Tree houses, as so many other things, are marching relentlessly into the future. Not long ago a trip to the lumber yard and a bucket of nails could turn the average suburban kid into an arboreal mammal. In the new millennium, however, it takes Daniels Wood Land.

The company does brisk trade making large-format environments for large spenders like major studios, theme parks and casinos. When it comes to kid-scale Daniels makes a prodigious and diverse selection of tree houses that could more accurately be called tree resorts -- there are nine different versions of pirate-themed structures alone, one that comes with its own oasis.

The play houses are made from redwood, cedar, and Douglas fir and usually feature things like "master's" quarters and balconies. The logs that form the bases are from fallen trees, not cut down, that are hollowed out with a chainsaw. The adventurous can enter through the doorway in the base and hoist themselves up through the trap door hatch, or monkey up the rope ladders. The more leisurely can simply ascend the staircase.

If you just need some rehab work done on a tree house, Daniels also does custom plans, facades, shooting galleries, and themed environments. When it comes to decor, one of their specialties is, of all things, chainsaw carvings of bears. And hey, if you get a Daniels play house and the real estate turnaround doesn't happen as quickly as everyone's saying, there's no reason you can't rent your pirate ship out -- Johnny and Keira not included...