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Pete: THE TREEHOUSE JUST GREW UP.
NOW TREEHOUSES ARE BIGGER, HIGHER,
AND MORE OUT OF THIS WORLD THAN EVER BEFORE.
I'M PETE NELSON, THE TREEHOUSE MAN.
I TRAVEL THE COUNTRY WITH MY TOP-NOTCH CREW...
All: OH!
Pete: ...BUILDING THE MOST AMAZING TREEHOUSES ON EARTH,
CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH NATURE.
WHAT THE HECK IS A GOAT DOING IN THE TREEHOUSE?
AND WITH EVERY JOB, WE GO OUT ON A LIMB...
...TO MASTER THE ART OF THE TREEHOUSE.
AAH!
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
OW.
OW.
THAT WAS A LUCKY SHOT.
HEY. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. HOW FESTIVE.
LET'S GET IN THE MOOD. I MEAN, IT'S CHRISTMASTIME.
OW. OW.
THIS THING PINCHES YOU LIKE MAD.
OKAY, BUT LET ME JUST TELL YOU THIS NEWS.
SANTA JUST CALLED.
[ DOG MOANS ]
SANTA CLAUS?
YES.
ACTUALLY, AN INCREDIBLY NICE COUPLE
NAMED TOM AND KATHIE
HAVE A SPOT IN JAMUL, CALIFORNIA, IN THE DESERT.
SANTA IN THE DESERT?
YOU'D THINK HE'D BE AT THE NORTH POLE,
BUT THEY WANT SANTA'S WORKSHOP.
THEY WANT A TREEHOUSE.
$30,000.
$30,000?
WE CAN DO SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.
I MEAN, YOU DON'T MESS WITH SANTA.
[ DOG MOANS ]
[ BIRDS SQUAWK ]
[ BIRD SCREECHES ]
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO KATHIE AND TOM
IN JAMUL, CALIFORNIA.
JAMUL IS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND I'M EXCITED
BECAUSE WE ARE DOING A CHRISTMAS TREEHOUSE IN THE DESERT.
APPARENTLY, TOM IS A SANTA -- A YEAR-ROUND SANTA --
SO WE'RE GOING TO CREATE SANTA'S WORKSHOP.
OH, AND WE'VE GOT SOME TREES. A LOT OF LIVE OAKS OUT HERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE SOME PEPPER TREES, EUCALYPTUS, OF COURSE.
EUCALYPTUS IS ALL OVER CALIFORNIA.
[ COW MOOS ]
SO, I'VE NEVER BUILT A SANTA'S WORKSHOP BEFORE.
THIS IS GONNA BE A FIRST FOR ME.
MAYBE I'LL GET SOMETHING EXTRA GOOD IN MY STOCKING THIS YEAR.
[ CHUCKLES ] I LOVE MY JOB.
OOH, LOOK AT THIS.
I PULL UP, AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
IT IS CHRISTMAS IN JAMUL.
HO! HO! HO!
THERE'S A REINDEER, THERE'S A SNOWMAN,
AND THEN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL,
TOM AND KATHIE LOOKING LIKE MR. AND MRS. CLAUS THEMSELVES.
I THINK I'M IN THE RIGHT SPOT HERE.
MR. AND MRS. CLAUS?
THAT'S US.
IN THE FLESH.
OH! THIS IS FANTASTIC.
YEARS AGO, WE NEEDED A SANTA FOR A PARTY,
SO TOM VOLUNTEERED TO BE SANTA
BECAUSE HE COULD FIT THE COSTUME.
[ LAUGHS ] I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
FROM THEN ON, BECAUSE HE HAS THE BEARD,
WHEREVER HE GOES, PEOPLE ARE WAVING AT HIM IN THE CAR
AND YELLING OUT "SANTA," AND IT JUST MAKES YOU HAPPY.
IT JUST COMES OUT AND BUBBLES OVER,
AND YOU JUST CAN'T HELP BUT BEING WHO THEY BELIEVE YOU ARE.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU FIND A REAL BEARDED SANTA?
LIKE, A BEARD LIKE THAT, THAT'S THE REAL DEAL.
WE HAVE OUR OWN BROTHERHOOD.
WE BELONG TO THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF REAL BEARDED SANTAS.
NO.
AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BELONG TO THIS CLUB
IS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR OWN BEARD.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING TO GET IN THE DOOR,
BUT THEN YOU GOT TO HAVE THE SPIRIT.
TOM LOOKS LIKE SANTA CLAUS, HE ACTS LIKE SANTA CLAUS...
WOW, THAT'S...
THERE IT IS. THERE IT IS.
...AND MRS. CLAUS, SWEET AS CAN BE.
I REALLY HAVE A SUSPICION THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH
THE REAL SANTA CLAUS AND MRS. CLAUS.
SO, WHAT AM I BUILDING? TELL ME. TELL ME.
WE NEED SOMETHING VERY FUN AND VERY CHILDLIKE,
SO I THOUGHT, "WHAT BETTER PLACE TO DO SANTA BUSINESS
THAN IN A TREEHOUSE?
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. ARE YOU KIDDING?
WE HAVE WANTED A SANTA'S WORKSHOP FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT DURING THE SEASON
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AT OUR HOUSE.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TREEHOUSE.
I'M REALLY, REALLY -- I'M REALLY EXCITED.
SO, IT'S A WORKSHOP THAT YOU'LL MAKE TOYS IN?
IS THAT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?
WE DO ALL THE SORTING OF THE LIST.
THE NAUGHTY AND THE NICE LIST?
YEAH. WHICH LIST ARE YOU ON?
I THINK I'M ON THE NICE LIST.
I'D LIKE TO THINK I'M ON THE NICE LIST.
AND I HOPE TO STAY ON THE NICE LIST.
I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO BE THE GUY THAT DISAPPOINTED SANTA.
NOW, I SAW ON MY WAY HERE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TYPES OF TREES.
COULD YOU SHOW ME THE ONES THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING?
WELL, IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM, LET'S GO THIS WAY.
Pete: FINDING THE RIGHT TREE,
IT'S THE MOST CRITICAL STEP OF TREEHOUSE BUILDING.
SO, ALEPPO PINE?
THAT WAS ACTUALLY OUR FIRST CHOICE, WAS THIS ONE.
FIRST CHOICE?
DEFINITELY A CANDIDATE.
PINES ARE MID-LEVEL TREES IN MY MIND,
AS FAR AS A TREEHOUSE TREE.
FIRST ONE -- A PINE.
HE WAS LIKE, "PETE, FAT CHANCE."
SEE, I THINK THAT IS REALLY A GREAT SPOT.
IT'S JUST SO PEACEFUL.
IF WE PUT A TREEHOUSE IN HERE,
ARE WE DETRACTING FROM IT'S NATURAL BEAUTY?
THAT'S LIKE A PARK IN THE OAK TREE, ISN'T IT?
IT IS. IT'S LIKE SHANGRI-LA IN THERE.
IT'S GORGEOUS.
WELL, YOU KNOW OUR THIRD SPOT.
THIRD SPOT? LET'S HAVE A LOOK.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE DOWN THIS WAY.
THIS WAY?
OH, MY GOSH.
YEAH, WE'VE GOT A PEPPER TREE.
LOOK AT THIS.
♪ JOY TO THE TREE ♪
♪ HE FOUND THE TREE ♪
♪ HE FOUND, HE FOUND THE PEPPER TREE ♪
THIS PEPPER TREE IS GORGEOUS!
AND THEN HANGING FROM ITS LIMBS
ARE LIKE 1,000 RED RUDOLPH NOSES, YOU KNOW?
AND THEY'RE MAKING THAT LITTLE NOISE LIKE, "ME-E-E!"
