A treehouse-like home in Whitefish, Montana, built by former NFL quarterback Drew Brees is headed to auction in September.
Brees built the property last year with the team from “Treehouse Masters,” a reality TV series that aired on Animal Planet from 2013-18. The show starred treehouse builder Pete Nelson, who owns the company Nelson Treehouse and Supply.
“Drew wanted to fulfill his dream of working with ‘Treehouse Masters’ and building this concept,” said Caitlin Keys, vice president of business development at Concierge Auctions, which is handling the sale.
The New York Post first reported the news of the auction.
Sitting on 20 acres, the treehouse was actually built to serve as a guest house. Though a main residence was never built by Brees, the land is ready for one to be constructed, Keys said.
With 1,700 square feet of living space, the house has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Inside, there is natural hemlock paneling throughout, which is accented by darker wood beams along the vaulted ceilings. The exterior is made up of barn-wood siding salvaged from Kentucky, Keys said.
To add to the treehouse nature of the home, a deck was built 15 feet above the ground overlooking the surrounding forest and mountainous landscape and outfitted with a large propane fire pit.
“Being able to be outside and experience the elements is why somebody wants to have a home in Montana,” Keys said. The deck “is where everyone should spend all of their time, winter or summer.”
The home is located within a gated community called the Homestead, which offers its residents a range of amenities and activities, including hiking and biking trails, equestrian facilities, a shooting and archery range, and access to two lakes where residents can fish, kayak and paddleboard. In the winter, there’s skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort about 20 miles away.
“This treehouse is a personal sanctuary where our family could escape to nature and enjoy the peace and freedom of the Montana wilderness while having access to all the amenities of the Homestead community at our fingertips when needed,” Brees said in a statement. “We worked meticulously on every detail with Pete Nelson and ‘Treehouse Masters’ to create a truly one-of-a-kind treehouse experience. This fulfilled a childhood dream. It’s a special place. ”
The property first hit the market in January for $7.95 million and is now listed for $7.5 million with Sean Averill of PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate. Starting bids are expected between $2 million and $4 million, Keys said.
The online portion of the auction will be open for bidding from Sept.12-26. The auction will close live in Hong Kong on Sept. 27.
Brees, 45, spent 20 seasons in the NFL, playing primarily for the New Orleans Saints, with which he won one Super Bowl title.