,000. AND THEY WANT IT TO BE A BUTTERFLY TREEHOUSE. A BUTTERFLY TREEHOUSE? I'M STILL GETTING MY HEAD AROUND THAT -- WHAT THAT MEANS. OR IS IT JUST, LIKE, A COCOON... OHH. ...AND THEN IT TURNS INTO BUTTERFLY. I'M NOT SAYING -- I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW. WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. SO, I'M GONNA FINISH THIS, AND THEN I'M GONNA GET IN THERE, AND I'LL GET IT DONE. CHIC AND I ARE DOING SOME HARD WORK HERE. [ BIRDS SQUAWK ] Pete: HERE WE ARE IN INDEPENDENCE, OHIO. ARE WE NOT ALL OVER THIS GREAT COUNTRY? IT'S AMAZING. I MEAN, OHIO IS A TREE MECCA. WHO KNEW?! GOT CHERRY, HEMLOCK, WALNUT RIGHT HERE. THE WALNUTS CAN BE THE SIZE OF A SMALL BASEBALL, AND WHEN THEY DROP OUT OF THAT TREE, HITS YOU IN THE HEAD, HURTS. [ TURKEYS GOBBLING ] I GOT A CALL FROM MARK AND CHRISTI. THEY RUN A CHARITY. APPARENTLY THERE IS A THEME THAT THEY HAVE WITH BUTTERFLIES. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE'RE GONNA INCORPORATE A BUTTERFLY THEME, BUT THESE ARE TREEHOUSE TREES RIGHT IN HERE. HERE WE ARE -- CORNERSTONE OF HOPE. WOW. Mark: HELLO, MR. PETE! WHOO! WHOO-HOO! YOU'RE MARK? I AM MARK. COME AND GIVE ME A HUG. OHH! WOW! MY WIFE, CHRISTI. HOW ARE YOU? HI, CHRISTI. HOW ARE YOU? MEETING PETE NELSON IS SO EXCITING! HE'S THIS BIG GUY, BUT HE GIVES YOU THESE HUGE BEAR HUGS. THAT FEELS SO GOOD! [ LAUGHTER ] IS THIS YOUR HOME? IT LOOKS SO HOMEY. IT SEEMS SO WARM. IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT. Mark: CORNERSTONE OF HOPE IS A GRIEF CENTER FOR THOSE WHO SEEK SUPPORT AFTER THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE. WELL, GOLLY. WHAT AN IMPORTANT THING. YEAH, THAT'S WHY WE LOOKED YOU UP. WE'RE SO EXCITED BECAUSE THIS TREEHOUSE WILL HELP BRING BACK JOY AGAIN FOR THOSE WHO GO THROUGH THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE IN A FUN, EXCITING WAY. I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S A DREAM BECAUSE IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT. IT'S MORE PURPOSEFUL THAN THAT. MARK AND CHRISTI ARE SAINTS. THEY'RE TWO SAINTS. I'M ALREADY EXCITED, AND NOW I'M ULTRA-EXCITED. COUNSELING GRIEVING KIDS AND FAMILIES, IT'S INCREDIBLE WHAT THEY DO. TELL ME HOW IT WAS STARTED. IT'S -- FOR MY WIFE AND I, IT'S VERY PERSONAL FOR US. BECAUSE, UM... WE HAD A SON, BOBBY, THAT DIED 13 YEARS AGO AT THE AGE OF 3 YEARS OLD. 3 YEARS OLD? OUR SON BOBBY WAS A GENTLEMAN FOR BEING SO YOUNG. HE JUST HAD A REAL LOVE FOR PEOPLE. HE LOVED THE COLOR BLUE AND THE SKY, CLEAR, BLUE SKY WITH THE CLOUDS. EVEN TO THIS DAY, OUR BELIEF IS HE'S IN A HIGHER PLACE ABOVE THE CLOUDS. OHH. REALLY, THROUGH OUR EXPERIENCE OF GRIEF, OUR GOAL WAS FOR ANOTHER FAMILY WHO GOES THROUGH LOSING A CHILD, WE WANTED TO HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE FOR THEM TO RECEIVE COUNSELING, GROUPS, KIDS' CAMPS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMS TO SERVE GRIEVING FAMILIES. NOW THIS TREEHOUSE IS GONNA HELP US HELP OTHERS. THIS IS A PLACE WHERE KIDS, FAMILIES ARE GONNA COME TO HEAL. AND TREEHOUSES ARE MAGIC. SO, A TREEHOUSE SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF NATURE CAN DO THAT. YOU SAID SOMETHING ON THE PHONE ABOUT BUTTERFLY, AND TELL ME WHAT THE BUTTERFLY'S ABOUT. IT'S NATURE'S TRANSFORMATION PROCESS. A CATERPILLAR TRANSFORMS ITSELF INTO SOMETHING GREATER THAN IT EVER WAS BEFORE. THESE KIDS GET TO HONOR THEIR LOVED ONE, MEMORIALIZE THEIR LOVED ONE, BUT YET, THEY HAVE A LIFE TO LIVE. SO, WE'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM HOPE AGAIN. SO, BUTTERFLIES. I MEAN, THEY'RE PERFECT. THIS TREEHOUSE IS GONNA BE A SOURCE OF GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST LIFT UP AND FLY THEMSELVES. TELL ME THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING INSIDE THE TREEHOUSE. WE NEED SOME ROOM FOR ART THERAPY. ART THERAPY? OKAY, GREAT. SO, YOU COULD HAVE TABLES. PLUS AN AREA FOR THE KIDS TO READ AND THEN WRITE. SO, MAYBE A LOFT? A LITTLE LOFT, SURE. A LOT OF DECKING, TOO, SO THEY CAN EVEN JUST BE OUTSIDE. SO, WE NEED TO MAKE THIS BIG! BIG IS BETTER. BIG IS BETTER. BIG IS BETTER. YEAH. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ANOTHER HUG FOR A MINUTE, BROTHER. [ LAUGHTER ] THAT'S AWESOME. THE TRIPODI'S ARE DOING SOME COOL STUFF, AND I AM BIG-TIME ONBOARD. WELL, LET'S GO! LET'S GO! LET'S SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT. TO THE TREES! THE PROPERTY HERE IS GORGEOUS -- FOUR ACRES, THEY'VE GOT THE BUILDING, THIS MAGNIFICENT LAWN. [ PETE CHUCKLES ] BUT TUCKED AWAY IN THE BACK, THE TREES! THIS IS A TULIP TREE, COMMONLY CALLED TULIP POPLAR. IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A POPLAR. THIS IS RELATED TO MAGNOLIAS. BUT IT'S BY ITSELF, AND I THINK, FOR THE SIZE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR A NUMBER OF TREES, I THINK, IN THIS CASE. THE TREEHOUSE IS GONNA BE BIG, BUT THIS IS GONNA BE THE MOST IMPORTANT TREEHOUSE THAT I HAVE EVER BUILT. THESE TREES NEED TO BE PERFECT. SO, IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, YOU'VE JUST GOT TO GO...PRIMAL. [ MONKEY SCREECHING ] LET'S KEEP GOING, BECAUSE LOOK AT OVER HERE. THERE'S SOME STUFF OVER HERE. PETE KEEPS WALKING, AND I'M THINKING, I MEAN, CAN THE HOUSE BE THIS FAR FROM THE HOUSE? OW! THIS IS SERIOUS. "WHERE IS HE GOING?" I'M WALKING ON THE EDGE OF A CLIFF. PRICKER BUSHES HERE, AND SOME POISON IVY. I COULD SEE THERE WERE JUST WAY TOO MANY GREAT TREES BEYOND THIS BOUNDARY. BUT IT'S STILL ON THE PROPERTY, SO I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF. WHEN THE TREES ARE CALLING, I JUST HAVE TO LISTEN. Trees! YES. I'M FEELING SOMETHING REALLY GOOD RIGHT IN HERE. MAN, OH, MAN. I MEAN, THIS IS THE PLACE. THESE ARE THE TREES, AND THEY'RE THE RIGHT SIZE. THEY'RE STRONG. I COULD SEE IT LIKE "BAM!" THERE, DONE. WE GOT THIS. [ HAWK CRIES ] BAM! UH-HUH? CHERRY TREE. MAPLE OVER HERE. TULIP TREE. UNBELIEVABLE! Christi: HE'S SO EXCITED. IT IS AN ADVENTURE THIS MAN. OH, G-- BUH! AHH, IT FEELS REALLY GOOD. OW! OW! PRICKERS! [ BOTH LAUGH ] IMAGINE A BEAM STRETCHING FROM THAT TREE TO THAT TREE, ANOTHER ONE FROM THAT TREE TO THIS TREE. I MEAN, THIS WOULD BE ABOUT THE BIGGEST TREEHOUSE EVER! