Tom Teitge, the artist and builder of this unique structure, spent the better part of 20
years working solo on the endeavor. It was a labor of love, as can easily be seen. Tom's background, suited him well for this project (and on another half dozen houses he created over his career around the United States). In his youth, Tom started out building tree houses, and shelters in the woods, made of sticks and stones. Always with an attention to structural design. His father, a Pan American Airline Captain, and aviation pioneer, flew Pan Am's first transoceanic flying boat, the Clipper. As a young man Tom apprenticed as a shipwright, and maintained his interest in wooden boat building throughout his life. Growing up on the shores of Puget Sound, in Tacoma, being in and out of wooden boat building yards and following his father around throughout his formative years left its mark. The complex design considerations of a wooden boat and the craftsmanship involved continue to influence Tom's artist eye.

Working primarily solo on all of his projects, he became proficient at moving heavy objects, using what Tom termed the "wisdom of the ages".
,levers, and rollers, hand winches, and come-a-longs, blood ,sweat, tears, and a dogged determination to create his own visions. He considered it a sin against Gaia to buy dimensional wood from a lumberyard! He stuck to this code throughout.
The Thunderbird Treehouse features recycled telephone poles as its structural foundation at the center. These poles extend through the entirety of the home. The rebar accents on the 1 floor staircase were designed and built for this exact space by Tom. As you move up to the studio area, on the 2nd floor, each exposed perimeter post has a northwest inspired Eagle head. The mural in the main bedroom area on the 2na floor is a wonderful recreation of the view you will enjoy at this home. The open air top deck provides one of the most beautiful views of Mount Hood in all of the gorge, framed by trees.