YOU KNOW, THAT RUDOLPH NOISE,
AND IT'S LIKE IT'S SAYING, "PICK ME-E-E!
ME!"
AND I HAD TO PICK IT.
♪ HE FOUND THE TREE ♪
♪ HE FOUND THE TREE ♪
THIS FEELS LIKE TREEHOUSE TREE.
LOOK AT THIS. THAT "V" RIGHT THERE,
THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT PLACE TO START A BIG BEAM,
AND WE'RE CLOSE TO THE BACK OF YOUR HOME,
SO WE COULD JUST TAKE A RAMP RIGHT OFF THE MAIN DECK.
OH, I LIKE THAT IDEA.
I'VE NEVER BUILT IN A PEPPER TREE BEFORE,
BUT IT'S GOT THE SHADE OF A WILLOW,
THE STRENGTH OF A MAPLE, AND THEY SURVIVE IN THE DESERT.
OKAY, THE OTHER THING I NEED --
IT'S GOT TO LOOK LIKE A SANTA HOUSE.
I SEE, LIKE, SWOOPING ROOFS. YOU KNOW, LIKE...
OH, YES.
TELL ME SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS
THAT WE NEED TO INCORPORATE IN THIS.
SANTA CHAIR WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
SANTA NEEDS, LIKE, A THRONE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO SURVIVE
SOME REALLY HEAVY-DUTY KID TRAFFIC.
ALSO, WE TALK ABOUT STOCKINGS.
THEY HAVE TO HANG FROM A MANTEL.
A MANTEL? UH-OH. FIREPLACE?
MAYBE.
IT MAKES A GOOD BACKGROUND FOR PICTURES WITH THE KIDS.
SANTA'S WORKSHOP IS GOING TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER
BECAUSE TREEHOUSES ARE JUST MAGICAL.
JUST LIKE SANTA.
I THINK I HAVE ENOUGH TO GO ON.
I WILL SIT HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND JUST...CONTEMPLATE.
I WISH I HAD A BEARD LIKE THAT. I WOULD GO...
YOU JUST NEED TO WORK AT IT.
[ Chuckling ] YEAH.
Pete: WHAT A GREAT TREE YOU ARE.
TO BUILD SANTA'S TREETOP WORKSHOP,
WE'RE GONNA ASCEND 10 FEET UP
THIS SPICY CALIFORNIA PEPPER TREE.
IT'LL HAVE A SLOPED ROOF WITH A COAT OF SNOW-WHITE PAINT
AND RED-AND-GREEN TRIM TO GIVE IT THAT ALPINE WINTERTIME FEEL.
FOR ACCESS, WE'LL ADD A TRAPDOOR FOR THE ELVES
AND A RAMP THAT SHOOTS OFF THE DECK,
LEADING RIGHT INTO KRINGLE'S COZY COMMAND CENTER.
INSIDE, THE CENTERPIECE IS SANTA'S CHAIR...
HO! HO! HO!
...WHERE KIDS CAN TELL HIM ALL THEIR HEART'S DESIRES.
I WANT A TREEHOUSE!
THERE'LL BE ROOM FOR A CHRISTMAS TREE AND PLENTY OF PRESENTS.
AND, OF COURSE, THE ALL-IMPORTANT FIREPLACE
WITH STOCKINGS HUNG ON THE MANTEL WITH CARE.
BOY, I HOPE I GET SOMETHING GOOD THIS YEAR!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
OKAY, WE READY?
WE'RE READY.
[ GASPS ]
OH, MY GOSH.
THAT'S A SANTA HOUSE.
THAT'S THE WHOLE --
IT IS.
SO MUCH FUN.
THAT'S IT.
THAT'S IT.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
WHAT HE SHOWED US
WAS EXACTLY WHAT I HAD PICTURED AS A SANTA HOUSE.
HE'S COME UP WITH A DESIGN THAT IS REALLY GONNA WORK.
THIS IS SOMETHING I KNOW TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
BECAUSE IT IS GETTING THAT TIME OF YEAR.
WE DO HAVE A PARTY COMING UP, AND IT'S, WHAT, A WEEK AWAY?
I WAS GONNA SAY A COUPLE OF WEEKS,
BUT YOU THINK A WEEK AWAY IS WHAT YOU'RE...
OOH, YEAH. WE CAN'T DO A COUPLE WEEKS.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
NO. NO. NO. NO.
[ Chuckling ] NO. WE NEED IT IN A WEEK.
THEY'RE SAYING I GOT TO BE DONE IN A WEEK,
SO FOR ME, THIS IS LIKE CHRISTMAS,
BECAUSE IF I FAIL THEM, THAT COULD BE A LUMP OF COAL.
I DON'T -- I MEAN, CHRISTMAS AND ALL.
THIS IS DIFFICULT.
ALL RIGHT, I BETTER GO GET MY ELVES.
ALL RIGHT.
TO GET SANTA'S TREETOP WORKSHOP READY FOR CHRISTMAS...
HO! HO! HO!
...WE JUST GOT TO LOAD UP THE NELSON TREEHOUSE SLEIGH
AND SLIDE ON DOWN TO JAMUL.
ON THIS JOB, I'VE GOT MY LEAD ELF, DARYL,
MASTER TOY MAKER, CHUCK...
I DON'T FEEL PUNISHED WHEN YOU DO THAT.
...NUT CRACKER, ALEX,
AND THE NEWEST ELF, MY SON HENRY.
I MADE IT.
HE'S ACTUALLY MY SON CHARLIE'S TWIN, WHO USUALLY WORKS WITH US.
GOD. SO HAPPY TO BE HERE NOW, FINALLY.
AND BETWEEN YOU AND ME, HENRY'S A LITTLE GREEN.
GOOD. GOOD. PERFECT.
THIS IS HAPPY, HAPPY STUFF.
SANTA CLAUS HOUSE.
I KNOW WE'RE ALL OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW
THAT MAYBE THERE'S QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHETHER SANTA EXISTS OR NOT,
BUT YOU'RE GONNA MEET KATHIE AND TOM,
WHO I HAVE A FEELING ARE ACTUALLY MR. AND MRS. CLAUS.
SO, PETE THINKS THE REAL SANTA LIVES IN THE DESERT?
[ CHUCKLES ] OKAY.
[ Chuckling ] WHATEVER, PETE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AWESOME.
WHEN DO WE GET TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
YEAH, LET'S DO THIS.
ROLL OUT THE CORDS, AND LET'S GET COOKING.
IT'S BEAM TIME.
THIS BUILD IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT
BECAUSE WE USUALLY USE THE TREEHOUSE ATTACHMENT BOLT,
THE TAB.
BOY, EVEN THE BARK SMELLS LIKE PEPPER.
IN THIS CASE, WE'VE GOT THE PERFECT LITTLE SPOT
WHERE WE CAN DROP A BEAM IN,
AND THEN WE SUPPORT THAT BEAM OUT IN MIDAIR
WITH A KNEE BRACE BACKED TO THE SAME TRUNK OF THE ONE TREE.
CAN'T WAIT TO MEET SANTA. [ CHUCKLES ]
GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO ASK HIM.
SANTA'S GOT SOME THINGS TO ANSWER FOR.
WHOA. [ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
Pete: MR. PEPPER'S GONNA TAKE MOST OF THE WEIGHT OF THIS TREEHOUSE,
BUT WE'RE GONNA SEND SOME BEAMS
BACK TO THE MAIN DECK OF THE HOUSE,
AND THAT KIND OF SOLIDIFIES THINGS.
Alex: [ SIGHS ] SANTA SCHMANTA.
THINK ALEX IS SO BAH HUMBUG-Y
BECAUSE SOME SORT OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA DEALING WITH CHRISTMAS.
