Swiss Family Tree House - Adventureland attraction at Disneyland; opened on November 18, 1962. John Mills, daughter Hayley, and the rest of the family were there for the dedication with Walt Disney. Mills had starred in the Disney 1960 film Swiss Family Robinson.

The tree has been called a Disneyodendron semperflorens grandis (translated as large ever-blooming Disney tree), and is entirely man-made. The roots are concrete and the limbs are steel, covered in concrete. The plastic leaves all had to be attached by hand. The Swiss flag flies from the top of the treehouse.

This is one of the few Disneyland attractions where guests have to walk (or more appropriately, climb) through to view the rooms the Robinson family built in the tree. A fascinating pulley system, using bamboo buckets and a waterwheel, provide water high up in the tree.

Also an Adventureland attraction in the Magic Kingdon at Walt Disney World, opened October 1, 1971. In Florida, the tree is known as a Disneyodendron eximus (or out-of-the-ordinary Disney tree). A Tokyo Disneyland version opened on July 21, 1993.

As I mentioned earlier, the Tree House is gone now, being replaced with a new Tarzan attraction. I always liked the Tree House, even if I was often too tired to climb up into it. I'm always sorry to see the old stuff go, but it does keep things from getting too stale. I guess. :: sigh :: ~~Becky