Dad Built Kids A Playhouse In The Sky

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #5, Page #02

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When Douglas Hughes built a playhouse for his kids, he did it in a big way.

    The Litchfield, Minn., man built a 12-ft. sq. playhouse that stands 20 ft. off the ground. It’s mounted on a 4-legged steel structure that was originally part of a coal conveyor at a local power plant. A wood deck with 42-in. high railings wraps around the house. To get into the house, kids and adults walk up a 50-ft. long “flight elevator” that leads up to the deck. Steel pipe safety rails are bolted onto both sides of the elevator.

    The playhouse has just one big room, which contains a sink, propane stove, small refrigerator, and 3 cots. A water line leads from a sandpoint well up to the sink, while a 50-amp circuit breaker provides electricity.

    “It’s built solid and provides a one-of-a-kind experience for kids and grownups alike,” says Hughes. “The playhouse is located about 100 yards from my house. I put solar lights on the deck rails and also on the elevator, so it really looks nice at night.”

    Hughes built the playhouse on the ground and then hired a local crane operator to lift it on top of the steel base. The crane operator slid 2 long steel beams under the foundation of the house, and then attached cables to an A-frame, which was then attached to the crane’s boom.

    He says using the flight elevator saved him a lot of money and time compared to building stairs. “I found the elevator on Craigslist and drove 60 miles to a farm where it sat in a shelter belt,” says Hughes. “Both the house and the elevator are anchored solidly to the ground and don’t even budge in the wind. The only way they’re going anywhere is if there’s a tornado.”

    Hughes started working on the playhouse in 2007 and finished building in 2010. “I paid $350 for the elevator and about $150 for the safety rails for the elevator. My total cost was between $5,000 and $6,000,” he says.

    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Douglas Hughes, Clipper World, Inc., 62880 CSAid Hwy. 11, Litchfield, Minn. 55355 (ph 320 593-9547; clippers@hutchtel.net).

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Dad Built Kids A Playhouse In The Sky FARM HOME Novelty Items When Douglas Hughes built a playhouse for his kids he did it in a big way

    The Litchfield Minn man built a 12-ft sq playhouse that stands 20 ft off the ground It’s mounted on a 4-legged steel structure that was originally part of a coal conveyor at a local power plant A wood deck with 42-in high railings wraps around the house To get into the house kids and adults walk up a 50-ft long “flight elevator” that leads up to the deck Steel pipe safety rails are bolted onto both sides of the elevator

    The playhouse has just one big room which contains a sink propane stove small refrigerator and 3 cots A water line leads from a sandpoint well up to the sink while a 50-amp circuit breaker provides electricity

    “It’s built solid and provides a one-of-a-kind experience for kids and grownups alike ” says Hughes “The playhouse is located about 100 yards from my house I put solar lights on the deck rails and also on the elevator so it really looks nice at night ”

    Hughes built the playhouse on the ground and then hired a local crane operator to lift it on top of the steel base The crane operator slid 2 long steel beams under the foundation of the house and then attached cables to an A-frame which was then attached to the crane’s boom

    He says using the flight elevator saved him a lot of money and time compared to building stairs “I found the elevator on Craigslist and drove 60 miles to a farm where it sat in a shelter belt ” says Hughes “Both the house and the elevator are anchored solidly to the ground and don’t even budge in the wind The only way they’re going anywhere is if there’s a tornado ”

    Hughes started working on the playhouse in 2007 and finished building in 2010 “I paid $350 for the elevator and about $150 for the safety rails for the elevator My total cost was between $5 000 and $6 000 ” he says

    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Douglas Hughes Clipper World Inc 62880 CSAid Hwy 11 Litchfield Minn 55355 ph 320 593-9547; clippers@hutchtel net

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