Ground Up: O₂ Treehouse and Treewalkers
Building Among the Trees: How one creator bridges design, hospitality, and the spirit of adventure.
For Dustin Feider, founder of O₂ Treehouse and Treewalkers, glamping is more than a stay — it’s an act of creative connection. From modular treehouse kits to modern, sculptural hospitality spaces, Feider’s work lives where design, ecology, and experience meet.
In this edition of From the Ground Up, we explore what happens when a manufacturer becomes a resort operator — and how building among the trees can spark new ways of thinking about glamping from both sides of the industry.
What inspired you to both manufacture glamping structures and operate your own glamping resort?
“When I launched O₂ Treehouse back in 2006, the idea was to make a modular, flat-pack treehouse structure for the eco-tourism industry—because it’s one of the best ways to bring economies to local people and protect the forests they live in.”
That seed of inspiration has grown into a business model that fuses sustainability with scalability. After years of designing custom treehouses along California’s coast, Feider saw the glamping boom as the natural next step.
“Treehouses are one of the top-performing short-term rentals in the industry—it was a basic question: why is O₂ Treehouse not in hospitality?”
The answer became Treewalkers, a concept originally inspired by eco-tourism destinations abroad that wanted treehouses but couldn’t afford custom builds.
“I saw an opportunity to create a program where travelers could participate in building a treehouse as part of an adventure tourism experience. It’s been a journey—one that’s now grown into a franchise concept to help this idea travel and scale.”
Do you view the resort as a testing ground for new product designs or concepts? How often do you iterate based on guest feedback?
“Absolutely—we use guest feedback in how we approach hospitality design. It’s really first and foremost.”
At Treewalkers, every stay doubles as a case study in experiential design. Guests aren’t just visitors—they’re collaborators in refining comfort, functionality, and connection.
“Because our structures are quite different—modern, sculptural treehouses—it’s important to understand what people value most. Every project is a collaboration tailored to the client’s functional and aesthetic desires.”
Through this process, guest feedback continually shapes O₂ Treehouse’s evolution — from materials and layouts to emotional atmosphere.
Are there specific guest experiences that have directly shaped changes in your manufacturing design?
“Yes, absolutely. Some clients have very focused use cases for their structures, and part of our job is to pull the spirit of that activity into the design.”
For Feider, that means creating not just functional spaces, but emotional experiences.
“We built a treehouse for Robbie Krieger, the guitarist from The Doors, that was designed for jamming acoustically with his friends—so it needed partial enclosure and openness to nature. Another project required a kids’ play space that kept them endlessly entertained during dinner parties.”
Each build becomes an experiment in how form, feeling, and function interact.
“All these interactions have given our design team a focused ability to wield the elements of experiential design in the context of nature-based structures.”
How do you ensure the design reflects both your brand and the environment it’s in?
“Every design process at O₂ Treehouse begins with a clean slate and a meditation within that natural environment.”
Feider’s approach resists the rigidity of a single architectural style. Instead, he embraces a philosophy that’s as fluid as the landscapes he builds in.
“Our purpose is to match the context with the client’s desires. Every outcome should look different from the last—as long as the process is guided by intent.”
That openness has led to a portfolio as diverse as it is recognizable.
“We tie in the functional needs, the phenomenal parts of the natural setting, and the forms we’re most inspired to explore. And always, we bring in a childlike discovery and willingness to play.”
What are some of the biggest challenges of wearing both hats—manufacturer and resort operator? What unexpected advantages have you discovered by doing both?
“We’re still in the midst of creating our first Treewalkers flagship camp, so many lessons are unfolding. But one advantage is clear—we can iterate on our product very swiftly after living through the trials and tribulations of being the resort operator ourselves.”
This unique vantage point allows Feider to merge design thinking with real-world hospitality experience — a feedback loop that keeps innovation grounded in guest reality.
What do your guests say they love most about staying in your accommodations? Are there any standout guest stories or moments that have left a lasting impression on your team?
“The biggest feedback we get is that our structures are unforgettable.”
That’s no surprise — each O₂ Treehouse build is designed to feel sacred, almost temple-like, celebrating the landscape it inhabits.
“We’ve had quite a few wedding proposals, night-after-the-wedding stays, and other deeply connective moments. Those are the stories that remind us why we do this.”
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about the glamping business behind the scenes?
“Some of my favorite glamping locations have created opportunities for guests to interact. When operators make those moments possible—breaking down social barriers—it creates lasting memories and keeps people coming back.”
At the heart of Feider’s philosophy is the belief that glamping isn’t just about solitude in nature—it’s about shared experience.
From the Ground Up
For O₂ Treehouse and Treewalkers, the journey is about more than building in nature—it’s about building with it.
“We’re creating structures that don’t just sit in nature—they converse with it.”
Through innovation, collaboration, and play, Dustin Feider continues to shape how the glamping industry can grow—from the ground up.