DIDN'T GET THE R.C. CAR HE WANTED ONE YEAR.
ACTUALLY, I NEVER DID GET AN R.C. CAR.
Pete: WHAT'S GOING ON?
ARE YOU NOT IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT?
WELL, YOU KNOW, THE SUN'S SHINING,
AND THERE'S NO SNOW.
IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS TO ME.
IT'S 95 DEGREES OUT HERE.
WHAT, DID REAL-ESTATE PRICES IN THE NORTH POLE
SHOOT THROUGH THE ROOF?
IT DOESN'T SNOW AROUND HERE THAT OFTEN, I SUPPOSE.
COME ON, WE'RE A TEAM HERE. WE GOT TO GET THIS TOGETHER.
WE'RE BUILDING SOMETHING FOR SANTA CLAUSE.
YOU KNOW, IF WE MESS THIS UP, COULD BE A LUMP OF COAL.
[ GROANS ] THIS IS NOT GOOD.
FELIZ NAVIDAD!
I LOVE CHRISTMAS. WHO DOESN'T LOVE CHRISTMAS?
Pete: HOW GREAT IS THIS?
CHRISTMASTIME, WE'RE IN SOUTHERNMOST CALIFORNIA.
I MEAN, REALLY, MEXICO IS RIGHT OVER MY SHOULDER.
HOW ABOUT THAT SUNSHINE?
WE ARE UNDERWAY WITH A TREEHOUSE
THAT IS GOING TO BE SANTA'S WORKSHOP.
OH, GOSH, THIS IS SO EXCITING!
WE'VE GOT OUR MAIN BEAM UP WITH SMALLER BEAMS TIED INTO THE DECK
FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
LOOKS GOOD, THOUGH.
BUT WITH THE DECK BEING A DIFFERENT HEIGHT THAN THE TREE,
WE'VE GOT TO DO A LITTLE EXTRA FIDDLING
TO MAKE THIS PLATFORM ALL WORK OUT.
SO, IF YOU LOOKED AT THIS,
YOU WOULDN'T THINK THAT THIS IS LEVEL.
YOU'D BE CORRECT.
Pete: WITH ALMOST ANY TREEHOUSE PLATFORM,
YOUR FLOOR RESTS ON TOP OF THE BEAMS,
BUT BECAUSE OUR BEAMS ARE SLOPED FROM THE TREE TO THE DECK,
WE'RE INSERTING POSTS ON THE DECK SIDE
TO MAKE OUR FLOOR PERFECTLY LEVEL.
ALL RIGHT. GOING UP.
THAT'S PLENTY RIGHT THERE, WHATEVER THAT IS.
WE'RE GONNA JUST SCREW IT.
[ Chuckling ] OH!
THIS IS GONNA BE KIND OF THE ENTRY AREA FOR THE TREEHOUSE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN I THINK PETE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT,
BUT, YEAH, WE'RE ROLLING PRETTY WELL, THOUGH.
WE JUST GOT TO GET THE PLYWOOD ON,
AND THEN WE CAN START TOSSING SOME WALLS UP.
DECK MODE.
Pete: BECAUSE OUR PLATFORM IS HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED,
WE STILL NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ACCESS IT FROM THE DECK.
JUST SCREW IT IN. YEAH!
AS FOR THE TRAPDOOR,
WE JUST HAVE TO ADD THE HOLIDAY ACCOUTREMENTS LATER,
YOU KNOW, FOR THE ELVES.
YEAH! TREEHOUSE TIME!
OH, HELLO.
I LOOK UP, AND I SEE COMING DOWN SANTA CLAUS LANE
SANTA CLAUS AND MRS. CLAUS, A.K.A. TOM AND KATHIE.
SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS.
WELL, YOU'VE GOTTEN QUITE A WAYS HERE.
YEAH. OOH.
WAS THAT A LITTLE STEEP FOR YOU?
WHOA, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT?
THAT'S NOT GOOD.
IT GREW IN HEIGHT. IS THAT...
IS THAT OKAY?
I WAS REALLY SURPRISED HOW STEEP THE RAMP WAS.
DIDN'T IMAGINE THAT AT ALL.
I THOUGHT IT WAS STRAIGHT OFF OF THE...
OFF THE DECK.
I IMAGINED, FROM THE PLANS, IT WOULD BE MAYBE A FOOT,
BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THREE FEET ABOVE THE DECK.
THAT PART NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON SOME.
AND THAT'S WHERE I FEEL BAD BECAUSE WE JUST MADE THE CALL
THAT, OKAY, IT LIFTS UP A LITTLE BIT, IT'LL BE STRONGER.
WE'LL COME UP WITH A COOL SET OF STAIRS.
JUST A FEW STEPS.
ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA DO THEM ONE BETTER THAN STEPS,
BUT I'M GONNA SURPRISE THEM WITH IT LATER,
AND IN THE MEANTIME, ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE.
SO, WE'RE ABOUT 11 OR 12 FEET OFF THE GROUND OVER HERE.
LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
OH, MY GOD.
Tom: IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VIEW.
YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE A DIFFERENT PLACE.
FIREPLACE WOULD BE ON THAT WALL.
AND THEN HERE IS WHERE I IMAGINED
YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR SANTA CLAUS CHAIR.
THERE'S MY CHAIR.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF IT.
SO, THE SANTA THRONE IS PRETTY COOL,
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING OVER HERE
THAT I THINK'S REALLY GONNA TICKLE THEIR FANCY.
OH, MAN. THAT'S SLICK.
OH, MY GOSH.
WHOA, LOOK AT THAT.
Pete: THERE WAS TALK OF ANOTHER ACCESS POINT.
WELL, TREEHOUSES ALWAYS HAVE TRAPDOORS.
THEIR ELVES, THE GRANDKIDS, LET THEM COME UP THROUGH THE FLOOR.
THAT'S FUN.
OH, MY GOD, THEY'RE GONNA FREAK OUT.
THEY'RE GONNA LOVE IT.
"YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH SANTA?
"JUST BACK UP. "BACK UP. BACK UP. OH!
THERE YOU GO."
DON'T MESS WITH THE CLAUSES.
WE GOT TO GET CRACKING.
YOU GOT TO GET CRACKING. YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU ONLY GOT A FEW DAYS LEFT.
YOU KNOW, THE OTHER SANTAS PROBABLY WOULD PITCH IN.
CAN WE GET THE SANTAS TOGETHER?
REALLY?
PROBABLY THE ONLY THING COOLER THAN BUILDING A WORKSHOP
FOR SANTA
IS BUILDING WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF SANTAS.
OKAY, KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN THERE, TRY NOT TO LOOK OVER,
'CAUSE I WANT THIS TO BE A LITTLE SURPRISE FOR BOTH OF YOU.
IF THE KIDS AREN'T ALLOWED TO PEEK, WELL, NEITHER ARE THEY.
OKAY, LET'S GET THE WALLS UP,
'CAUSE THAT SUN DISAPPEARS OVER THAT RIDGE THERE,
AND IT BECOMES WINTER.
SO, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE'RE BURNING DAYLIGHT.
YES! WE'RE BURNING DAYLIGHT.
ONE, TWO, THREE, LIFT!
ALL RIGHT. SLIDE AND SCURRY.
LOAD UP, BOY.
OH, YEAH.
Pete: WE BUILD OUR WALLS BACK AT THE SHOP IN FALL CITY
TO SAVE TIME WHEN WE'RE ON THE JOB SITE.
WE BUILD THEM TO VERY PRECISE DIMENSIONS
SO THAT MY GUYS CAN ASSEMBLE THIS 3-D PUZZLE LICKETY-SPLIT.
NICE!
THIS'LL BE NICE TO HAVE A TIGHT CORNER IN HERE.
