The Treehouse Master’s first public Washington treehouse is open for business in Fall City.
Pete’s Treefort, located outside Aroma Coffee Co., had a grand opening and ribbon cutting Dec. 7 during the Fall City Festival of Lights. It was designed and constructed by Pete Nelson and his team at Nelson Treehouse and will be operated by the owners of Aroma — Emily Ridout, Kelsey Wilson and Sara Cox. The treehouse will have set public hours, as well as time for private reservations and possibly events.
“Everybody’s asking, ‘Why?’ Because we’re tree people,” Nelson said during his speech Dec. 7. “The trees are here and they are young and they’re strong … perfect stewards to hold a whimsical place like this and let us think our thoughts, dream our dreams.”
Kelly Coughlin, CEO of the SnoValley Regional Chamber of Commerce, directed the ribbon-cutting ceremony and spoke of the impact this new attraction is going to have, not just on Fall City, but on the Snoqualmie Valley.
“We are so extremely excited for this treehouse,” she said. “It’s not just a gift for Aroma. It’s a gift for the entire Valley.”
The design, done by Nelson, is inspired by stave churches — medieval wooden churches popular in Norway — which are tall and narrow. On the street-facing side of the treehouse, there are gothic doors that open to a viewing deck. The interior of the treehouse is small — 5.5 feet by 5.5 feet — and will mainly be something to visit rather than spend time in, Nelson said.
The tree itself is a multi-stemmed Douglas fir that Nelson estimates is 60-80 years old, but “in the right conditions, they can live to 800 or 1,000 years,” Nelson told the Snoqualmie Valley Record in October.
“Those are the trees you want to invest your efforts into,” he said. “Your treehouse should last as long as you take care of it.”
It was a long road to get here. Nelson, whose family owns the Aroma property, approached the Aroma team about a treehouse soon after the coffee shop opened in 2020. But he had a difficult time obtaining permits for the project, which resides in unincorporated King County.
During his speech Dec. 7, Nelson thanked Kathy Lambert, former King County Councilmember, for her help fighting for permitting.
“And a begrudging thank you to King County — they finally relented,” he added.
Like many Nelson projects, Pete’s Treefort was a family affair. Nelson co-owns Nelson Treehouse with his wife, Judy Nelson. Their son, Henry Nelson, was the lead carpenter, and their son, Charlie Nelson, was also on the team of builders. Their daughter, Emily Nelson, is chief of staff at Nelson Treehouse.
The Nelsons’s impact has brought them chosen family, too. Ridout, Aroma’s communications director, gave a heartfelt speech at the opening, hugging Nelson and thanking him for bringing the treehouse to life.
“How do you thank somebody for something like this? How do you do it?” she said. “There are no words.”
The SnoValley Chamber of Commerce had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Pete’s Treefort Dec. 7, 2024. Grace Gorenflo/Valley Record
The Nordic-inspired Pete’s Treefort has gothic doors that open to a viewing deck. (Grace Gorenflo/Valley Record)
Pete Nelson, joined by his wife, Judy Nelson, speaks to the crowd at the grand opening of Pete’s Treefort Dec. 7, 2024. (Grace Gorenflo/Valley Record)
