“Treehouse” hotel up in the air in Revelstoke

Proponents David Evans and Shelley Sharpe are looking for approval to construct a 25-unit tree-hotel.

The owners of an 18-acre property near the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort are proposing a high-end 'Treehouse' style destination resort. — Photo courtesy Treehouse Hotel - Sweden

According to an interview on CBC’s Daybreak morning show the owners of an 18-acre property situated near the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) are proposing a high-end destination treehouse-style accommodation resort.

Proponents David Evans and Shelley Sharpe are looking for approval to construct a 25-unit tree-hotel, featuring low-impact, eco-friendly accommodations on the generously treed property. The “rooms” would encircle a central lodge with a proposed restaurant and other amenities to service a high-end clientele.

The property in question is located in the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District, bordering the City of Revelstoke boundary. The property will need to be annexed into the city in order to provide necessary service (like sewer and water) and zoning.

Like a similar resort in Sweden the tree cabins or houses are securely fastened to trees and sit high above the ground, and they typically feature ultra-modern exterior and interior designs.

Revelstoke city council recently voted in support of a boundary extension for the property despite the strong opposition of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Northland Properties, RMR's parent ownership group of the resort, called the neighbouring “treehouse” hotel proposal a "parasitic development" – unfairly taking advantage of the infrastructure the resort has put in place over the years.

The annexation request needs final approval by the B.C. government before it is finalized.