Minnesota resident, Mark Tucker, 65, who built a 40-foot-high tree house worth $18,000 back in 1986 finally agreed to tear down the structure. The seven-tier tree house has been there for nearly 30 years which was inspired by his childlike fantasies, Daily Mail reported.
Tucker who is an insurance salesman, built the tree house in a maple tree in his property at St. Louis Park for his five children back then and attracted quite a number of tourists since. The city asked him to remove it back in the years but as per a Hennepin County judge’s approval, he was allowed to retain the structure if the safety regulations are followed.
He was also told to do regular assessments of the massive tree's health and install safety cages or nets around it while only four people are allowed on the tree house.
The insurance salesman admits that he will be unable to maintain the tree house as per the city regulations and was given until the end of the year to tear the structure apart.
"I decided it was time to get realistic and begin the process of removing it," he told the Star Tribune. He added that he can no longer keep it up to the code and "nobody uses he darn thing."
Meanwhile, locals said that the huge structure has brought more visitors that have caused problems with mounting traffic.
"Everyone can see it from the street, it's overwhelming it's so big," said David Silverberg, owner of Frankel's World of Judaica nearby, according to Fox9.
Tucker once thought that the tree house will still be there even after he dies but he needed to tear it down. In July, he started tearing it down, starting on the top levels.
"I built it alone. I thought it would be appropriate to take it down myself," Tucker said.
Minnesota man who built 7-tier tree house ordered to tear it down | Daily Mail Online https://t.co/QEWuybQ01T
— American Mutt (@DynnysDerwydd) September 27, 2015