I HAVE MOMENTUM NOW, BABY.
BRILLIANT. AMERICAN INGENUITY. I LOVE IT.
GOING UP.
[ GRUNTS ]
HOLD.
OKAY, NOW OUT. GOOD. BACK WE GO.
OH, VERY NICE.
WHO'S FEELING CHRISTMASY?
I AM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
NOT SO MUCH?
I DON'T THINK I CAN TURN IT AROUND.
HE'S GOT A THICK NAUGHTY FILE.
CALL ME A SCROOGE, BUT UNLESS I HAVE
SNOW, EGGNOG, AND "THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROLS,"
IT JUST AIN'T CHRISTMAS.
THIS COULD BE THE REAL SANTA, I THINK.
ARE YOU STILL IMAGINING THAT --
I'M THINKING I'M STARTING TO BUY INTO THAT LOGIC, YEAH.
Daryl: CHUCK'S OPINION'S THE BEST
BECAUSE HE DOES HAVE A BIT OF A WHITE BEARD HIMSELF.
YEAH, RIGHT.
YOU GOT A WAYS TO GO.
I'M TRYING TO DO IT LIKE THAT COMMERCIAL.
I THINK THAT'S A DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WE MIGHT NEED TO MOVE THAT BRACE.
CHUCK AND I ARE PUTTING THE ROOF ON TODAY.
YOU SEE THE SEXY CURVE HERE? CHUCK CAN'T CUT A STRAIGHT LINE.
IT'S A HAPPY ACCIDENT THAT I REPEAT AGAIN AND AGAIN
ON EACH RAFTER.
THAT WAS NO ACCIDENT.
YOU SEE, CHUCK IS A CARPENTRY WIZARD,
AND HE PUT THE RIGHT CURVE IN EACH RAFTER
SO THAT SANTA COULD GET A LITTLE BOOST WHEN HE TAKES OFF.
BAH HUMBUG.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE TAKING A SLEIGH OFF A 90-METER SKI JUMP
AT LILLEHAMMER.
CAREFUL UP THERE, MAN.
ANYONE BELOW ME, DON'T BE BELOW ME.
BE REALLY CAREFUL. I MEAN, THIS IS FREAKIN' SERIOUS UP HERE.
WE DON'T HAVE OUR ROCK HARNESSES.
WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. CHICKEN STRIP'S UP THE ROOF.
AWESOME, I'M GONNA GO --
WATCH OUT! HEADS UP!
WHOA.
ALEX!
CAREFUL UP THERE, MAN.
ANYONE BELOW ME, DON'T BE BELOW ME.
Pete: WE HAVE BEEN CRANKING AWAY ON SANTA'S WORKSHOP.
MY GUYS HAVE BEEN KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK,
AND THEN MY HEART ALMOST STOPPED.
AWESOME, I'M GONNA GO --
WATCH OUT! HEADS UP!
ALEX!
YOU ALL RIGHT?
WAS ANYONE DOWN THERE?
NOT ANYMORE.
THAT'S MY NUMBER-ONE FEAR IS THAT SOMEONE GETS HURT ON THESE JOBS.
HE COULD'VE FALLEN 30 FEET, AND THAT'S SERIOUS STUFF.
WE ARE REALLY, REALLY LUCKY HERE.
WELL, YOU SEE, THERE'S A STRIP HERE.
I WAS JUST PUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF WEIGHT ON IT.
I WAS KIND OF STANDING LIKE THIS,
AND I HAD ANOTHER SHEET OF PLYWOOD ON IT,
AND THAT THING RIPPED OUT OF THE RAFTER TAIL.
THE SHEET OF PLYWOOD WENT FLYING OFF,
AND I, OF COURSE, LOST MY FOOTING.
COULD'VE BEEN WORSE.
I THINK ALEX LEARNED HIS LESSON HERE.
I MEAN, IF THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU BELIEVE IN SANTA,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL.
I SAW MY LIFE FLASH BEFORE MY EYES.
I HEARD ANGELS SINGING.
AND SUDDENLY, I REALIZED WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANT.
AND I'M GONNA FINISH THIS TREEHOUSE FOR SANTA CLAUS,
AND I'M GONNA GET MY NAME OFF THAT NAUGHTY LIST.
YOU KNOW?
LIKE, I GET IT NOW.
Pete: IT'S BRIDGE TIME.
SO, WHEN TOM AND KATHIE CAME TO CHECK OUT THE TREEHOUSE,
THEY HAD SOME CONCERN WITH THE ACCESS,
SO I HAD A LITTLE IDEA TO FIX THAT.
BECAUSE THE TREEHOUSE AND THE DECK ARE AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS
AND THE DISTANCE IS SO SHORT,
A RAMP WOULD BE TOO STEEP, AND STAIRS WOULD BE TOO WIDE.
SO, VOILà.
WE DO A STAIR UP TO A DRAWBRIDGE.
AND IT'LL KEEP ALL THE NAUGHTY KIDS OUT.
SO, THIS WHOLE THING WILL BE SITTING JUST LIKE THIS.
THERE WILL BE POSTS HERE SUPPORTING THIS,
AND THEN THE DRAWBRIDGE WILL JUST COME IN AND REST UPON IT.
I GOT HENRY HELPING ME OUT WITH THESE STAIRS.
HE'S DOING GREAT.
YEAH, HE'S BEEN DELIVERING SOME VERY STRAIGHT, SQUARE CUTS.
YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE ABLE TO DEPEND ON THE GUY
WHO'S CUTTING FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO IT WELL.
YEAH, WORKING WITH DARYL. HE'S A GOOD BOSS, YOU KNOW.
NOT A PROBLEM.
I LOVE IT. THESE GUYS ARE ALL SO CREATIVE.
MY GUYS ARE REALLY THE BEST.
I MEAN, NOW THAT MY SON HENRY HAS JOINED THIS ELITE TEAM,
I MEAN, I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.
HOLD ON. I GOT A CALL.
HELLO?
YES, THIS IS PETE.
THAT'S UNUSUAL. THAT'S VERY FAR NORTH OF HERE.
THIS IS KIND OF WEIRD.
HERE I AM BUILDING A TREEHOUSE FOR SANTA,
AND I GET A CALL FROM ALASKA.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHO LIVES NEAR ALASKA.
THIS PROJECT THAT WE'RE ON RIGHT NOW
IS TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL.
OKAY. I'M IN.
I'M GONNA CALL YOU ON MY WAY TO THE AIRPORT.
ALASKA? I MEAN, I GOT TO GO. BYE GUYS.
[ TIRES SQUEAL ]
ALASKA, THE LAST FRONTIER.
AND THE MOUNTAINS, THE FORESTS, I MEAN, THE MOOSE!
IT'S JUST MAGNIFICENT.
I'M HERE TO MEET ERIC, AND HE'S GOT THIS HOMESTEAD TREEHOUSE.
IT'S, LIKE, WAY DEEP IN THE BUSH,
SO I'M GONNA MEET HIM AT THE HELIPORT.
WHOO! MAN!
HEY, PETE.
Eric: MY NAME'S ERIC.
I'VE GOT A TREEHOUSE IN A VERY REMOTE SECTION OF ALASKA.
IT WAS BUILT OUT OF NECESSITY AND FUNCTION
WITH A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MATERIALS,
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TODAY
TO HAVE PETE NELSON COME OUT AND LOOK AT IT.
HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE IN ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS.
SO, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET OUT AND SEE HOW IT'S STANDING.
I'M EXCITED, TOO.
ERIC TOLD ME THAT HE'S GOT A PROBLEM WITH HIS WOODSTOVE,
BUT THERE COULD BE A MILLION OTHER THINGS
THAT HAVE GONE KAPLOOEY IN THE TIME THAT HE'S BEEN GONE.
