FLINTSTONE, Ga. - Sixteen feet above the ground, nestled between an oak and a gum tree in Flintstone, Ga., sits a bit of childhood magic - and soon, you can experience it for $275 a night.
Andrew Alms perches on a scaffold, securing rustic boards to the exterior of a treehouse - the first in a vision of seven or eight that the builders hope will comprise Treetop Hideaways.
"When we think of treehouses, we think of childhood," Alms said. "We think of that time when we got out of bed in the morning and we didn't have to think about what pants to put on and what to wear. The thought was, do I want to be a firefighter today, or do I want to slay a dragon?"
The idea was born after project co-founder Enoch Elwell and his wife, Hannah, visited a similar structure in Atlanta.
Elwell partnered with Alms on a Kickstarter project, and they raised the needed $34,000. They started construction in February, enlisting the help of several architects and engineers who bartered or offered services for free.
The treehouse will be Living Building Challenge eco-certified, meaning it will produce more water and electricity than it consumes. Most of the building materials are reclaimed, and the partners are working on a plan for solar power.
Materials include donated wood from an 1860 barn, wood purchased from a Summerville, Ga., barn, old windows from a Main Street business and a weathered green door bought from an antique store.
Both Enoch and Alms had treehouses when they were young, and "we both have fond memories of them," Alms said.
"That's a cool thing about treehouses. You've either been around them or you know of them, and they have this magical place in our mind," Alms said.
The treehouse will rent for $275 per night during the week and $350 for weekend nights. Alms said the builders realize it is a lot of money, but hope the treehouse will become a destination for travelers who want that childhood experience.