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT AT FIRST, BUT IT IS A PERFECT SPOT. AND YOU CAN HEAR THE BIRDS CHIRPING, THE DEER RUNNING AROUND, THE SQUIRRELS RUSTLING THROUGH. THIS IS THE PERFECT SPOT. OH, I LOVE IT. ALL RIGHT. THEN, UH, I'LL GO GET MY STUFF. OKAY. WE'LL GO GET THE KIDS, AND WE'LL COME BACK. AND YOU CAN MEET THE FAMILY. GO GET THE KIDS. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO IT. RIGHT AWAY, GOT TO WORK ON A PLAN. I'VE GOT TONS OF IDEAS ON HOW TO DO THIS. THIS THING IS GONNA BE MASSIVE! I MEAN, IT'S GONNA TAKE AN ARMY TO GET THIS THING DONE. All: HI, MR. NELSON! [ LAUGHS ] Pete: RIGHT THEN, THE WHOLE TRIPODI CLAN SHOWS UP. NICK, NICE TO MEET YOU. MARKY, NICE TO MEET YOU. FRANKIE. NOW, AM I GONNA REMEMBER ALL THESE? THIS FAMILY IS HUGE! CUBBY...MALEA...ANTONIO. MAYBE THIS IS THE ARMY THAT I'M LOOKING FOR TO HELP ME BUILD THIS THING. I MEAN, I COULD PUT THESE GUYS TO WORK. LUCIANO. WOW! NICE TO MEET YOU. SHOULD PROBABLY CHECK INTO THE LABOR LAWS AROUND OHIO FIRST, MAYBE. WHAT A GREAT, BIG FAMILY! WELL, OUR OLDEST IS IN COLLEGE RIGHT NOW, SO SHE'S NOT HERE. THERE'S ONE MORE? YEAH. HOW ABOUT THAT? AND THEN ONE LOOKING OVER US. AND ONE LOOKING OVER US. HOW ABOUT THAT? IT WAS SO FUN TO SEE MY KIDS WITH PETE, AND HE WAS SO GREAT WITH THEM AND WAS EXPLAINING THINGS TO THEM. WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MANSION IN THE TREES. [ LAUGHTER ] Pete: THIS TREEHOUSE WILL RISE OVER A STEEP RAVINE 20 FEET UP IN FOUR MAGNIFICENT TREES. AND IT'LL BE BIG -- I MEAN, A TWO-STORY BEHEMOTH. A WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE RAMP WILL SHOOT OUT FROM THE HILLSIDE, LEADING TO A WRAPAROUND DECK WITH LOTS OF PLANTS TO ATTRACT OUR BUTTERFLY BUDDIES. INSIDE, THERE'LL BE AN ENORMOUS ACTIVITY ROOM WITH AN EXPANDING TABLE THAT CAN TRANSFORM FOR ANY OCCASION. LOOK AT THE TREEHOUSE! UP ABOVE, THERE'S A COZY LOFT FULL OF FLUFFY FURNITURE FOR QUIET CONTEMPLATION AND MAYBE A NAP. THIS TREEHOUSE WILL BE THE BIGGEST COCOON OF HAPPINESS ON EARTH! Children: YAY! I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE THE CORNERS OF THE HOUSE WOULD BE. OKAY. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE HOW BIG THIS THING IS REALLY GONNA BE. YOU CLIMB UP TO THE BIG TREE RIGHT THERE. OKAY, YOU'RE GONNA GO THAT WAY ABOUT THREE FEET. WHY DON'T WE PUT YOU RIGHT ABOUT HERE? AND, NICK, I'M GONNA PUT YOU ABOVE THAT TREE. YOU GUYS -- BIG FAMILY, BIG VISION, BIG TREEHOUSE. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S PETE'S GONNA DO. I THINK HIS HEART SHINES THROUGH. WE GOT THE RIGHT GUY. ON 3... All: 1, 2, 3... TREEHOUSE! Pete: IT'S ALL SYSTEMS GO. SO, CALLING THE BOYS TO OHIO, WHERE THIS BUTTERFLY WILL SPREAD ITS WINGS. YEAH! WE HAVE GOT THE ALL-STAR TEAM TO BUILD THIS TREEHOUSE. DARYL LEADING THE CREW. ALEX ALSO ONE OF THE LEADS NOW. SEANIX, OUR RESIDENT COMEDIAN. WHERE ARE THE BUTTERFLIES, PETE?! AND THEN MY SON HENRY. STILL A LITTLE BIT OF A GREENHORN, BUT HE'S LEARNING THE ROPES. [ GRUNTS ] YOU CAN PUT THAT ON THE FORKS, BUDDY. WHOO! NO NEED, MAN. GO, BEEFCAKE! [ CHUCKLES ] THIS IS CALLED THE CORNERSTONE OF HOPE. MARK AND CHRISTI HAVE CREATED THIS ORGANIZATION TO HELP FAMILIES GET OVER A LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, HENCE THE TREEHOUSE. YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A HAPPY SPIRIT -- THIS TEAM OF OURS -- WHICH I'M VERY PROUD OF. SO, WE'RE GONNA BE HAPPY PEOPLE. YEAH. BRINGING IN THE POSITIVE ENERGY. YEAH. THIS IS GONNA BE AN ISLAND OF PURE HAPPINESS. GOT ME, ALEX? OKAY. ALL RIGHT! LET'S BRING OUT THE ENERGY, GUYS! BRING OUT THE ENERGY! YEAH! WHOO! Pete: WE'RE PUMPED. THE TREES ARE SAYING, "LET'S DO THIS! LET'S GET IT ON!" THIS TREEHOUSE IS A PLACE OF HOPE AND HEALING. AND TO HONOR THAT, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO INFUSE IT ALMOST THROUGH OSMOSIS WITH HAPPY, POSITIVE FEELINGS. WHOO! MAN, THAT IS A MAPLE TREE. SHOULD WE TAP THIS THING FOR SOME SYRUP? UM, YEAH, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THAT KIND OF MAPLE TREE. IT'S NOT? [ LAUGHS ] SO, IN THIS TREEHOUSE, WE'RE USING HEAVY LIMBS. THESE ARE A BIGGER VERSION OF THE TABS THAT WE'VE USED IN THE PAST. THE HEAVY LIMB IS HEAVY. I MEAN, IT WEIGHS 25 POUNDS. AND THE REASON BEING IS THAT WE'VE GOT A BIGGER TREEHOUSE. I MEAN, WE'VE GOT 460 FEET OF DECKING, THEN WE'RE GOT ANOTHER 380 SQUARE FEET OF TREEHOUSE. SO, IT'S TIME FOR A LITTLE PETE POWER TO HELP OUT WITH THE BIG BOYS. I'M READY, MAN. YEAH, THAT'S BETTER. OH, YEAH! [ GRUNTS ] ALL RIGHT. OKAY, HOLD ON. I'M GONNA TAP OUT. YEP. SO, MAYBE NOT AS MUCH PETE POWER AS I HAD IMAGINED THERE, BUT KIND OF LIKE A MIDDLE-AGED HERCULES. I'VE GOT THE POWER, BUT THE WIND ISN'T THERE -- OTHER THAN [MIMICS FART] THIS. 1, 2, 3! Alex: YOU KNOW, PETE DOES ALL RIGHT FOR A GUY HIS AGE. BUT THE MORE HE WORKS, THE MORE FUNNY NOISES HE MAKES. RAHHHHHH! I GOT TO ADMIT WE ALL ENJOY THAT. WHOO! YEAH! LOOK AT THAT GO IN THERE! IT'S LIKE BUTTER! THAT'S IT! YEAH! WHOO! Pete: OKAY, TABS IN! LET'S GET THIS BUILD GOING! NOW FOR THE FUN PART -- WELL, NOT THAT FUN -- THE BEAMS. WITH EVERY TREEHOUSE BUILD, THE TOUGHEST PART TO DEAL WITH ARE THE BEAMS. THEY'RE ALWAYS BIG AND HEAVY -- HEAVY! Pete: THAT 34-FOOT BEAM -- I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT GETTING THAT THING OVER THERE WITHOUT RUINING OURSELVES. WE'VE LIFTED THEM UP WITH TRUCKS, WITH BACKHOES, SOMETIMES EVEN OUR BACKS. [ GRUNTING ] THIS TIME, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THE CHALLENGE HERE IS THE STEEPNESS OF THE HILLSIDE. I MEAN, IT'S 45 DEGREES. THIS SLOPE HERE IS WAY TOO STEEP AND DANGEROUS TO BE PLAYING AROUND WITH. ON THE FAR END, IT'S GOT TO BE 30 FEET IN THE AIR. THIS IS GONNA BE VERY TRICKY. OKAY, SO... HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THAT? [ BIRD CRIES ] BEAM TIME! YEAH! [ LAUGHS ] BIG DAY TODAY WITH BIG BEAMS GOING UP IN THOSE TREES. IT'S GONNA BE TRICKY BECAUSE THERE'S A 45-DEGREE SLOPE RIGHT BELOW THE BUILD SITE. LUCKY FOR US, DARYL'S COME UP WITH A WAY TO DO THIS SAFELY THAT HOPEFULLY WILL SAVE OUR BACKS A LITTLE STRAIN. WHEN YOU GUYS ARE DONE, WE CAN USE A HAND. THIS BEAM IS 32 FEET LONG, PROBABLY WEIGHS CLOSE TO 800 POUNDS. QUITE DANGEROUS. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG. SO WE'RE GONNA TACK IN SOME 2x12s JUST BELOW OUR HEAVY LIMBS. THE IDEA IS THAT WE CAN KIND Of USE THESE AS LEDGERS AND SLIDE THE BEAM OUT. IT'S A LITTLE HAIRY IF YOU ASK ME. Pete: EVEN SLIDING IT OUT ON 2x12s, WE'RE STILL GUIDING A MONSTER BEAM 20 FEET OFF THE GROUND. YOU GUYS GOT THIS THING? I'LL TAKE THIS END. SO, IT'S PRETTY CRITICAL THAT I HAVE A STEADY HAND ON THE ROPES. HERE WE GO. SLIDE. [ GRUNTING ] OKAY. OKAY, I'LL BRING IT IN. Man: JUST GO SLOW. TAKE IT EASY. TAKE IT EASY. ALL RIGHT. HOLD ON. HOLD ON. I'M TANGLED UP. Pete: I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT THEY GAVE ME THIS ROPE JUST TO FEEL INCLUDED, BUT EITHER WAY, DARYL'S JUST A GENIUS. Daryl: IT'S RIGHTING ITSELF ALREADY. JUST ONE MORE SMALL TUG, AND WE'RE DONE. [ CHUCKLES ] THIS THING'S MASSIVE! WITH THAT FIRST BEAM IN, EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST FALLING INTO PLACE. YOU'RE KILLING IT, YOU GUYS. BEAUTIFUL. NO CLOWNING AROUND UP HERE. [ LAUGHS ] SO, NOW THAT THE FIRST BEAMS ARE UP, HENRY CAN START DIGGING POST HOLES FOR THE BRIDGE. I GET STUCK WITH THE GRUNT WORK, 'CAUSE THERE ARE ALL THESE OLD DUDES AROUND. THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT. Alex: KEEP DIGGING. [ LAUGHS ] Pete: YOU KNOW, THIS WHOLE BUTTERFLY THEME OF TRANSFORMATION, IT'S WORKING PRETTY WELL FOR HENRY, TOO. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, HENRY'S BEYOND THE INCHWORM PHASE. I WOULD PUT HIM IN THE COCOON AT THIS POINT, THE PUPA STAGE, YOU KNOW? LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GETTING INTO SOME GOOD DIRT DOWN THERE. WHAT WE HOPE FOR IS THE FULLY FLEDGED CARPENTER BUTTERFLY. [ DRILLS WHIRRING, SAWS BUZZING ] Daryl: SO, WE WERE JUST WRAPPING UP THE DECK, AND WE'VE GOT AN ISSUE AT THE TREEHOUSE. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BACK UP THESE H.L.s THEY TAKE A LOT OF WEIGHT. H.L.'S A HEAVY LIMB. IT'S WHAT WE'RE USING IN LIEU OF TABS, 'CAUSE THIS IS A BIG TREEHOUSE. AND WE CAN'T USE OUR NORMAL BACKUP SYSTEM. HEY, GUYS! SO, WHAT'S GOING ON? DO WE HAVE ANY ISSUES I GOT TO DEAL WITH? YEAH, IT JUST HAS TO DO WITH BACKING UP THE HEAVY LIMBS. THE NORMAL CABLE SYSTEM'S JUST NOT GONNA WORK. WE DIDN'T PLAN FOR THIS. WE DID NOT PLAN FOR THIS. IN A TREEHOUSE OF THIS SIZE, WE USUALLY INSTALL A BACKUP FOR THE TAB, USING A CABLE THAT RUNS UP THROUGH THE PLATFORM TO A POINT HIGHER ON THE TREE. UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS CASE, THE CABLING WOULD NEED TO RUN RIGHT THROUGH THE TREEHOUSE, CREATING ALL SORTS OF OTHER PROBLEMS. THE CABLE IS JUST GONNA GO RIGHT THROUGH THE FLOOR IF WE DO OUR NORMAL BACKUP SYSTEM. WE'RE NOT BUILDING THIS JUST FOR THE TRIPODI FAMILY. THIS IS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND WE NEED THIS THING TO BE STRONG. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO GO FROM THAT GUY, WE COME BACK DOWN, GET A NEW TAB. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND A FABRICATOR. YEAH. BECAUSE RUNNING A CABLING SYSTEM UP IS NOT AN OPTION, INSTEAD WE'LL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL TAB BELOW OUR CURRENT TAB AND INSERT A METAL STRUT THAT WILL HELP TAKE THE WEIGHT OF THIS 38,000-POUND BEHEMOTH. IT'S A BUTTERFLY DOUBLE-BACKUP SYSTEM THAT'LL KEEP THIS BABY FLYING IN THE TREES. NOW ALL I'VE GOT TO DO IS DRAW IT UP AND FIND A FABRICATOR. SO, YOU DRAW IT, AND THEN THAT'S WHERE I COME IN. AND YOU FIX IT. [ BOTH LAUGH ] WHOO-HOO! RANDY, IS THAT YOU? THAT'S ME! HEY, I'M PETE NELSON. HOW YOU DOING? I'M RANDY NADER, AND WE DO ALL KINDS OF FABRICATING AND WELDING. YOU GUYS DO SOME BIG-TIME STUFF HERE, HUH? YEAH. WE DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED IN THIS OPERATION? SINCE I WAS 17. Pete: HE'S BEEN RUNNING THIS JOB FOR, LIKE, 36 YEARS. HIS GRANDFATHER STARTED IT. GOOD OL' AMERICAN MANUFACTURING HAPPENING RIGHT HERE. IT'S AWESOME. THIS IS THE STANDARD-SIZED TREEHOUSE ATTACHMENT BOLT. AND THIS GOES RIGHT IN THROUGH THE TRUNK OF THE TREE? IT GOES RIGHT IN, YEAH. [ CHUCKLES ] ALL RIGHT. SO, WHAT I'M GONNA ASK FOR YOU IS TO HELP ME WITH THIS PIECE RIGHT HERE. SO, PETE DESCRIBED TO ME WHAT HE WAS AFTER. WE HAVEN'T HAD MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH TREEHOUSE FABRICATION. THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING HIM OUT. I'D SAY WE GO ABOUT 3/4 FROM THE END OF THE EYE. THEN WE'RE GOLDEN. WE'RE GONNA GET RIGHT BACK ON TRACK HERE. RANDY IS A WELDING MACHINE, MAN! HE TURNED THOSE THINGS AROUND OVERNIGHT! THEY ARE SEXY. I KNOW. IT'S GONNA BE GREAT. NOW ALL WE'VE GOT TO DO IS ADD A COUPLE ADDITIONAL TABS BELOW THE EXISTING TABS AND JUST PLUG THOSE STRUTS RIGHT IN. THIS MONKEY WRENCH IS LARGE, BUT IT'S NOT OUR LARGEST. [ LAUGHS ] Daryl: IT'S A BIG DEAL THAT WE GET THESE STRUTS IN, 'CAUSE EVERY DAY, MORE WEIGHT GETS INTO THE TREEHOUSE. LISTEN TO THE MONKEY WRENCH SQUEAL. [ MIMICS MONKEY CHATTER ] [ SQUEALS ] SO, WORKING WITH SEANIX, YOU KNOW, HE'S SINGING. HE'S MAKING ALL THESE FUNNY MONKEY NOISES. SOMETIMES IT RUBS OFF ON YOU, AND YOU START DOING THE SAME THING. ♪ YEAH ♪ EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT NORMALLY WOULD DO. [ SQUEALS ] HE'S IN HIS NATIVE ENVIRONMENT. BUT I THINK IT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY. ♪ AND THE BOLT GOES IN ♪ WHOOP! Pete: YOU GUYS, BRILLIANT! HEY, THE FAMILY'S HERE! Mark: MR. PETE NELSON! WE JUST FINISHED PLUGGING IN THE STRUTS, AND THE TRIPODI CLAN SHOWS UP. YOU GUYS JUST SNUCK UP ON ME. HOW DID YOU DO THAT? I DIDN'T NOTICE THEM UNTIL THEY WERE RIGHT ON ME. ALL OF YOU. YOU JUST WENT, "SHH! LET'S SURPRISE HIM." I LOVE TO SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY WITH ALL THESE KIDS, BUT THERE'S A SIDE OF ME THAT'S JUST NERVOUS. [ DOG GROWLS ] IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUILD, HAVING 10 PAIRS OF EYES SCRUTINIZING... WHAT IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT? HEY, THE FAMILY'S HERE! WE'RE BUILDING THE MOST IMPORTANT TREEHOUSE THAT I'VE EVER BEEN A PART OF. AND THEN, WHAM! THE TRIPODIS JUST SURPRISE THE HECK OUT OF ME. YOU GUYS JUST SNUCK UP ON ME. HOW DID YOU DO THAT? I LOVE TO SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY WITH ALL THESE KIDS, BUT THERE'S A SIDE OF ME THAT'S JUST NERVOUS. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE RIDING ON THIS THING HERE. [ DOG GROWLS ] WHAT IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT? WHAT DO YOU THINK? IT'S AWESOME! AWESOME! Mark: THIS IS AMAZING! THEY LOVE IT! THEY LOVE IT! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. I KNOW I MIGHT HAVE FREAKED MYSELF OUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT THIS THING IS SO MONUMENTAL. [ SIGHS ] I'M HUGELY RELIEVED. HOW HIGH ARE WE? 'CAUSE WE SEEM LIKE WE'RE UP THERE. WE REALLY ARE. DO YOU WANT TO COME AND LOOK? I'LL HOLD YOU BACK. HOLD YOU BACK. LOOK OVER. OHH! Girl: OH, MY GOSH! [ LAUGHTER ] WE'RE SO HIGH UP! Christi: THE VIEW'S INCREDIBLE! OH, MY GOSH! IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL. ISN'T THIS FUN? YEAH. YEAH. YEAH! Mark: BEING ON THE PLATFORM IS JUST AWESOME. I CAN REMEMBER HAVING A TREEHOUSE AS A KID. MY DAD BUILT IT IN OUR BACKYARD. TO THINK NOW THAT I'M GONNA BE A KID AGAIN, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. I MEAN, I LOVE THE BRIDGE COMING IN, AND I LOVE THIS VIEW OVER HERE. HOW DO WE GET DOWN THERE? GET UNDERNEATH. SOME TYPE OF TRAP DOOR OR LADDER? SO, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING FUN AND ADVENTUROUS. Pete: WHEELS ARE TURNING, I'M GONNA TRY TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT'LL BE EXTRA FUN. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL HELP, BUT I'VE GOT A CONTACT. THEY'RE WANTING TO GET INVOLVED SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY. HOW ABOUT THIS? MARK AND CHRISTI, WHO HAVE TOUCHED SO MANY IN THEIR COMMUNITY, NOW ALL THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE HELPED ARE COMING BACK AS VOLUNTEERS TO FINISH THE TREEHOUSE. Pete: PEOPLE WILL HELP, I'M SURE. Christi: I KNOW. WE'RE GONNA GET A LOT OF PEOPLE. THIS IS INCREDIBLE. WE'RE GONNA GO IN HYPER SPEED, AND THEN, WHEN YOU COME BACK, YOU WILL SEE IT FINISHED. I CANNOT WAIT! ME, TOO! TREEHOUSE TIME! WITH THE PLATFORM ROCK SOLID... LOOK AT ALL THOSE WALLS, MAN! YES! ...IT'S TIME TO PUT UP THE WALLS. LOOK! WE GOT A CATERPILLAR. BECAUSE OF THE POISONOUS SPINES. WHEN WE'RE FINISHED WITH THIS THING, IT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST WE'VE EVER BUILT. NEXT WALL! Pete: WE'RE GONNA USE OVER 10,000 SCREWS TO HOLD THIS THING TOGETHER. IT'S NICE WHEN IT JUST GOES IN SMOOTHLY. Pete: WE USE SCREWS INSTEAD OF NAILS TO TACK OUR WALLS INTO PLACE BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE TO ADJUST, LIKE WE OFTEN DO IN TREEHOUSE BUILDING, YOU CAN UNSCREW, ADJUST, AND THEN SCREW IT RIGHT BACK TOGETHER. I THINK THE WALL'S SIDEWAYS, GUYS. BRILLIANT, PROFESSOR! Pete: THIS THING IS COMING TOGETHER LICKETY-SPLIT. I MEAN, I'VE NEVER SEEN SOMETHING COME TOGETHER SO SMOOTHLY BEFORE. READY?! 1, 2, 3! [ ALL GRUNT ] OH, YEAH. PERFECT. [ CELLPHONE RINGS ] HELLO. PETE, YES. I JUST GOT A CALL FROM THE SCHOOLHOUSE TREEHOUSE. IT'S NAMED "THE MAGIC TREE HOUSE." I MEAN, HOW COOL IS THAT? APPARENTLY A TREE FELL ON IT AND DID SOME DAMAGE TO THE ROOF. YOU KNOW, THIS COULDN'T BE BETTER TIMING. HEY, GUYS, I HAVE A LITTLE, UH, TREEHOUSE ISSUE THAT I COULD MAYBE -- GO FEED YOUR ADDICTION, PETE. GO. YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MY GUYS HUNG OUT TO DRY. HOLD ON. GOOD LUCK, GENTLEMEN. Together: ALL RIGHT. OKAY, TELL ME MORE. BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE DRY ANYWAY WITH ALL THIS RAIN WE'RE HAVING. I'LL BE THERE. I'M ON MY WAY RIGHT NOW, AS A MATTER OF FACT. PERFECT TIMING. Alex: EVEN WITH PETE GONE, WE'RE PROS. A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN, NOT A PROBLEM. SO LONG AS IT'S NOT SUPER WINDY OR SNOWING OR SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA CATCH OUR ATTENTION. UH... [ THUNDER CRASHES ] OKAY, NOW WE GOT SNOW. WE HAVE A LOT OF SNOW ON THIS DECK AND NO HANDRAILS YET. SO, WHAT I'M DOING IS JUST GETTING THE SNOW OFF, TRYING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT SAFER FOR EVERYONE. AND NOW I BROKE THE BROOM. SO, I THINK I'M OUT OF A JOB. PETE'S GONE, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LITTLE FUN WITH HENRY. HE'S THE LOWEST GUY ON THE TOTEM POLE, SO [CHUCKLES] I'M NOT GONNA MESS AROUND. WE'RE GONNA WELCOME HENRY TO THE CREW WITH A LITTLE SNOWBALL ACTION. I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY PLENTY. [ LAUGHS ] I'M MAKING SNOWBALLS. HEY, HENRY! CAN YOU COME OVER HERE