YEAH, WE BETTER GET GOING AND GET OUT THERE.
ALL RIGHT, CAN I HELP YOU WITH SOME OF THE GEAR?
I MEAN, YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT OF STUFF.
WE GOT A LITTLE STOVEPIPE.
THIS IS GOOD TO HAVE.
THIS IS SO EXCITING. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS, MAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOW ABOUT THAT?
MOVING OUT ACROSS THIS WILDERNESS IN A HELICOPTER,
NOT IN A SNOW MACHINE OR A DOGSLED.
IMAGINE TRYING TO HIKE THROUGH THAT STUFF.
AND THIS IS, LIKE, HOMESTEADING.
YOU BUILD A PLACE ON IT,
AND AS LONG AS YOU SHOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN THERE
FOR A LITTLE WHILE, IT BECOMES YOURS.
THIS IS, LIKE, THE SPIRIT OF THE PIONEER.
I GOT OFF THE HELICOPTER, AND I CAME AROUND,
LOOKED UP AT THIS TREEHOUSE, AND IT WAS STUNNING.
THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE.
WOW.
THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL.
LOOK AT THAT.
"UNIQUE" MIGHT BE A BETTER TERM
THAN BEAUTIFUL.
HE CREATED THIS EXTRAORDINARY STRUCTURE.
I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT IT, AND IT'S MAGICAL.
BUILT IN THE EARLY 1990s WITH A HAMMER AND A CHAIN SAW.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE ALCHEMY, TURNING WOOD INTO GOLD.
I LOVE IT. I JUST LOVE THIS THING.
LOOK AT THIS.
I THINK THIS IS FANTASTIC.
I MEAN, IT REALLY IS A FUNCTIONAL PIECE OF ART
THAT YOU'VE CREATED.
IT'S MOVING. IT'S TOTALLY MOVING.
I'VE NEVER HEARD IT DESCRIBED AS A PIECE OF ART.
NO, IT'S A PIECE OF ART, LET ME TELL YOU.
PETE'S REACTION TO IT
AND HOW HE FELT IT WAS A FUNCTIONAL WORK OF ART
REALLY MADE ME FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT SOMETHING KIND OF SPECIAL.
PERMISSION TO COME ABOARD?
OH, PLEASE DO COME UP, PETE.
THIS IS FANTASTIC. LOOK AT THIS.
OH.
YES!
Pete: WHEN I COME UP THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THIS TREEHOUSE,
YOU CAN SEE IT'S INSTANTLY WARM.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, MAN. YOU DID THIS.
THERE'S A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.
HE'S GOT SPOTS FOR FIREWOOD, STOVE'S THERE.
YOU GOT YOUR BEAUTIFUL QUEEN-SIZED BED
WITH WINDOWS THAT ARE JUST RIGHT THERE.
ALL THIS LIGHT COMING IN HERE, AND EVEN --
I LOVE THESE LITTLE LIGHTS.
PARADISE, RIGHT?
I CAN SEE HOW YOU COULD STAY UP HERE ALL DAY LONG,
JUST ENJOYING A BOOK.
SUCH A HEARTFELT STRUCTURE.
TRAINED ARCHITECTS CAN'T DO THAT.
THIS JUST CAME OUT OF HIS HEART AND SOUL,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW?
IT'S JUST REAL.
AND THIS WAS JUST A SHEET OF PLYWOOD, RIGHT?
AND IT WORKS.
YES.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SURPRISE
BECAUSE THE TREEHOUSE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION,
BUT THE ONE THING WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT
IS FIX THE WOODSTOVE,
BECAUSE IT MIGHT SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE SOMEDAY
IF THE WOODSTOVE WORKS.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S SEE NOW.
WHAT IF WE OPENED THIS UP,
AND THEN IF I KEPT YOU HERE, WE COULD WORK TOGETHER?
I'M GONNA JUST UNSCREW IT A LITTLE BIT,
AND THEN MAYBE WE AN PULL IT OFF.
FIXING AN ELBOW IN A STOVEPIPE LIKE THIS IS REALLY NO BIG DEAL.
IT'S JUST THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LADDER AROUND HERE.
LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME SKETCHY SCAFFOLDING, YOU MIGHT SAY.
THIS SEEM PRETTY STRONG?
BUT YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BITE IT OUT HERE,
BECAUSE YOU'RE A LONG WAY FROM HELP.
I'VE GOT THIS 10-GALLON TANK HERE FULL OF GASOLINE.
IS THAT WHAT'S IN HERE?
THAT'S WHAT'S IN THERE, YEAH.
THIS COULD BE A BIG FIERY END TO THE WHOLE THING RIGHT HERE.
OKAY. LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET UP THERE.
THIS IS A BAD IDEA, DON'T YOU THINK?
Pete: I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF ALASKA
FIXING AN ELBOW IN A WOODSTOVE.
THE FIX IS NO BIG DEAL,
BUT OUT HERE IN THE WILDERNESS, WE DON'T HAVE A LADDER,
SO THAT KIND OF PRESENTS A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM.
LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET UP THERE.
THIS IS A BAD IDEA, DON'T YOU THINK?
Eric: I DON'T KNOW IF PETE'S WIFE WOULD APPROVE
OF THE WAY HE CLIMBED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE TREEHOUSE
AND USED A 10-GALLON METAL JUG AS KIND OF A STEP STOOL.
HEY, IF IT GOES SOUTH,
MAYBE...JUST FINISH ME OFF, OKAY?
[ Chuckling ] HOW ABOUT THAT?
ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE IF I CAN JUST UNSCREW THIS
OR IF THAT'S EVEN... OH, IT'S WORKING.
Pete: SO, ALL WE NEED TO DO IS REMOVE THE RUSTED PIPE...
OH, THEY'RE COMING OUT SO NICE AND EASY.
LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET THIS THING TO COME OFF.
YEAH!
...AND REPLACE IT WITH OUR NEW METAL ELBOW.
HEY, COOL. LOOKIT THERE. OKAY.
THEN WE SCREW IT INTO PLACE,
AND IT OUGHT TO LAST AS LONG AS THE LAST ONE,
WHICH IS OVER 20 YEARS.
FITTING THIS ON.
[ DRILL WHIRS ]
ALL RIGHT, LAST SCREW. I THINK THIS IS IT.
Eric: OKAY.
DANG.
ERIC, I'M PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT THIS.
THAT'S LOOKING REALLY GOOD.
MAYBE WE SHOULD LIGHT IT UP AND SEE.
I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO LIGHT A FIRE IN HERE.
SHOULD WE DO IT? I JUST GOT THAT DONE.
SO, THE STOVEPIPE IS LOOKING GOOD.
NOW ALL WE NEED TO DO IS JUST FIRE IT UP
AND MAKE SURE IT WORKS.
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE STUFFING IT.
YEAH, SHE'S READY TO GO.
♪ HALLELUJAH ♪
IT'S STARTING TO GO.
YEAH, IT'S WORKING GREAT.
♪ HALLELUJAH ♪
THE WOODSTOVE WORKS.
NOW IT HAS THAT POTENTIAL
TO SAVE SOME POOR WAYWARD SOUL'S LIFE SOMEDAY.
IT'S GONNA WARM ME TWICE AS MUCH, YOU KNOW?
ONCE IN THE HEART, THAT YOU WERE HERE FOR PART OF THIS.
I'M SO FLATTERED, YOU KNOW? THIS IS SUCH AN HONOR.
OH, ERIC, THIS IS FUN FOR ME. ARE YOU KIDDING?
