Original Swiss Family Robinson Tree FOUND!!!

Okay now.  Everyone take a deep breath.  This is really big news.  

The tree of our dreams has been found!   

The wonderful treehouse built by the shipwrecked Robinsons in the 1960 movie fired up my childhood imagination like nothing else. (Ironically, as I got older, the treehouse continued to have special significance for me!)  I'd drop everything in a heartbeat if I could build a bamboo home in the branches of an enormous tree, with a waterwheel turning in a little creek, and the excitement of the jungle all about.

So, it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you Mr. Lennox Straker Jr., a resident of Tobago (where the film was shot) and, miraculously, a reader of my blog!  After I posted about the Swiss Family Robinson's tree a few months ago, Mr. Straker decided to take it upon himself to seek out and photograph the giant living Samaan tree used in the movie fifty years ago.  And he did it!

"Kevin, I stumbled upon your post of March this year "Some Really Big Roots" which mentioned the original Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse from the movie of 1960. I live on the island of Tobago in the Caribbean and did research on the tree and actually found it still very much alive in Goldsborough! 

"The tree has fallen into obscurity; only a few of the older people knew of its significance. As a matter of fact, not many people know of the film Swiss Family Robinson much less that it was filmed here in Tobago. Acting on info I found online about it being in Goldsborough I went up there and saw two possible suspects.  They were both close to the road at the end of what was once a playing field. I identified this tree only after realising the stream that ran in front of it (also visible in the movie) and then an old gentleman came around and I asked him where is the tree located and he said "you are looking at it." 

"The tree is on private lands and there are old appliances at its trunk and some of the branches have been cut, there is no physical evidence of anything in the trees but I did not go up close to see if possibly there were carvings or subtle evidence of the movie. 

"I do intend to go again though because, like you, this fascinates me. I think a plaque or something should be placed on this tree."

1959 movie treehouse concept by Art Director John Howell

John Mills and Dorothy McGuire reenact a scene from"Vertigo".

But that's not all!  Mr. Straker also identifies the swimming hole where the Robinsons  have their first "public holiday" in their new island home...

The two-tiered Craig Hall Waterfall is just off of the side of a road, and, apparently, easy to find.  The first tier falls into a large  pool, which then spills over the rock face into the river below.   Sounds like heaven!

A big heartfelt THANKS to Lennox Straker, for his excellent detective work, and for sharing his discoveries with us.  I'll be getting my passport in order and heading to Tobago ASAP!