January 26, 2000
Brothers build titanic tree fort
By Garret Leiva
Herald editor
Josh and Zack Winowiecki frequently find themselves up a tree. The situation, however, is anything but difficult for these Garfield Township brothers. After all, getting down is easy when you've built the ladder yourself.
Begun this past summer, Josh, 16 and Zack, 15, have constructed a tree fort of epic proportions. All it took was a 100 or so trees, an equal number of concrete blocks, assorted deck boards, several lengths of wire some nails and unmeasurable imagination.
Looming 25 feet at its highest point, the story-and-a-half tree fort grew out of boredom and restless energy.
"They're always building something ... which is good because it keeps them busy and out of trouble," said their mother, Cherry Winowiecki. "It was pretty impressive that they came up with this idea and then built it."
Beyond impressing their parents, travelers down Broad Road sometimes stop to inquire about the tree fort. After all, its not everyday you see a Sudan grass thatched roof in northern Michigan.
Before cutting one strand of the six-foot tall grass from the garden, the Winowiecki siblings devised a plan of action. Several rudimentary architectural renderings later, the boys chose a basic Lincoln log design. Then came the hard part - getting the building materials.
"We originally started cutting down the trees with an ax but that proved a little tiresome," noted Josh, a sophomore at Traverse City Central High School. "We cut down about 20 trees before asking dad if he would use the chainsaw."
The project proved an extended family affair. The small pine trees were taken from their grandfather's adjacent 80 acres. Josh and Zack also trucked concrete blocks from a nearby uncle's house using a neighbor's lawnmower.
When it came to actual construction, the concrete foundation and four center posts, each close to 30 feet long, were erected first. Next came the logs -lots and lots of logs wired and nailed together. To provide further insulation- and give the fort that Gilligan's Island look- Sudan grass was attached to the walls and roof.
Standing 14 feet high at the second story level, ladders are utilized both on the interior and exterior. Scrap deck boards comprise the upper story flooring. The second phase of construction includes a partially finished wood bridge leading to a smaller tower.
While winter has brought building to a halt, the brothers can still be found in the backyard fort. Although not for long periods of time since the 55 gallon drum/woodstove proved too much of a safety concern.
While Cherry Winowiecki is pleased overall with the fort, she is a little apprehensive about the new heights her sons are reaching.
"It is a concern, especially if they have their friends over. I don't make them wear hard-hats yet, maybe when they get the next level on," she noted.
Adding onto the fort any further, however, might bring the already slowed traffic on Broad Road to a complete halt.
"People will come down the road and stop their cars to look at it," said Zack, a freshman at Traverse City East Junior High School. "When the school bus goes by, kids stare out the windows."