ERIC -- WHAT HE CREATED WITH HIS MIND'S EYE
AND THEN WITH HIS OWN HANDS
IS NOTHING SHORT OF A WORK OF ART.
ALL OF IT'S SALVAGED.
YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND A $1 MILLION HERE.
YOU JUST HAD TO GIVE A BIG CHUNK OF YOUR HEART,
AND THAT'S WHAT HE DID,
AND THAT'S WHAT THESE TREEHOUSES ARE ALL ABOUT, REALLY.
HEY, LOOK AT THAT. WE'VE GOT A LITTLE PEN HERE.
I WOULD BE SO HONORED.
PROBABLY ONLY A DOZEN PEOPLE IN 20 YEARS
HAVE SLEPT IN THE TREEHOUSE,
AND FOR PETE TO HAVE COME OUT AND SEEN IT IS VERY SPECIAL,
AND TO HAVE HIS NAME AMONG THE FEW NAMES IN THE TREEHOUSE
IS QUITE THE HONOR FOR ME.
THIS IS JUST CLASSIC.
I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY -- THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING.
HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A PLACE
TO JUST KIND OF DROP OFF THE EDGE OF THE EARTH?
AWW. HEY.
THIS IS A GUY THAT HAS GONE AHEAD
AND ACCOMPLISHED THIS DREAM OF HIS.
I MEAN, THIS WAS JUST THIS NOTION IN THE BACK OF HIS MIND
THAT HE WOULD GO OUT TO THE ALASKA WILDERNESS
AND BUILD THIS WITH HIS BARE HANDS.
BUT LOOK WHAT HE DID.
THIS TREEHOUSE IS LIKE HEAVEN.
TREEHOUSE IS JUST LIKE HEAVEN.
IT'S CHRISTMASTIME.
SO, I'M BACK, HAVING JUST RETURNED FROM ALASKA, WHERE IT WAS ALL SNOWY,
AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, THE GUYS HAVE GOT A LOT OF WORK DONE.
THE ROOF IS ON,
THEY'VE STARTED THIS REALLY LOVELY RED-AND-GREEN TRIM.
SWEET.
AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY.
MY SON CHARLIE, HENRY'S TWIN, CAME DOWN TO HELP US OUT.
GOSH, IT'S JUST NICE TO SEE YOU TWO.
MY BOYS ARE HERE. THIS IS LIKE FAMILY CHRISTMASTIME.
THIS IS SO GOOD!
CHARLIE WORKED FOR ME FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
NOW CHARLIE DECIDED HE WOULD GO BACK TO SCHOOL,
AND HENRY IS COMING OUT OF COLLEGE
TO BE CHARLIE.
WHAT I LOVE IS THAT I CAN SAY "HENRY" OR "CHARLIE,"
AND THEY'RE BOTH HERE, SO I GO, "HENRY," "CHARLIE,"
I'LL BE LIKE, "HEY, I WAS TALKING TO HENRY."
THEY'RE TWINS, SO WE [WHISTLES] SWITCHED THEM.
PRETTY COOL.
HOW ABOUT "HO! HO! HO!"? GOING DOWN.
GOING DOWN NOW.
HO! HO! HO!
WHOA!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
I KNEW "HO! HO! HO!" WAS A BAD IDEA.
I GAVE HENRY AND CHARLIE THE INITIAL IDEA --
"YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THIS OLD BED FRAME
AND TURN IT INTO SANTA'S THRONE."
ALL RIGHT.
AND THEN MAYBE IF YOU DO HANDLE IT,
YOU'RE GONNA FEEL LIKE A MILLION BUCKS.
HENRY FIGURED OUT MOST OF IT, BUT WHEN CHARLIE CAME IN
TO HELP HIM PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON IT,
I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY NEAT.
I GOT THESE GLUED TOGETHER, AND I THINK THEY'RE DRY ENOUGH.
THIS CHAIR ISN'T GONNA BE AS SKETCHY AS YOUR SKATEBOARD RAMP,
IS IT?
MOSTLY HENRY, SO WE'LL SEE.
THIS IS BEEFY, THOUGH.
YEAH, HOPEFULLY SANTA CAN SIT IN IT.
YEAH. OKAY.
LET'S SEE. OH.
MM. YEAH. YEAH.
Pete: BEFORE I GIVE MY APPROVAL ON THE SANTA THRONE,
I'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CAN WITHSTAND
THE RIGORS OF SANTA-ING.
TRUE TEST, THOUGH. YOU READY?
Henry: READY FOR -- OH, WOW. WHOA.
[ LAUGHS ] OH!
OW.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO SIT DOWN ON YOU THAT HARD.
HOW'S THAT?
HERE'S THE DAD'S DREAM.
I MEAN, I'VE GOT THESE TWIN BOYS...
THAT'S A HARD CHAIR.
...AND FOR THEM TO BE WORKING TOGETHER,
I MEAN, IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.
NO, IT IS CHRISTMAS.
YEAH.
OH, MY GOD.
AWW. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THIS IS GOOD WORK. I'M IMPRESSED.
WHOO-HOO!
CHRISTMAS IS BARRELING UPON US, AND WE'VE GOT WINDOWS TO PUT IN.
THE WHOLE INTERIOR HAS TO GO IN.
WE GOT THE DRAWBRIDGE TO BUILD, A LOT OF THINGS,
SO I ASKED TOM IF I COULD GET MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF HELP,
AND MAN, DID HE EVER BRING THE HEAT.
[ BIRD SCREECHES ]
[ WOLF HOWLS ]
[ GOAT BLEATS ]
HO! HO! HO!
LIKE A MIRAGE.
HOW MANY SANTAS SHOWED UP? THERE MUST'VE BEEN 10 OF THEM.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
LO AND BEHOLD, HERE COMES SANTA CLAUSES.
WHAT IS GOING ON?!
A BRIGADE OF SANTA CLAUSES!
WHAT? WHO?
TELL ME, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? [ Chuckling ] WHAT'S GOING ON?
WELL, WE'RE THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF REAL BEARDED SANTAS.
THEY'RE ALL REAL BEARDS?
THEY LOOK GREAT.
I FEEL LIKE I GOT TO GROW A BEARD RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS A TRUE MIRACLE.
THESE GUYS JUST THREW IN, ALL-IN.
SO NICE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE SAME NAMES.
EVERYWHERE I TURNED,
THERE WAS A GROUP OF GUYS HELPING SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING,
AND THEY WERE SMILING AND JOLLY AND HAPPY
AND, "HO! HO! HO! HO!"
16 AND 13/16.
TWO OF THOSE, SON OF MINE.
THERE'S SANTAS PAINTING DOORS,
THERE'S SANTAS CUTTING ROOFING MATERIAL
AND HANDING IT UP TO ALEX. THERE'S SANTAS EVERYWHERE.
I WISH I HAD SANTAS ON EVERY JOB.
[ LAUGHS ]
I'M GONNA WORK WITH YOU ON THE MECHANICS OF THIS DRAWBRIDGE.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT GREAT CARPENTERS THE SANTAS WERE.
I MEAN, I KNOW THEY WORK ON TOYS ALL THE TIME,
AND, I MEAN, I'M SURE THEY HELP THEIR ELVES OUT,
BUT WHILE I HAVE THEM HERE,
I THOUGHT WE WOULD REALLY CONCENTRATE
ON GETTING THIS BRIDGE DONE AND JUST DO IT PERFECTLY.
IF YOU TIE YOUR ROPES,
GET THEM UP THERE, TIE THEM THAT WAY,
THEN HAVE A SINGLE ROPE TO PULL IT UP.
I LIKE THAT. I LIKE THAT.
WE DECIDED TO RUN TWO ROPES FROM THE END OF THE BRIDGE
THROUGH HOLES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DOOR...