FOR A SEC? CAN YOU JUST GRAB THE OTHER END OF THIS AND LET'S GET IT OFF. SNOWBALL FIGHT! [ LAUGHTER ] HE'S GOT AN ARM. SURPRISE SNOWBALL FIGHT. [ CHUCKLES ] I KIND OF ASSUMED IT WOULD HAPPEN EVENTUALLY WITH ALL THE SNOW AROUND. MAN, HENRY'S GOT AN ARM. WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT NEXT TIME WE HAVE SNOWBALL FIGHTS WITH HIM. [ As Jack Nicholson ] ALL WORK AND NO SNOWBALL FIGHTS MAKES JACK A DULL BOY. [ LAUGHS ] Pete: HERE WE ARE IN NOVELTY, OHIO. OHIO TURNS OUT TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A HOTBED FOR TREEHOUSES. WE'VE GOT IT ALL. WE'VE GOT OAKS. WE'VE GOT EASTERN HEMLOCK. WE'VE GOT ALPACAS. THAT'S NOT A TREE. THAT'S KIND OF LIKE A LLAMA. WE'RE GOING TO THE LAUREL SCHOOL. THIS SCHOOL HAS A TREEHOUSE THAT APPARENTLY A TREE FELL. BAM! RIGHT ONTO THE SIDE. AND IT'S SOMETHING LIKE 1,600 SQUARE FEET. REALLY BIG. SO, I AM FIRED UP TO SEE THIS. HELLO. HEY, PETE. WELCOME. I'M KAREN. NICE TO MEET YOU. NICE TO MEET YOU. PETE? MATT. NICE TO MEET YOU. WELCOME TO LAUREL, BUTLER CAMPUS. Karen: LAUREL SCHOOL, IT'S ALL GIRLS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12. WE SOUGHT PETE BECAUSE HE IS THE TREEHOUSE MASTER, AND WE FELT WE NEEDED AN EXPERT. I'VE BEEN ANXIOUS TO GET TO THIS TREEHOUSE FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE THE GUYS THAT ACTUALLY HELPED BUILD THIS ARE FRIENDS OF MINE. THIS IS A TREEHOUSE I HEARD ABOUT YEARS AGO WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED BUILDING IT. TO SEE IT NOW IS REALLY NEAT BECAUSE IT WAS A BIG DEAL IN ITS DAY WITH ALL THE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY GOING INTO IT. AND EVERYTHING'S HOLDING UP? THIS IS SEVEN YEARS NOW? Karen: LOOK. THE TREEHOUSE APPEARS! IT'S MAGICAL! IT'S FULL-ON MAGICAL! DOESN'T IT MAKE YOU JUST WANT TO RUN IN THERE? IT DOES! ABSOLUTELY! MAN, OH, MAN! THIS THING IS INCREDIBLE! UNBELIEVABLE! I LOVE THE WAY THE WALLS DO THE REVERSE TAPER. IT KICKS OUT LIKE THAT. THAT'S HARD TO DO. Matt: THE MAGIC TREE HOUSE, RIGHT? THE MAGIC TREE HOUSE. AND IT IS MAGIC FOR THE KIDS? CAN I GO IN? OF COURSE. THIS IS AMAZING! WOW! MAN! THIS IS FANTASTIC! WHEN YOU WALK INSIDE THIS TREEHOUSE, YOU'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO LOOK AT. THEY'VE GOT THESE VERY COOL WINDOWS. I LOVE THESE CUTOUTS. IT'S JUST SO WHIMSICAL AND NEAT. THEY'VE GOT THIS TWO-STORY CYLINDER THAT IS REALLY BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED. SUCH A NICE FEATURE, TOO, THE CENTRAL TOWER. YEAH, IT'S LIKE NO PLACE YOU'VE EVER SEEN. AND ON TOP OF IT ALL, THIS MASSIVE TREEHOUSE IS SUPPORTED BY NINE TREES. THERE'S THE MOTHER TREE. THE MOTHER TREE. AND RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT IS THIS GARGANTUAN CENTURY-OLD MOTHER OAK. I THINK THE WHOLE THING WAS JUST SO MASTERFULLY BUILT, AND IT SERVES THE ENTIRE SCHOOL. IT'S AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. THEY READ, THEY WRITE, THEY DANCE, THEY DO DRAMA. REALLY, THEY DANCE? THEY MAKE ART. IF I HAD A TREEHOUSE LIKE THIS AT OUR SCHOOL, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN HEAVEN. I MEAN, TALK ABOUT PUTTING KIDS BACK INTO NATURE. AND LOOK AT ALL THIS SPACE OUTSIDE. WE DO SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS. THE KIDS DROP PARACHUTES OFF THE SIDE. THEY CANNOT WAIT TO GET OUT HERE. I SEE A LOT OF TREES DOWN. IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED? ONE OF THE TREES LOST A LIMB, MAYBE? Matt: TWO LIMBS COME OUT OF THIS HICKORY TREE. THEY CAME DOWN ON OUR TREEHOUSE. YEAH, DID SOME DAMAGE TO OUR COPPER UP THERE. AND THIS WAS JUST RECENTLY, THEN? YES, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I SPEAK TREE HERE, YOU KNOW, AND I'M HEARING SOME UNPLEASANT THINGS HERE RIGHT NOW. [ EVIL LAUGHTER ] SO, YOU THINK YOU COULD TAKE CARE OF THIS? THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF MY NECK ARE STARTING TO STAND UP. I WONDER IF THERE'S A BAD EGG IN THIS FOREST. I MEAN, I'M GETTING SOME WEIRD VIBES. TREES ARE GOOD. ALL TREES ARE GOOD. ARE THERE SOME BAD TREES? OH, MAN. Trees. Pete: WE'RE DOING A FIX AT THE VERY MAGICAL SCHOOLHOUSE TREEHOUSE, AND WE'VE GOT A SITUATION WHERE I'VE GOT SOME VENGEFUL TREES, IT APPEARS. THEY TOOK OUT A PART OF THE TREEHOUSE, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS BAD ENERGY'S ALL ABOUT. I'M SO CURIOUS WHAT IT WAS THAT CAUSED THAT TO BREAK. I MEAN, I KNOW WE GOT A WEIGHT ISSUE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO KIND OF EXAMINE THE LIMBS THAT CAME DOWN, SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DISEASE. JUST FOR MY OWN PEACE OF MIND. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT. TREES ARE OUR FRIENDS, BUT THIS GUY MIGHT BE SAYING, "I'M COMING FOR YOU." WE GOT SOME ANGRY TREES, SCREAMING TREES. NO, THAT'S A BAND. HERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT'S HOLLOW THERE. I MEAN, SOMEWHAT COMPROMISED. I MEAN, STILL, THERE'S PLENTY OF GOOD WOOD AROUND THERE. SO, WHERE THE BRANCH BROKE OFF OF THE MAIN TREE, IT WAS HEALTHY, BUT I COULD SEE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF ROT FURTHER DOWN THE LIMB. I THINK THE ROT KIND OF MIGRATED BACK TO THAT JUNCTURE, AND THEN WHAM! THE WHOLE THING BROKE. WHEN YOU SEE A BRANCH BREAK, EVERY TIME, IT SEEMS, THAT YOU GO UP TO IT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S SOME DEFECT IN IT. I FEEL A LITTLE EMBARRASSED. SOMETIMES MAYBE I HEAR THINGS AND MAYBE I'M NOT INTERPRETING THEM CORRECTLY. TIME TO PUT THAT BEHIND US, AND LET'S JUST GET THE FIX DONE. I THINK I SHOULD PROBABLY GET TO WORK ON THIS LITTLE REPAIR, TOO. ALL RIGHT. DOES THAT WORK? LET'S DO THAT. OKAY. Pete: WHAT WE GOT GOING ON HERE IS THE FLASHING IS RUINED, SOME OF THE WOOD'S BEEN BROKEN, AND THEN SOME OF THE ROOFING HAS BEEN PULLED