The world's largest tree house in Crossville, TN is now only ashes - Jim Krasula with CBS News reports...



Burgess a landscaper by trade, purchased a few acres in Crossville, TN in the early 1990's where he decided to build a giant tree house. But, it was not just any tree house he had plans for - Horace wanted to build the world's largest tree house. Needless to say, Horace started to build.

After spending an abundant amount of time on his project, he ran out of building materials and the tree house came to an abrupt stop.

Life continued and Horace moved on from the idea... until he turned his life over to God and decided he would continue his tree house project. Horace often commented in past interviews that God told him that if he were to continue building, he would never run out of material - which is what stopped him from continuing his project about 10 years prior. So... he continued.

In 2004 the The Minister's Tree House was complete. But this week, it burned to the ground.

MORE On the Tree house:

In June of 2019 WGNS visited the tree house. Scott Walker wrote:

The Ministers Tree house, completely imperfect yet amazingly different... just like those around us. All imperfect and amazingly different.

Horace Burgess a landscaper by trade, purchased a few acres in Crossville, TN in the early 1990's where he decided to build a giant tree house. But, it was not just any tree house he had plans for - Horace wanted to build the world's largest tree house. Needless to say, Horace started to build.

After spending an abundant amount of time on his project, he ran out of building materials and the tree house came to an abrupt stop.

Life continued and Horace moved on from the idea... until he turned his life over to God and decided he would continue his tree house project. Horace often commented in past interviews that God told him that if he were to continue building, he would never run out of material - which is what stopped him from continuing his project about 10 years prior. So... he continued.

In 2004 the tree house was completed.

Today, visitors stop by the tree house to pray, inspect, walk, rest and vandalize. Horace told one reporter that many do far more damage to themselves than they do to the tree house. But, the tree house still stands while some of those visitors are no longer standing due to self-destruction.

The tree house is closed to visitors today due to a visit by the state's fire marshal a number of years back. However, the fences surrounding the property don't prevent the curious who likely sing the tune of Tesla (originally by The Five Man Electrical Band), "Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs. Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind. Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign."

We are beautifully imperfect, just as the tree house.