DANG, IT'S FUN HAVING YOU ALL AROUND.
...AND THEN DOWN THROUGH THE FLOOR TO A COUNTERWEIGHT.
ELEGANCE IN SIMPLICITY.
LET'S SEE IF IT WORKS. ONE, TWO, THREE.
WHOA.
HEY, HUH?
WE'RE DOING ALL RIGHT.
THAT WOULD PREVENT THE NAUGHTY KIDS FROM GETTING OVER,
DO YOU THINK, IF IT WAS THAT HIGH?
LET IT DOWN FOR THE NICE KIDS TO COME IN.
[ Chuckling ] OH.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ LAUGHS ]
SO, THIS DRAWBRIDGE IS REALLY EXTRA SPECIAL.
I MEAN, FOR ONE, IT'S A DRAWBRIDGE,
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING -- IT'S FOR SANTA CLAUS.
WHAT A GREAT-LOOKING GROUP OF HARD-WORKING MEN
WE'VE GOT OUT HERE.
HO! HO! HO!
Pete: THIS IS THE BIG DAY.
WE ARE GONNA SHOW TOM AND KATHIE THEIR TREEHOUSE.
I AM QUITE CERTAIN
THAT THESE ARE THE REAL MR. AND MRS. SANTA CLAUS,
SO WE WANT TO IMPRESS THEM.
PLUS, THE FAMILY'S HAVING THEIR CHRISTMAS PARTY TONIGHT,
SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO IMPRESS THEM,
BUT IT'S GOT TO BE PERFECT.
I THINK WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT AT THE END,
THERE SEEMS LIKE THERE'S TOO MANY THINGS TO DO AT ONCE,
BUT WE'RE GETTING IT DONE, AND ALEX,
HE'S FINISHING UP THE ELF LADDER NOW.
GRAB THOSE SHOVELS.
CHARLIE AND HENRY FINISHED UP SANTA'S THRONE.
LOOK AT ALL THIS GLITTER.
AND CHUCK AND I ARE REPLACING THE HAND RAIL
ON EITHER SIDE OF THE TREEHOUSE.
IT'S KIND OF AN ALL-HANDS-ON-DECK KIND OF DAY.
CHARLIE PUT THIS IN.
OH, AND LOOK WHO'S BELOW.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IT LOOKS GREAT, MAN. LOOK AT THAT. NICE LADDER.
STURDY FOR ALL THE ELF TRAFFIC.
I CAN FIT UP THROUGH IT.
I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. YEAH. YEAH.
NOW GET BACK TO WORK. GET BACK DOWN. BACK TO WORK.
[ LAUGHS ] DON'T FALL.
Alex: WE CAN MARK THE TRAPDOOR OFF THE LIST.
NORMALLY WHEN WE'RE BUILDING A TREEHOUSE,
WE FINISH THE STRUCTURE AND THEN WE DO THE DECORATING.
BUT BECAUSE THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK IS TICKING,
WE'VE BROUGHT IN OUR HEAD ELF OF INTERIOR DESIGN...
OKAY, BOYS, COME ON. SANTA'S GOT TO SIT SOMEWHERE.
...TORY.
THERE'S FURNITURE GOING IN. THERE'S LIGHTS GOING UP.
RED AND GREEN FUN.
THERE'S PAINTING GOING ON. THERE'S EVEN A SLEIGH COMING IN.
OH.
LOOK AT THE LITTLE BROTHERS. THAT'S SO CUTE.
ME AND MY LITTLE BROTHER HANGING OUT.
CHRISTMAS IS UPON US.
THIS IS VERY EXCITING.
TOM AND KATHIE, A.K.A. THE CLAUSES,
ASKED FOR A FIREPLACE.
SEE HOW THIS THING IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.
NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, WITH JUST A WEEK TO BUILD THIS THING,
I CAN'T GIVE THEM A REAL FIREPLACE,
BUT I THINK I CAN GIVE THEM THE NEXT BEST THING.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS PLUG IT IN.
ALL I DO IS PLUG IT IN?
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, MY GOD.
AND THIS THING IS KICKING OUT SOME HEAT, TOO.
HOLY SMOKE.
JUST AS WE WERE WRAPPING UP THE INTERIOR DESIGN,
I NOTICED A HERD OF SANTAS COMING MY WAY.
PETE.
WE'RE GONNA BE HEADING BACK TO THE NORTH POLE,
AND WE JUST WANTED TO SAY
HOW MUCH WE ENJOYED HELPING YOU OUT WITH THE TREEHOUSE.
WELL, THIS HAS BEEN A MIRACLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
I'VE GOT TO ADMIT, I HATE TO SEE THESE GUYS GO.
I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN SO HELPFUL,
AND I JUST WISH I COULD GROW A REAL BEARD
AND REALLY BE A MEMBER WITH THOSE GUYS.
NOW, SINCE YOU WANT TO BE A SANTA,
WE CAN MAKE YOU AN HONORARY MEMBER
OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF REAL BEARDED SANTAS.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOW. [ LAUGHS ]
Pete: I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
I AM NOW A MEMBER
OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF REAL BEARDED SANTAS.
I MEAN, THIS IS A TREMENDOUS HONOR.
THIS IS UP THERE WITH MARRIAGE AND KIDS.
NO, AFTER KIDS, OF COURSE.
I AM SO HONORED
TO EVEN BE THOUGHT OF AS A POSSIBILITY.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
HO! HO! HO!
Pete: YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THESE GUYS,
IT SORT OF MAKES ME IMAGINE THAT, YOU KNOW,
WHEN I'M THEIR AGE, IF I CAN GROW A NICE BEARD LIKE THAT,
THAT'S NOT A BAD LINE OF WORK.
LOOK AT THAT.
WHOO-HOO!
BRING IT IN!
HAVING JUST RETURNED FROM SNOWY ALASKA,
YOU KNOW, SANTA'S HOME, OF COURSE,
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE
TO JUST BRING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BACK WITH ME
AND GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF NORTH POLE MAGIC.
FREDDY.
WOW, IS THIS THE MACHINE?
UNBELIEVABLE!
WE'RE GONNA HAVE SNOW ALL ACROSS OVER THERE.
I GOT YOU OVER 10 TONS OF ICE IN THERE.
WE'LL RUN IT RIGHT THROUGH THIS MACHINE,
AND WE'LL SPRAY IT OUT THERE,
AND I'LL GET THAT ABOUT SIX INCHES DEEP FOR YOU.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? SIX INCHES OF SNOW?
WINTER IS COMING!
OH, MAN.
I LOVE MY JOB!
SNOW.
CHRISTMAS.
20,000 POUNDS OF ICE, TURNED IT INTO SNOW,
AND IT WAS JUST THE PERFECT CROWNING JEWEL
TO THIS SANTA WORKSHOP IN THE TREES.
WHOO! LOOK AT THIS!
CHRISTMAS IN THE DESERT!
YES. WHOO!
TREEHOUSE IS DONE FOR SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS.
WOW. HOW ABOUT THAT?
I'M SO EXCITED TO SHOW THIS THING.
SO, NO LOOKING, SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS.
NO LOOKING. NO LOOKING.
BUILDING THESE TREEHOUSES IS SO MUCH FUN,
AND BEING ABLE TO PRESENT THEM TO THE NEW OWNER
IS REALLY MY FAVORITE PART.
NO. NO. NO.
OKAY.
Tom: WE HAVE THIS PARTY COMING UP,
AND THERE'S GONNA BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF KIDS AROUND HERE.
OKAY.
OKAY.
WE ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT HE HAS IN STORE FOR US.
ARE YOU READY TO HAVE A LOOK AT THIS?
I'M MORE THAN READY.
HAVE A LOOK.