OFF. SO, BEFORE I CAN GET STARTED, I JUST NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF SURGERY TO REMOVE THE BROKEN BITS. GOOD OLD-FASHIONED HAND SAW. FIRST UP, REPLACING THAT BROKEN RAFTER WITH A NICE, FRESH PIECE OF WOOD. BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M A *** WITH THE SAW. THEN WE NEED TO JUST SLIDE THE RAFTER INTO PLACE... YEAH! ...TO MAKE OUR ROOF SKOOKUM STURDY. BEAUTIFUL! WE PUT TAR PAPER DOWN TO PROTECT THE ROOF FROM MOISTURE. THIS IS ALL IN THE RIGHT SPOT. EVERYTHING IS READY FOR THE METAL. THE CHALLENGE ON THIS REPAIR WAS TRYING TO REPLACE THIS BEAUTIFUL COPPER FLASHING THAT YOU JUST CAN'T GO DOWN TO THE BOX STORES AND PICK UP, SO I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD REUSE THAT. OPEN THIS UP AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT. AND I THINK IT'LL WORK. I MEAN, I HOPE IT WORKS. TRYING TO BE A COPPERSMITH ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT WAS A STRETCH FOR ME. I WAS ABLE TO BEND THAT BACK INTO SHAPE. OKAY, SO, THE COPPER FLASHING IS IN. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT IT'S GOT A LITTLE CHARACTER NOW. A COUPLE SHINGLES. NICE! OH, THIS IS GONNA WORK SO WELL. DONE! GOOD AS NEW, MAN. OKAY, SO, I JUST NEED YOUR APPROVAL ON THIS LITTLE REPAIR. OH, WOW! THAT LOOKS GREAT. Karen: WOW! YOU WERE ABLE TO REUSE THE COPPER THAT WAS THERE. I WAS. Karen: I'M REALLY HAPPY. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS EVER ANYTHING WRONG. IT LOOKS JUST LIKE IT DID BEFORE. WE GOT A THUMB'S UP? IT'S BEAUTIFUL. EXCELLENT. TWO THUMBS UP. LOVE IT! Pete: THE FIX WENT GREAT, AND WE DID IT ALMOST ENTIRELY WITH THE ORIGINAL MATERIALS. THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF THIS MAGNIFICENT TREEHOUSE HISTORY. WORKING ON THIS BABY HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN. THE TREEHOUSE IS HAPPY, THE SURROUNDING TREES' MOJO IS GOOD. I THINK THIS IS GONNA HANG IN THERE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. HERE, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A HUG. OH! IT'S BEEN REALLY FUN. CAN I HUG YOU? NO, WE'RE GONNA HANDSHAKE. Matt: THANK YOU, PETE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. Daryl: WHILE PETE'S BEEN GONE, WE'VE BEEN PRETTY BUSY, BUT I THINK WE'VE HIT A LITTLE BIT OF A SNAG. THIS STRUCTURE'S NOT AS PLUMB AS IT WAS IN THE SHOP, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE IN A TREEHOUSE. WE PREBUILD EVERYTHING WITH MASTERFUL PRECISION, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING INTO THE TREE, YOU'RE DEALING WITH AN ORGANIC FOUNDATION, SO IT REQUIRES A LOT OF TWEAKING ALONG THE WAY. WE'RE NOT GONNA MODIFY IT. WE'RE JUST GONNA... ROLL WITH IT. ...ROLL WITH IT. Daryl: WE WERE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TREEHOUSE A LITTLE BIT SO THAT EVERYTHING'S GONNA LINE UP. RAFTERS WILL GO IN, ROOF SHEATHING WILL GO ON. LUCKILY FOR US, PETE GOT HERE AFTER THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. GENTLEMEN! I'M BACK! HEY, PETE! Man: HEY, PETE! LOOK WHAT YOU GUYS GOT DONE. HOLY SMOKES! YEAH, YOU'RE JUST IN TIME TO HELP US DO NOTHING. [ Laughing ] I KNOW. MY TIMING IS IMPECCABLE. LOOK, IT'S TIME TO WRAP UP THE DAY, HUH? HEY, I SAW WINDOWS UP THERE. SHOULD I GO GRAB SOME OF THOSE BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE DOES? GO. BE OUR MULE. LET'S DO IT. YEAH. YAH! YAH! Man: FASTER, FASTER! HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY! GO! [ LAUGHTER ] Pete: HUGE DAY TODAY. WE HAVE ALL THESE INCREDIBLE CONTRACTORS VOLUNTEERING TO HELP OUT. IT FEELS LIKE THE ENTIRE VILLAGE HAS ARRIVED. I LOVE IT. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT SO AMAZING ABOUT THIS TREEHOUSE. THE TRIPODIS, WHO RUN THE CORNERSTONE OF HOPE, HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO THE COMMUNITY, AND NOW THE COMMUNITY IS GIVING BACK AND HELPING THIS BUTTERFLY TAKE TO THE SKY. WE'VE GOT WOOD WORKERS PUTTING IN PANELING AND TRIM. YOU GUYS -- BRILLIANT! ROOFERS LAYING DOWN SHINGLES. GOD, THIS IS LOOKING GREAT! THERE'S FLOOR GUYS, ELECTRICIANS, AND PAINTERS. IT'S JUST A MAD HOUSE IN HERE RIGHT NOW. IS LIFE GOOD? ALL EXCEPT FOR THE WET-PAINT PART. AND WHILE THIS IS ALL GOING ON, IT GIVES HENRY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LITTLE TUTORIAL ON HOW TO INSTALL WINDOWS AND DOORS. SO, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME INSTALLING A WINDOW, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A PRETTY EASY PROCESS. YOU JUST CUT OUT AN OPENING WITH THE RECIPROCATING SAW, PUT SOME CAULK ON THE FRAME TO GIVE IT A GOOD SEAL. NOT THE GREATEST CAULKING JOB, BUT IT'LL DO. YOU TACK IT IN WITH A FEW SCREWS, AND THEN YOU WAIT FOR SEANIX TO MAKE THE TRIM AROUND THE WINDOW. OW! THEN WE FINISH IT UP WITH THE TRIM AND THE WINDOW'S DONE. ALL RIGHT. SO, WITH DOOR HANGING, IT'S A LOT OF, LIKE, ADJUST, TAKE A LOOK, ADJUST. I'VE KNOWN HENRY SINCE HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD, SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE HIM OUT HERE WORKING WITH US THESE DAYS. IT'S NOT TOO BAD, BUT WE MIGHT END UP PUTTING A SHIM UNDERNEATH THAT SCREW TO KIND OF JUST ADJUST EVERYTHING A LITTLE BIT. I THINK HENRY'S A PRETTY FAST LEARNER. HE'S STARTING TO GET HIS OWN TECHNIQUES FOR DOING THINGS DOWN NOW. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT. [ TOOL BUZZING ] THIS IS YOUR FIRST DOOR-HANGING TUTORIAL. YEAH. LEARNED A LOT. Pete: FROM DITCH DIGGER TO APPRENTICE CARPENTER, I MEAN, HENRY'S NOT DOING SO BAD. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, HE MIGHT BE THE NEXT DARYL. [ LAUGHS ] NO. [ LAUGHS ] WELL, LET'S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY HERE. MARK, OUR CLIENT WANTED TO BRING OUT JUST A TOUCH OF ADVENTURE TO THE TREEHOUSE, AND I FIGURED OUT JUST THE THING. HEY, J.R. HOW ARE YOU DOING DOWN THERE? EVERYTHING'S GOING WELL. IT'S A GIGANTIC NET THAT YOU CAN BOUNCE AROUND IN. SO I CALLED IN A GUY FROM PUCUDA NET COMPANY, AND WE'RE GONNA CREATE A LITTLE SPOT UNDERNEATH THE TREEHOUSE THAT WILL BE, LIKE, THAT EXTRA LITTLE "WOW." THIS IS THE HARDEST PART OF LAYING CABLE RIGHT HERE. [ GRUNTING ] ALL RIGHT, MAKING A NET. LOOKS LIKE IT'S WORKING. AW, YEAH! I'M GONNA GET THIS. NO PROBLEM. OKAY. NICE! GOOD JOB, J.R. I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE FAMILY GETS OVER HERE, 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA KNOCK THEIR SOCKS OFF. I KNOW IT. IT IS SO SUPPLE AND SOFT. THIS NET IS SO FUN. I HAD TO TEST IT OUT, OF COURSE, BECAUSE, I MEAN, I HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA, YOU KNOW, WEIGHT TO MYSELF, AND THEREBY, I THINK I'M A GOOD TESTER. WHOO! WHOA! ONE SMALL LEAP FOR PETE, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR TREEHOUSES. WHOO! VERY SUPPLE. LOOK AT THAT. I CAN JUST RUB MY FACE ON IT. THE KIDS ARE GONNA GO GAGA. THIS IS BEAUTIFUL! Daryl: HEY, PETE, WHEN YOU'RE DONE, WE GOT SOME WORK TO DO. [ LAUGHS ] Pete: VERY EXCITING DAY. WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO FINISH UP FOR THIS TREEHOUSE. HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? WE'VE GOT VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK. IT'S AMAZING. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. YOU BEING SAFE? WE GOT PEOPLE HIGH UP IN THE TREES, PUTTING SOME WACKY SAILS. LOOK AT HOW YOU GOT THOSE UP THERE. I MEAN, I'M THE TREEHOUSE GUY, RIGHT? BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY ME A MILLION DOLLARS TO CLIMB UP THAT HIGH. THE LIGHTS SHOWED UP. THIS COMPANY RIGHT OUT OF CLEVELAND SUPPLIED US WITH THESE GORGEOUS LIGHT FIXTURES. LOOK AT HOW COOL THAT IS, THOUGH. ABSOLUTELY. AND IT'S ALSO, LIKE, "DONK." NO, THERE'S A TABLE. I SHOULD KNOW THAT BY NOW. SEEING HOW EVERYONE'S POURED THEIR HEART INTO THIS PROJECT IS OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE ON HOW THE TRIPODIS HAVE IMPACTED THIS COMMUNITY, AND IT MAKES ME THINK OF HOW THIS ALL GOT STARTED. MARK AND CHRISTI LOST THEIR SON BOBBY AND THROUGH THEIR PERSONAL TRAGEDY, THEY'VE SOUGHT TO GIVE OTHERS HOPE. THAT'S WHY THIS PROJECT IS SO IMPORTANT, AND I HAVE A LITTLE SPECIAL SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO GIVE THEM, AND WHO BETTER TO HELP ME CREATE THAT THAN MY SON HENRY? SO, HERE IS WHERE WE WANT TO DO THIS BENCH. AND I'M VERY EXCITED, BECAUSE YOU AND I ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO BUILD THIS FOR -- WE'RE CALLING IT "BOBBY'S BENCH." WORKING WITH HENRY IS EXTRAORDINARY. HE'S ABSORBING SO MUCH. HE'S LEARNING A LOT. IT'S JUST SO FUN. SEEMS TO ME WE WANT TO GO -- YOU WANT THE VIEW. SO, RIGHT IN HERE SOMEWHERE? Henry: MY DAD, HE'S ALWAYS ON THE ROAD, RUNNING AROUND TO OTHER TREEHOUSES. IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO GET A CHANCE TO WORK WITH HIM ONE-ON-ONE. THREE PEOPLE? THREE PEOPLE, YEAH. DO WE HAVE SPACE FOR THREE PEOPLE HERE? HOW MUCH DO YOU GIVE? LIKE, THERE'S TWO, FOUR... HERE, CHECK MY BUM. WHOA. REALLY? Pete: YES! I'D LIKE TO GET TO KNOW MY DAD A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITH WORKING WITH HIM, BUT THERE ARE JUST SOME THINGS I DON'T WANT TO KNOW. I'D SAY...20 INCHES. 20 INCHES PER BUM. THE AVERAGE BUM -- IS MY BUM, LIKE, NOT SO SKINNY? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE BUM SIZE. LET'S GO 24, AND THEN WE KNOW THAT IF WE HAD A 6-FOOT BENCH, THEN WE'D BE GOOD, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. NOW IT'S A CLOUD BENCH. THIS BENCH, IT'S CLOUDS, BECAUSE MARK AND CHRISTI BELIEVE, AND I DO AS WELL, THAT LITTLE BOBBY IS UP ABOVE THE CLOUDS, JUST KIND OF LOOKING DOWN AT ALL OF THIS. [ BLOWING ] THE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT FINISHING THESE JOBS IS TORY, THE DESIGNER EXTRAORDINAIRE. OKAY, WE HAVE LOTS OF CHAIRS AND THINGS TO GET IN HERE. WE GET THESE STRUCTURES DONE, RIGHT? BUT SHE MAKES IT A REAL TREE HOME. THIS IS GONNA LOOK GREAT INSIDE. THE STUFF THAT WAS IN THERE -- I WAS JUST LIKE, "WHAT?!" WOW, BUTTERFLIES. SHE'S GOT BUTTERFLIES EVERYWHERE! THERE ARE BIG BUTTERFLIES, THERE ARE LITTLE BUTTERFLIES. THERE'S A BUTTERFLY CHANDELIER. Tory: FLY, BUTTERFLY! I MEAN, SHE'S TAKEN BUTTERFLIES AND FRAMED THEM! Pete: OH, MY GOSH. THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. THERE'S EVEN BUTTERFLIES IN THE DECK PLANTS. IT'S A BUTTERFLY BONANZA OF FUN. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. THIS TREEHOUSE HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL THAT I'VE EVER HAD THE HONOR OF BEING A PART OF. AND IT JUST WASN'T OUR CREW, IT WAS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT JUST POURED THEIR HEART INTO THIS THING. STICK TOGETHER. YEAH, NICE, TIGHT, LITTLE BUNCH. OH, HERE WE GO AGAIN. I'M EXCITED. I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A HIT. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO PLEASE HERE, SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. NO, DON'T PEEK! ALL THE KIDS, THEY ARE SO PUMPED TO GET IN THERE AND CHECK THINGS OUT. Pete: ALL RIGHT, ON THREE, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS. ARE YOU READY? All: YEAH. A-ONE, AND A-TWO, AND A-THREE. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] STICK TOGETHER. NICE, TIGHT, LITTLE BUNCH. Pete: HERE WE GO. WE'RE GOING TO SHOW OFF THIS NEW TREEHOUSE TO THE WHOLE FAMILY. I'M SO EXCITED. IT'S GONNA KNOCK THEIR SOCKS OFF. I KNOW IT. WE'RE GETTING CLOSE, SO KEEP YOUR EYES DOWN. Christi: WE ARE SO EXCITED. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. ALL RIGHT, ON THREE, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS. ARE YOU READY? All: YEAH. A-ONE, AND A-TWO, AND A-THREE. