You would not believe how this project started. Yes, it’s true, I was a little envious of what my old college roommate built for his son but I just wanted to do some manly work with my son too. My friend Craig had built a tall fort out in the country and his 13/14 year old son loved it. I had no plans nor did I draw out anything. We just walked outside and told my wife, “We’re going to build a fort.” She just laughed, “okay boys” knowing full well that I had never built anything in my life.
We dug holes in the ground by hand. At 12 years old my son Tristan slammed a heavy Texas toothpick against the limestone under the thin layer of dirt. Sparks and smoke made it exciting but not any easier. It was a hard day’s work and Tristan was proud to take photos.
I really wanted it to be TALL like Craig’s but something told me it was a bad idea. I did not want to upset the neighbors. I cut the posts, almost in half and its a good thing I did because the roof ended up just below the branches.
At this stage the girls came running. I still had no idea what I was doing. I was copying stuff I saw in pictures and I was motivated by my wife’s praises. When I put Lucy up there with her tap shoes on I realized that this was more than a fort, this was going to be a stage. Better yet, this will be a playhouse for the girls, a hangout for the older kids and for me, I wanted the extended floor to be my tailgate; a place to hang my legs and drink a beer.
I was blessed with some donations from friends. Thank you Jacky and David Sauceda for helping me get started. Thanks to Steve Anthony from TimberTown USA for advice about roofing and some beautiful cedar boards.
I began sketching a plan, half way through. What I wanted was similar to this country cottage in New York. I found a great photo online and it was lovely. It wasn’t in the budget so I modified it. Time for walls.
It’s not perfect but the kids love it.
I'm building stuff 