WHOA! [ Chuckling ] OH, MY GOSH!
Pete: SO, NO LOOKING, SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS.
NO PEEKING.
Pete: THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
BUILDING THESE TREEHOUSES IS SO MUCH FUN,
AND BEING ABLE TO PRESENT THEM TO THE NEW OWNER
IS REALLY MY FAVORITE PART.
IT'S ALL ABOUT BELIEVING --
BELIEVING IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT --
AND WE ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT HE HAS IN STORE FOR US.
OKAY.
OKAY.
I'M GONNA FEEL LIKE ONE OF THE KIDS
THAT I SURPRISE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING.
THIS IS REALLY, REALLY EXCITING.
WE CAN STOP HERE.
AND, NOW, ARE YOU READY TO HAVE A LOOK AT THIS?
I'M MORE THAN READY.
HAVE A LOOK.
WHOA!
TA-DA!
Pete: WHEN THEY LOOKED UP AND SAW THIS,
YOU COULD JUST SEE HOW HAPPY THEY WERE.
THIS IS SO MAGICAL!
Kathie: I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES. THIS IS SO AMAZING.
WE'VE GOT SOME SNOW FOR YOU, TOO!
Tom: I SEE THAT.
SNOW IN CALIFORNIA?
HOW AMAZING IS THAT?
GEEZ, I'M BACK HOME IN THE NORTH POLE.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS HAVE THEIR WORKSHOP.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET ME LEAD YOU INSIDE.
BUT LET ME GO FIRST, BECAUSE I HAVE A LITTLE SURPRISE.
ANOTHER SURPRISE?
A LITTLE SURPRISE. BE CAREFUL, 'CAUSE IT IS SLIPPERY.
COME RIGHT UP TO THE STAIRS.
NOW, I'M GONNA OPEN THIS UP, AND DON'T PEEK TOO MUCH, NOW.
BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS REALLY NEAT THING.
I WON'T LOOK.
OH, MY GOSH!
WHAT IS THAT?
TA-DA!
A DRAWBRIDGE.
I MEAN, HOW'D YOU EVER THINK ABOUT THAT?
WELL, I JUST FIGURED, YOU KNOW,
YOU GOT TO KEEP THE NAUGHTY ONES OUT.
I MEAN, THIS IS WHERE YOU COME
AND DO ALL YOUR IMPORTANT "NAUGHTY AND NICE" LIST, RIGHT?
I WANT TO WALK ACROSS THE DRAWBRIDGE.
ALL RIGHT.
YOU FIRST.
Pete: WHEN YOU STEP OFF THE BRIDGE AND INTO THE TREEHOUSE,
YOU FEEL IT.
IT'S LIKE MAGIC.
Kathie: OH, MY GOSH! THIS IS JUST AMAZING!
[ LAUGHS ] THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
I THOUGHT THE SURPRISE WAS OUTSIDE,
BUT THIS IS EVEN BETTER IN HERE.
OH, MY GOSH. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE MANTEL.
LOOK AT THAT.
WAIT TILL YOU SEE THIS. NO NEED TO GO GET WOOD.
OH!
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S A SURPRISE,
BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE GONNA GET THAT IN HERE.
YOU GOT TO HAVE A FIREPLACE IN A LITTLE SANTA WORKSHOP,
YES.
WE GOT YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE.
OH! THIS IS CHRISTMAS MORNING ALL OVER AGAIN.
ISN'T THIS FUN? HERE, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE...
Kathie: NO!
...TRAPDOOR.
WE HAVE AN ENTRY FOR THE ELVES AND THE GRANDKIDS.
PETE DID A GREAT JOB.
HE PUT EVERYTHING WE ASKED IN THE TREEHOUSE
AND A FEW SURPRISES.
THIS IS SO EXCITING FOR ME,
BECAUSE MY SON CHARLIE AND HENRY,
THEIR GIFT TO YOU IS A NEW SANTA CHAIR.
OH, MY GOSH.
THIS WAS THE OLD BED FRAME THAT YOU HAD IN YOUR GARAGE,
I THINK, IS WHERE IT CAME FROM, RIGHT?
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SIT ON THE LAP, HERE.
PICK A KNEE.
ALL RIGHT. REALLY? GEEZ.
YOU'RE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
OF THE NICE LIST!
YOU MADE IT!
I'M SO GLAD. THANKS, SANTA.
SO, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR?
WELL, THOSE BATTERIES ON MY POWER TOOLS ARE DYING ON ME,
SO MAYBE SOME MORE OF THOSE.
I HOPE THAT, IF SANTA FEELS THAT THAT'S SOMETHING HE NEEDS,
I'M SURE HE'S GONNA GET IT UNDER HIS TREE.
SHOULD WE GO GET THE FAMILY? I'M SURE THEY'RE EXCITED.
OKAY.
Kathie: I'M SO EXCITED.
OUR FAMILY AND OUR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, AND THE COMMUNITY
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT.
Tom: SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY CAN FEEL THE MAGIC,
AND THAT MAKES IT A REALLY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS FOR US.
Pete: ARE YOU READY FOR THIS, EVERYBODY?
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE READY.
I THINK THE BEST PART OF THE DAY WAS WATCHING ALL THESE GRANDKIDS
AND THE LITTLE ONES JUST CHOMPING AT THE BIT
TO GET IN THE SNOW AND SEE THE TREEHOUSE.
OKAY, ARE YOU READY FOR THE LIGHTS?
[ ALL CHEERING ]
THIS IS MY LIGHT SWITCH, SO WHEN I PULL THIS DOWN,
MAGICALLY, SANTA'S WORKSHOP WILL LIGHT UP.
SO, HERE WE GO. ON THREE.
All: ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
OH! IT WORKED!
I GOT PRETTY EXCITED, THERE. IT ACTUALLY WORKED.
I MEAN, I KNEW IT WOULD, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT DID.
OKAY, SANTA'S WORKSHOP IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
GO!
[ CHILDREN SQUEALING ]
Kathie: PETE IS LIKE A CHILD.
HE CREATED SOME MAGIC FOR SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS
AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
IT JUST WARMS MY HEART
THAT HE BRINGS THOSE FEELINGS OF YOUTH BACK TO US,
AND...IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL SO WARM INSIDE.
AND I REALLY LOVE IT.
SPECIAL JOB.
[ Voice breaking ] HE DID SUCH A GREAT JOB!
HE IS SPECIAL. VERY SPECIAL.
YOU GUYS EVER SEE A SNOW ANGEL BEFORE?
WE BROUGHT TENS TONS OF ICE AND TURNED IT INTO SNOW.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!
IT WAS JUST THE PERFECT CROWNING JEWEL
TO THIS SANTA WORKSHOP TREEHOUSE.
THIS IS PRETTY FUN, ISN'T IT?
I MEAN, LOOKIT -- SNOWBALL FIGHT IN THE DESERT!
WHOO-HOO! OH!
MAN, FASTBALL.
HO, HO, HO!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
[ ALL CHEERING ]
THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
YOU KNOW HOW IT ALWAYS FEELS MUCH BETTER
GIVING THAN IT DOES RECEIVING,
I MEAN, ESPECIALLY TO MR. AND MRS. SANTA CLAUS.
THEY GIVE AND GIVE AND GIVE, AND HERE,
WE HAD A CHANCE TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING,
AND I GOT TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WORKING WITH MY FAMILY --
MY TWINS, CHARLIE AND HENRY.
I MEAN, THAT'S A MEMORABLE HOLIDAY RIGHT THERE.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
WHOO!
FOR A PRIVATE TOUR OF SANTA'S WORKSHOP TREEHOUSE,
WATCH MY "BEHIND THE BUILD" SERIES ONLINE AT...