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] Pete: THEN I SHOW THEM THE TREEHOUSE, AND THERE WERE SOME EAR-PIERCING SCREAMS. I MEAN, THEY ALMOST BROKE MY EAR DRUMS. IT JUST REALLY -- WHOA! THAT IS A LOUD FAMILY. IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO LOOK, 'CAUSE ALL I HEARD WAS SCREAMS FROM THE KIDS. I MEAN, THEY WERE SO EXCITED. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. LOOK, THERE'S A BUTTERFLY! IT JUST WAS SO INCREDIBLE. THE TREEHOUSE IS AMAZING. Mark: COME ON, FAMILY. [ LAUGHTER ] LET ME OPEN THE DOOR, THOUGH. I WANT TO OPEN THE DOOR. ARE WE READY? HERE WE GO. COME ON IN! COME ON IN! Both: OH, MY GOSH! Mark: ENTERING THE FRONT DOOR FOR THE FIRST TIME -- WOW. I MEAN, IT WAS JUST AMAZING. LOOK AT ALL THE COLORS, BUTTERFLIES EVERYWHERE. I MEAN, THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE WHEN WE FIRST WALKED IN THERE. IT'S JUST BEYOND OUR EXPECTATION. OH, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL, RIGHT THERE. Christi: OH, MY GOSH. YOU KNOW, IT'S SPECIAL. Pete: MARK, LOOK AT YOU. YOU'RE VERKLEMPT. OH, YOU'RE THE BEST. OH, MY GOSH! THIS IS SO COOL! Mark: WHEN THE KIDS SAW THE LADDER, THEY JUST BOLTED RIGHT UP TO THE LOFT, AND WE ALL FIT UP THERE, WHICH WAS, LIKE, AMAZING. Christi: IT KIND OF HAD THAT HEAVENLY FEEL. IT'S JUST LIKE YOU'RE UP ABOVE THE CLOUDS. LOOKING OUT THAT WINDOW AND SEEING HOW HIGH UP YOU ARE, IT'S JUST A MAGICAL FEELING BEING BACK THERE. IT'S THE CLOUD ROOM. Christi: OH, MY GOSH! LOOK AT THIS! Boy: IT'S BOBBY! Mark: THEY DID A REALLY NICE ART PIECE IN THERE WITH BOBBY AND THE BLUE BUTTERFLY, WHICH WAS A TRUE SURPRISE TO US. HONESTLY, I CAN'T EVEN... I CAN'T EVEN TALK RIGHT NOW. SERIOUSLY. THE FACT THAT THIS IS HERE IN OUR TOWN, TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THESE FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE EVERY DAY, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS GOING TO MEAN TO THESE KIDS. I MEAN, THEY'VE ALL BEEN... STRUCK BY THE LOSS A MOM OR A DAD OR A BROTHER OR SISTER. THEY'RE JUST GONNA LOVE THIS SPACE. IT'S GONNA BE A SPECIAL PLACE OF HEALING AND HOPE, FOR SURE. HONEST TO GOSH, EVERY LITTLE DETAIL. MAN, OH, MAN. AWW, IT'S SO AWESOME. Pete: YOU GUYS WANT TO GO OUTSIDE AND SEE? HERE, LET ME TAKE YOU OUT AND THEN WE'LL REALLY KNOW WE'RE WAY UP IN HIGH IN THE TREES. All: WHOA! Boy: WE'RE SO HIGH UP! PETE TAKES US OUT THE BACK DOOR, AND WE'RE ON THE RAILING, I THINK ABOUT 20 FEET OFF THE GROUND, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN YOU REALIZE, "WOW. WE'RE IN A TREEHOUSE." LIKE, WE'RE UP HIGH. THIS IS A REALLY NEAT SPOT. [ ALL GASP ] YOU GOT SUNSHINE AND ALL YOUR BUTTERFLY FLOWERS. Christi: OH, MY GOSH! LOOK AT UP THERE! THAT'S REALLY COOL. YOU LIKE THOSE SAILS UP THERE? OH, MY GOSH. WOW! THERE'S BOBBY'S BENCH. BOBBY'S BENCH. THAT'S RIGHT. HENRY DID THIS WITH ME. HENRY DID THIS? YEAH. THAT WAS TOTALLY A SURPRISE. IT WAS SAD AND YET IT WAS SO BEAUTIFULLY HOPEFUL, AND IT GAVE US A LOT OF JOY. YOU KNOW WHO MADE THAT? HENRY MADE THAT. ISN'T THAT SO NICE? Boy: YEAH! TO SEE THEM RESPOND TO IT THE WAY THEY DID MADE ME REALLY PROUD OF HENRY. HE DID SUCH A GREAT JOB, AND IT WAS REALLY A JOY FOR ME TO WORK FOR HIM ON THAT. IT'S GOT THE CLOUDS. Christi: YOU KNOW, THAT PETE AND HENRY COULD BE SO THOUGHTFUL TO REMEMBER. PETE, HE GOT THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT CORNERSTONE, AND THEN TO TURN IT INTO THIS SACRED SPACE -- UNBELIEVABLE. Pete: OKAY, WE HAVE ONE FUN THING TO SHOW YOU NEXT. FOLLOW ME. Boy: OH, MY GOSH! NICK, GO RIGHT AHEAD. EVERYBODY, FLY IN THERE. DON'T HIT YOUR HEAD IF YOU CAN POSSIBLY AVOID IT. Christi: OH, MY GOSH. Mark: WE WANTED TO REALLY HAVE THIS "WOW" FACTOR, AND, I TELL YOU WHAT -- THAT NET, IT'S AMAZING. I MEAN, OUR WHOLE FAMILY WAS IN THERE. WE'RE ALL JUMPING AROUND, HAVING A BLAST. WHOO! Christi: YEAH, I MEAN, WE HAD A LOT OF FUN IN THAT NET. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF KIDS THAT ARE GONNA COME THERE AND JUST THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES. I MEAN, TRULY ANOTHER WAY TO BRING JOY TO THESE KIDS. IT WAS TRULY AN HONOR TO WORK ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS, BECAUSE THIS TREEHOUSE IS BASICALLY DEDICATED TO BOBBY, AND IT'S SOMETHING FOR A WHOLE COMMUNITY. BUT TO SEE THEM ALL BAND TOGETHER WITH THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES AND LOVE, IT WAS REALLY ASTONISHING. Mark: THE COMMUNITY RESPONDED DURING THIS ENTIRE PROJECT FROM BEGINNING TO END. Christi: IT WAS REALLY A JOY FOR US, BUT A JOY FOR THESE FAMILIES, TO SEE WHERE THEIR CHILDREN ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT FUN PLACE WHERE JOY WILL BECOME A PART OF THEIR LIFE AGAIN. READY? ONE, TWO, THREE. I MEAN, THAT TIES BACK INTO THE BUTTERFLY THING. PEOPLE WILL BE TRANSFORMED JUST BY BEING IN THIS BUTTERFLY TREEHOUSE, TO FEEL MORE FREE TO EXPRESS THEIR EMOTIONS AND TO BE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE. YOU'RE SPECIAL. SO, PETE REALLY NAILED IT. UNBELIEVABLE. HE REALLY GOT TO THE HEART OF IT ALL. HE GETS IT, AND HE GOT IT TODAY, FOR SURE. THIS WOULD BE YOUR SUMMER VACATION. THIS WOULD BE YOUR WHOLE SUMMER VACATION. WE'RE JUST -- OOH! [ LAUGHS ] Pete: TREEHOUSES TRULY ARE HEALING PLACES. BEING IMMERSED IN NATURE JUST TRANSFORMS THE SOUL. I BUILT THIS TREEHOUSE FOR AN AMAZING FAMILY, AND NOW THEY'VE GIVEN IT OVER TO A WHOLE COMMUNITY TO GIVE HOPE TO THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'VE LOST EVERYTHING. WHOO! WHOO! COME ON IN. I KNOW WE WILL NEVER, NEVER FORGET THIS. FOR A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE BUTTERFLY TREEHOUSE, WATCH MY "BEHIND THE BUILD" SERIES ONLINE AT animalplanet.com/treehouse.