Embrace Your Inner Child With A Stay At The Danville Florida Treehouse

Remember when you were a kid and dreamed of playing in your own treehouse? There’s just something magical about being closer to the clouds and getting that birds-eye view while being hugged by the trees’ branches. Well, you can fulfill that childhood dream when you go on vacation in Florida, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Where Is The House Located And What's So Special About It?

Located roughly 30 miles northeast of Orlando sits a unique treehouse for rent via Airbnb, with rates starting at $230 a night. Tucked within a 30-acre private property nicknamed “Danville,” the multi-level treehouse in Geneva, Florida, is wildly popular—often booking up months in advance. Known as the “Danville Treehouse,” the vacation rental soared to fame when Netflix featured it in Season 1 of its original series called The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals. Nestled on the edge of Lake Harney, this three-story, 15-foot-high treehouse provides an enchanted escape with plenty of quirky charm and amenities.

As the brainchild of owner/inventor Dan Shaw, the Danville property and the treehouse served as a retirement project for Shaw, who ran a plumbing business for 42 years. According to the Netflix series, Shaw helped invent the automatic sink and toilet and holds 23 patents! Tapping into his ingenuity, Shaw created this towering, round treehouse (a.k.a. yurt) with an artistic eye and a  sustainability mindset. He sourced elements from Craigslist auctions and salvage yards, incorporating repurposed materials including a residential elevator, a jet engine cowling, and 1920s fire tower stairs.

What Does The House Look Like?

Surrounded by majestic oak and magnolia trees, the one-bedroom, one bathroom treehouse sits on a five-acre parcel tucked into the woodsy Danville property in central Florida. It exudes charm inside and out. As you approach the property, you immediately feel welcome with the outdoor amenities inviting you to relax and linger. Here, you’ll find a patio, firepit, tiki bar, and rustic tables and chairs crafted from trees—encouraging you to unwind and disconnect from the everyday.

Need a hot soak after traveling to get here? Head to the middle deck where you can sink into the unique hot tub—complete with a table in the center—repurposed from a jet engine. (As a United States Air Force veteran, Shaw incorporated several whimsical, flight-themed touches throughout the Danville property.) Just steps away, you’ll find an outdoor, walk-in shower fashioned out of bamboo, allowing you to rinse off before heading upstairs to the main living space. This comes in handy after a day spent hiking the trails in Little Big Econ State Forest or canoeing in the winding Econlockhatchee River. As your evening winds down, ambient lighting around the hot tub sets the place aglow.

Next, time to head inside. But wait—how do you access all these levels? Well, you could climb the DC-10 1920s fire tower stairway, repurposed from a local fire tower. But why not hop in the custom-built tree trunk elevator instead? This quirky ride might just be the highlight of your stay. Once inside, prepare to be wowed by this charming interior. The main living space in this treehouse-built-for-two includes a queen-sized Murphy bed. Pull it out down and you’ve got a comfy sleep space. Raise it up and the space transforms into a cozy living area complete with flat-screen TV that includes satellite channels, Netflix, and Amazon. (You can get free Wi-Fi, too, but this natural setting invites you to unplug.) You’ll also find a full bathroom, complete with a shower and a bidet.

Shaw brings the outdoors in through both the treehouse’s design and décor. Look for beams made of logs, tables carved from trees, and plants scattered throughout the interior. Rest your feet on the adorable stuffed bear, which serves as a funky ottoman. Don’t forget to look up for a spectacular view of the sky, thanks to the four-foot skylight shaped like the sun. Lattice layers over the windows provide the perfect home for potted plants hanging throughout the space. And ivy wraps around the beams, making the intimate space feel like a fairy tale. There’s even a tree inside the treehouse, with “Dan ❤️ Deborah” carved into the tree, a nod to the inventor and his wife of 50 years.

While you won’t find a full kitchen here, you can certainly make do with the cute kitchenette. You’ll feel right at home with supplies like a coffee pot, mini-fridge, round basin sink, microwave, and basic dishware for a simple meal. Natural light pours in from all sides, thanks to the windows that wrap around the entire space. The 360-degree windows provide incredible panoramic views of the woodsy landscape no matter where you look. You can even enjoy window-side seating at the high-top dining table as you sip your morning cup of coffee. The outdoor yurt-level deck features a firepit surrounded by chairs, plus a gas grill for cooking a homemade meal—the perfect setup for a quiet evening.

But wait, there’s more! Head to the upper deck, which looks like a crow’s nest, for spectacular views of the property. Outfitted with a charming chair swing, it offers the perfect space for birdwatching, enjoying a cup of tea, or reading a book.

What To Do During Your Stay

Before arriving, stop at Oviedo Brewing Company to bring some craft beer to imbibe back in the hot tub. (My favorite brew is the popular Red Bug Red ale!) Also, grab some groceries at Publix—the nearby grocery store is located fifteen minutes away in Oviedo. No need to feel confined to your treehouse, either. With 30 acres of Danville to explore you can amble along shaded trails, walk to the pond, or head to Woodstock—a replica of the famed Woodstock stage from the 1960s, complete with a hippie VW van parked nearby. You can also learn how to milk a goat, thanks to the pygmy goats at the barn. For a small fee, you can hop on a Segway or drive one of the classic vehicles available to guests, ranging from a 1948 CJ2A to a vintage-themed golf cart. You might even get to down a beer with the owner at Downtown Danville’s pub hidden inside the airplane hangar. As part of the stay, Shaw offers a happy hour to all guests.

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