Imagine waking up, making a fresh pot of coffee, and stepping out onto the deck to enjoy a beautiful sunrise view of Lake Eufaula from among the treetops—eye-level with a great horned owl. It’s a treehouse fantasy to many, but it’s a reality to those with the good sense to book a colorful canopy cabin at Eufaula’s Calico Heights.

Split Branch is one of Calico Heights’ two largest cabins and can comfortably accommodate up to six guests. Photo courtesy Calico Heights

Where the lake meets the Canadian River—just a twenty-minute drive from Eufaula’s Main Street—seven couples’ cabins and two multicouple and family homes sit perched among the pines, cedars, and elms that forest the getaway’s more than twelve acres. Calico Heights grew out of husband-wife owners Justin and Deb Parry’s passion for construction and design projects. Every cabin has a unique layout and look, making Calico Heights a great option for a romantic retreat.

“There was not a lot in the area—and really there still isn’t—for two people,” Deb says. “Other than hotels and stuff, they’re all great big houses, so we just saw the need.”

Although Calico Heights is mere minutes from the bustle of Lake Eufaula, it offers plenty of privacy and quiet. Photo courtesy Calico Heights

Recreation is front and center at this haven in the branches. Being on Lake Eufaula, boating is of course a major draw. Calico Heights allows guests access to the Parrys’ private dock. Complimentary access to kayaks and paddleboards makes exploring the emerald waters a breeze, and a pontoon boat can be reserved for fishing and open-water picnics with a $175 upgrade fee. On land, a trail system cut by chainsaw by Deb and a friend connects the cabins, winding through areas of beautiful natural rock where deer, armadillos, bald eagles, and more wildlife peek through the trees.

Venturing far from the treehouse is not necessary to have a royally good time, though. A guest closet available to all cabins contains yard games, board games, and DVDs to borrow free of charge—plus a variety of other convenient appliances, gear, and household items visitors might have forgotten to pack. Still, there is enough in each cabin to live as high and mighty as the treehouses themselves. In the couples cabins, plush sofas, king-sized memory foam beds, smart TVs, and indoor jetted tubs make lounging in luxury everyone’s favorite pastime.
If Calico Heights is a secret getaway, that secret is spreading fast. The gated Eufaula outpost on the offroads welcomes guests from across the country—often as repeat customers.

Every cabin features a beautiful kitchen that may leave visitors considering remodeling their own. Photo courtesy Calico Heights

“We get a group of people from Colorado that come every Fourth of July,” Deb says. “They’re already in the books for next year.”

Leave day-to-day burdens on the ground level when climbing up the steps to one of these cabanas in the clouds. You’re on tree time now.

Written By

Ben Luschen

Luschen joined the *Oklahoma Today*’ staff as Research Editor in 2021 and currently works as the magazine's Web Editor, managing the website and social media fronts. His past *Oklahoma Today* stories have ranged in content from the state's bee and quail industries to its vibrant art and music scenes. Not adverse to a road trip, Luschen is always on the lookout for the next big adventure. He is never out of opinions about the current state of Oklahoma City Thunder basketball.