A 9-12 months-Previous Designed His Dream Treehouse and Rents It Out on Airbnb

• A 9-year-old boy partly funded and designed a treehouse that his mom rents out on Airbnb.
• Eli Sylvester began a crafts enterprise when he was six and used his cash to construct the treehouse.
• He splits the income together with his mom and makes use of his share to assist native households.

It is the last word childhood dream to have the perfect treehouse however only a few folks go on to design it themselves. That is exactly how Eli’s Treehouse in Murphy, North Carolina, got here to be.

When 9-year-old Eli Sylvester was six, he informed his mom, Rachel Sylvester, that he needed to have a treehouse on the acreage at their house. Rachel informed Insider she assumed this could include “a few pieces of plywood in the trees” and inspired her son, who’s homeschooled, to earn cash to fund it.

“The whole project was to escalate his understanding of math, creating things, buying things, and also communicating with people,” she informed Insider, including that he ultimately saved $4,800 over two years from his crafts enterprise that sells image frames, magnets, and head-smashing eggs crammed with birdseed to be able to fund it. 

The terrace of Eli’s Treehouse in North Carolina.

Rachel Sylvester/Airbnb

Rachel recalled pondering it was some huge cash for a treehouse however was reassured by her son that he had a plan: “He said, ‘I want to put my treehouse on Airbnb next year, but don’t worry. We’ll split the profits 50/50.'” 

Rachel mentioned Eli additionally saved cash from birthdays and Christmases, asking family members and even Santa to assist him get $10,000 value of supplies over three years, equivalent to tiles, shingles, and plywood, reasonably than presents. She additionally mentioned she invested the ultimate $9,000 into the treehouse. 

Eli’s father is a landscaper and helped the 9-year-old discover ways to use instruments and construct trails, Rachel mentioned, in order that Eli may assist out contractors with duties equivalent to measuring and slicing wooden.

Eli’s Treehouse was accomplished this 12 months, and since its first reserving was made for Memorial Day in Might it has had 21 different bookings since, Rachel mentioned. 

The lounge space in Eli’s Treehouse in North Carolina.

Rachel Sylvester/Airbnb

According to the Airbnb listing, the country retreat sleeps 4 folks and has twin beds within the loft, which is accessible by ladder solely. It has a totally useful lavatory, an space with a kettle,

mini-fridge
, and a stovetop, in addition to a lounge with a TV, couch, and wood-burning hearth.

The treehouse opens up onto a decked terrace and the broader grounds have climbing frames, a trampoline, and, Eli’s favourite a part of the design, a zipper line.

The ladder to one of many attic beds in Eli’s Treehouse, North Carolina.

Rachel Sylvester/Airbnb

The itemizing additionally says that the Sylvesters have 9 chickens, two geese, and 7 cats positioned on the broader grounds. Visitors may also make use of the hearth pit and barbeque services, or go all the way down to the lake.

“Our yard already consists of a slackline, a trampoline, and a swing set. And we have trails that Eli built,” Rachel mentioned.

The kitchen space in Eli’s Treehouse, North Carolina.

Rachel Sylvester/Airbnb

In response to Rachel, Eli makes use of his share of the income to hold out charitable acts for the local people.

“He’s going to feed 10 families for Thanksgiving. He’s already gotten the money so we’re just going through the process of identifying the families,” she mentioned.

“After that, what he’d like to do is bring some kids to this place called the Fun Factory where they have go-karts and an arcade. He really wanted it to stand out to the kids. It’s something they may not usually get to do,” she added.

Rachel mentioned he’s additionally saving cash in order that the youngsters he takes can have $20-$30 to decide on their very own toys from Walmart. 

The bathe and bathroom within the lavatory at Eli’s Treehouse.

Rachel Sylvester/Airbnb

Rachel added that Eli doesn’t notice that he has carried out one thing “extraordinary,” and hopes the story of his hobby-turned-business “inspires other kids to be up to something big in their life.”