KENTUCKY, USA — Look up. Up the cliffs of the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, hidden by trees and bolted in the limestone are houses that are like something from a movie. Some have multi levels, some are high enough to get a literal eagle eye view of the beauty of the adjoining Daniel Boone National Forest.
The look of these cliff dwellings might bring to mind Architectural Digest of something seen in the fjords of Norway, but this is Kentucky, and these tree houses are available for anyone to rent.
The structures and the dream are the work of a company called Red River Gorgeous Treehouses. They have been building structures in the Gorge for several years now and are renting the properties out to nature fans wanting a one-of-a-kind experience along the beautiful canyon.
Kenny Rasmussen and his crew use heavy bolts, suspension cables and design tricks to make these structures a reality. He also says his job is as much a work of art as it is construction.
"We see a lot of cabins in this area, and typically, with that style of construction, you've got to come in, you've got to clear cut a pretty large area to get a house seat cut for a cabin. You lose a lot of that forest, you lose a lot of that space that you're trying to have as you come out here to get into nature," Rasmussen said. "The appeal for me is we get to create things that are completely unique. They're very site dependent, so there's really not much else you could do in this space. If you took one of these and put it somewhere else, it might look out of place."
The houses are impressive and jaw-dropping to look at. Suspended off cliffs in the canyon valleys of the gorge, each has a unique architectural style and different ways to get access to them. Some of the units are only accessible by climbing stairs and walking over suspension bridges.
Frances Kroner, the director of operations for the company, said the more than dozen homes are all unique and different.
"Each one of the tree houses and cliff houses are completely different. I've really been fascinated with how the Canopy Crew has managed to come up with really unique designs each time. Like you would think that they would have one design and then recreate it, but they've done completely different things each time, which makes it really fun for folks to stay multiple times because they'll say, 'I can't wait to check out that next, when I saw it, I can't wait to go see what kind of tricks and décor differences, or how it's how it's suspended, how it's built,'" Kroner said. "They're all very different. We have so many different types of folks. I would say that I think that all types of people enjoy it. I know Kenny mentioned that you might want to do a couple Stairmasters preparing, but I think that we do have some of the tree houses that are a little bit more accessible, so you kind of have to decide where on the gamut you are. We have a lot of families. We have a lot of couples that are looking for an adventure. Most of our tree houses sleep around four people, so you could bring another couple, so it's like a great opportunity to go have a really unique double date."
Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Gorgeous Cabins
Unique is the word. The views from these homes are breathtaking, and the mood is peaceful. No traffic, no noise, just an experience of living life in the beautiful Red River Gorge with a one-on-one relationship with nature.
"We get asked a lot what to pack, what to bring. You know, if there's Wi-Fi, I would say that's a big question, which there is not around here, which is intentional. The idea is to unplug. You do have these beautiful views on each of the decks, so you're able to see kind of at night," Kroner said. "The idea is to connect with nature and each other. We definitely let folks know to pack everything in a backpack because it's so much easier to carry up. They have electricity. They have heating and cooling, showers and bathrooms. You're staying in a nice hotel, but it's way cooler."
Something to remember: Some of the dwellings are difficult to reach if you are older or are not used to climbing or have a fear of suspension bridges. Still, there are accessible dwellings for everyone, and this is a lodging visit you will never forget. Rooms are literally built in the sides of cliffs and supported by cables. The beauty, the peace and the majesty of Kentucky's Red River Gorge are all visible from a unique hotel room in the air.
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