Marshalltown, June 4th, 2004 - If you decide to take a vaction day or two and are looking for something to do with your time here's one possible destination for you.  It's bringing travelers to Iowa from all over the world for a glimpse of history, and perhaps their own childhood.

Travelers have been pulling into Shady Oaks Campground near Marshalltown since 1925.  Mary Gift runs the campground under 200 year old oak trees. But it's a large maple tree, or rather the treehouse in it, that brings visitors from all over.  Gift says they've had visitors from 57 countries, from every state.

Clifford Cravell, a traveller from Tulsa says, "We're traveling across the country looking for odd things, like the world's largest ball of twine, and this thing is unbelieveable!

In 1983 Mary's grandson Mick, then in college, started building the 5000 square foot treehouse.  It keeps growing every year.  Mary tells us, "He could see a tripod place over here where he thought he could add a perch."

In the treehouse museum, yes, museum, there's a boyhood picture of Mick and his maple.  Mary says it was his place to climb when he was little and share his secrets and worries.  Now his grandma shares his creation with visitors.  She's tourguide at 83, she climbs all 12 levels.  "It's a treehouse that's every kid's dream."

The treehouse comes complete with remote control to turn on the lights, colored bulbs around the perimeter, computer, running water, a microwave and full kitchen not to mention all the necessities.  There's even a spiral staircase!

The top floor is almost at the top of the tree, there's not a whole lot of tree left to go.  The top floor is nearly 60 feet off the ground, about 5-1/2 stories high.  Over the years treehouse and tree, have become one.