17th South Magazine

Top Menu

  • Home
  • About US
    • Our Mission
    • Meet The Team
  • All Articles
  • Contact Us
  • Past Issues
  • Pick Up A Copy
  • Read The Current Issue Online

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Latest
  • Culture
  • Indulge
  • Happening
  • Living
  • Cover Story
  • Home
  • About US
    • Our Mission
    • Meet The Team
  • All Articles
  • Contact Us
  • Past Issues
  • Pick Up A Copy
  • Read The Current Issue Online

logo

Header Banner

17th South Magazine

  • Home
  • Latest
    • Artistic Acquisition

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • WESTSIDE WARES

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • PCM Premieres

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Burning Up

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Edge of Tomorrow

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • The High Gets Higher

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • COMEBACK KID

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • DYNAMIC DESIGN

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • European Experience

      November 1, 2018
      0
  • Culture
    • The Voice of Atlanta Radio

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Put a Sock on It

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Happy to Be Here

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Coming Up Roses

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Going Green

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • Stompin’ on the Westside

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • PAINTING THE TOWN

      September 27, 2018
      0
    • EAT WITH YOUR EARS FIRST

      September 27, 2018
      0
    • Atlanta-based designer Megan Huntz

      Fashion, Forward

      August 23, 2018
      0
  • Indulge
    • A Modern Classic Menu

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Drinks on Demand

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Family Affairs

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Food News - March / April 2019

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • A SEASONAL BITE

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Happening Hood Hangout

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • How Sweet It Is!

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Cozy Up, Drink Up

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Food News - JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019

      January 10, 2019
      0
  • Happening
    • ATLANTA ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • THE GREAT RACE

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • FASHION FORWARD

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • LE JARDIN FRANÇAIS WINTER FLORAL DESIGN CLASS

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • 2019 ATLANTA BIENNIAL

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND TOUR OF HOMES

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • YOUR BEST LIFE

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • MOSCOW BALLET’S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER - DOVE OF PEACE TOUR!

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • BOO AT THE ZOO

      September 27, 2018
      0
  • Living
    • Minnesota's Shopping Mecca

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Treasured Acquisition

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Preserving the Past

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Cajun Country Culinary

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Spring Forward

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • West Highlands Retreat

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Highly Addictive Beauty

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • A Dose of the Ocean

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • A Gangbuster Alabama Getaway

      January 10, 2019
      0
  • Cover Story
    • BOOZY BLASTOFFS

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • BRUNCH BUCKET LIST

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • CREAM OF THE CROP

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • GET CRACKING

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • GLOBAL BEGINNINGS

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • LAST THINGS FIRST

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • RISE & SHINE …

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Matt Gryder and Matthew Fishman

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Antonio Brown

      January 10, 2019
      0
  • BOOZY BLASTOFFS

  • BRUNCH BUCKET LIST

  • CREAM OF THE CROP

  • GET CRACKING

  • GLOBAL BEGINNINGS

  • LAST THINGS FIRST

  • RISE & SHINE …

In Town EscapesLiving
Home›Living›In Town Escapes›TREEHOUSE GETAWAY

TREEHOUSE GETAWAY

By 17thSouth
February 23, 2017
6980
0
Share:

An escape from the city is hidden in bamboo on an East Atlanta alpaca farm…

Recently in need of a break from our routines but without the luxury of time for a long vacation, my husband and I found ourselves searching for a local escape.

After a bit of scouting, I hit the jackpot: a fairytale treehouse in East Atlanta, nestled in a thicket of bamboo on, of all things, an alpaca farm. It was kooky, romantic and only a 5-mile drive from our Virginia- Highland home. Open for fewer than five months, the treehouse had garnered nothing but raves from online reviewers. And there was an opening that Friday night.

Two days later, we were pulling into a long, gravel driveway shaded by tall pines. “You can park right there,” a woman called to us. Smiling, friendly and exuding energy, she turned out to be Kara O’Brien, one of the Alpaca Treehouse owners.

Kara O’Brien dishes up a treat to farm resident Dali Llama.

O’Brien immediately offered us a tour of the farm. Our first stop was alongside a wooden fence, and there they were: four shaggy alpacas and a large white llama, none as excited to see us as we were to see them.

It was their dinnertime, and as O’Brien filled their food bins she gave us the rundown on each camelid’s personality. She began with chocolate-brown Ariana Dandylion, who, O’Brien told us, was “super sweet-slash-very naughty.”

Right then, as if to prove her naughtiness, Ariana snuck up and gave Caitlin Tastee, another one of the farm’s furry inhabitants, a solid body slam, pushing her nose away from a side of alfalfa. “No, Ariana!” O’Brien shouted, nudging the would-be sprout thief away. Caitlin Tastee was pregnant, O’Brien explained, and thus needed ample nutrition. Paloma Piper was pregnant, too, she told us. [It later turned out that Paloma wasn’t pregnant, just plump.] Sunny Shevoun and Dali Llama completed the beastly brood.

