A Los Angeles father who built a beloved treehouse for his children 24 years ago is now being forced to take it down after a prolonged battle with city officials.
Rick Polizzi, a former producer on The Simpsons, constructed the three-level treehouse in 2000 as part of a haunted house experience for his young daughters. Over the years, it became a neighborhood attraction, drawing in local kids and even visitors from other parts of the city.
However, a complaint from a neighbor triggered a legal fight with the City of Los Angeles, which claimed the structure violated zoning laws and lacked proper permits.
A Costly Legal Fight
Polizzi said he spent years trying to obtain the right permits, but the city insisted on expensive modifications to bring the treehouse up to code.
“It’s been a frustrating, exhausting process,” Polizzi told KTLA.
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The seven-year battle has already cost him $50,000 in legal fees, and despite his efforts, he has decided to give up the fight and demolish the treehouse to resolve the dispute.
Over the weekend, his family held a farewell gathering in Sherman Oaks, preparing for the inevitable teardown.
Hopes for a Last-Minute Reprieve
Polizzi remains skeptical about any last-minute intervention, even though a city council member recently reached out offering assistance.
“They said the same thing last year, and nothing changed,” he remarked.
He also expressed disappointment that Los Angeles, a city known for its creativity and artistic culture, would move to eliminate a unique, hand-built structure rather than preserve it.
The Simpsons-Inspired Treehouse
Dubbed Boney Island, the treehouse was inspired by an episode of The Simpsons and featured dancing skeletons, spooky music, and other effects. It became the centerpiece of a Halloween attraction that drew large crowds—until a neighbor complained that it was too popular and causing a disturbance.
Although city investigators found no evidence that Polizzi was running a business from his home, they did question whether he had the proper permits for the structure.
By 2017, Polizzi shut down the haunted house experience but left the treehouse intact. The special effects and props were later moved to Griffith Park and the LA Museum of Natural History.
Despite his hopes of keeping the iconic treehouse standing, Polizzi now sees no way forward and is preparing for demolition.
The City Attorney’s Office has not yet commented on the situation .
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