Along with O’Brien, whose knowledge of animals comes entirely from her own research, we were joined on our tour by co-owner Kate Giroux, who led us through a bamboo grove to the hidden treehouse. Cradled atop 15-foot, black locust tree trunks, a small cottage appeared, glowing in the shafts of sunlight.

Once inside, I was struck by the treehouse’s multi-shade wooden walls and its vaulted ceiling, all constructed out of pine beaded board salvaged from Civil War-era homes. Almost everything harkened to the late 1800s: the stained glass, French door entry; tin roof; scattered antiques. O’Brien told us the treehouse consisted almost entirely of reclaimed material. So peaceful, so beautiful, so … Suddenly, my pleasure gave way to the practical. “Is there a—” “Toilet?” O’Brien completes my question with a laugh. Yes, there was a compostable toilet, heat and air-conditioning, a coffee maker, a fridge and a complimentary bottle of wine. Memory foam beds awaited in the loft above, and a full marble bathroom was close to the cabin, accessible via a path.

We were hungry by now and, per O’Brien’s suggestion, decided on Argosy in nearby East Atlanta Village, a small and quirky neighborhood with a seamless mix of graffiti, quality restaurants, tattoo shops and clothing boutiques. There, we enjoyed crispy tofu and pizza and marveled at the restaurant’s impressive beer menu.

When we returned to the treehouse, we found it twinkling with tiny lights. Turning to my husband, I said, “I’m happy.” He smiled and nodded in agreement. We fell asleep to the whisper of bamboo fronds and cool air from the loft window brushing against our faces. In the morning, we relaxed with coffee and oranges before reluctantly leaving. A few minutes later, we were back home, refreshed and feeling like we’d traveled to a faraway place. Just what we’d wanted, right here at home in Atlanta.

Alpaca Treehouse in the Bamboo Forest
1162 Fayetteville Rd., 30316
airbnb.com/rooms/13245035

Argosy
470 Flat Shoals Ave., 30316
404.577.0407
argosy-east.com

STORY: Laurel-Ann Dooley
Photos: Lindsay Appel: Take You Wild Photography

Tags5-mile drive from Virginia- Highlanda coffee makera fridge and a complimentary bottle of winealpaca farmAlpaca Treehouse in the Bamboo ForestAlpaca Treehouse in the Bamboo Forest ReviewsArgosyArgosy in nearby East Atlanta VillageAriana DandylionAtlanta In Town EscapesCaitlin Tasteeco-owner Kate Girouxcompostable toiletEast Atlanta alpaca farmfairytale treehouse in East Atlantaheat and air-conditioninghidden treehouseKara O’Brienone of the Alpaca Treehouse ownersPaloma PiperPhotos: Lindsay Appel: Take You Wild PhotographySTORY: Laurel-Ann DooleySunny Shevoun and Dali LlamaTREEHOUSE GETAWAYUnique Places to stay near atlanta
Previous Article

QUEEN OF HOPS

Next Article

REPURPOSE

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Mason Poe and Kendra Rainey, co-founders of the Edgar Allan agency
    LivingPeopleSEPTEMBER 2018

    Smaller Learnings

    August 23, 2018
    By 17thSouth
  • HADYN HILTON
    Cover StoryJULY / AUGUST 2018Trendsetters & Tastemakers 2018

    HADYN HILTON

    June 28, 2018
    By 17thSouth
  • LivingShelter

    TRADITIONALLY MODERN

    May 4, 2017
    By 17thSouth
  • LivingSeptember 2017Style To Go

    Cool Colors

    September 28, 2017
    By 17thSouth
  • JANUARY 2018LivingOut Of Town

    Playa del Pampering

    December 28, 2017
    By 17thSouth
  • JULY / AUGUST 2018LivingOut Of Town

    Wine Country Revival

    June 28, 2018
    By 17thSouth

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You may also be interested in...

  • LivingWellness

    FREEZE FACTOR

  • LivingOut Of Town

    Boston Calling

  • HappeningMARCH / APRIL 2018What's Going On Around Town

    MUSICAL MELTING POT

Visit Our Sister Publication

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates and to hear what's going on with our magazine!

Follow us

Instagram @17thSouth

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

Find us on Facebook

logo

17th South:
In the heart of Atlanta,17th South magazine reaches active, exploration-minded residents ages 24-65 who want to experience the best the area has to offer, through stories and features on individuals and businesses they can relate to in their direct communities. We feature of-the-moment and hidden gem restaurants, beautiful private homes, philanthropy, arts and cultural offerings, and the trendsetters and tastemakers who are making it happen!
Valuestream Media Group
simply-buckhead-magazine
17th-south-magazine

Contact Us

  • P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355
  • 404.538.9895
  • advertising@17thsouth.com

Find us on Facebook

Follow us

17th South Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Pick Up A Copy
© Copyright 17th South. All rights reserved.