The demolition of a well-known Simpsons-inspired treehouse in Los Angeles began Saturday, marking the end of a decades-long neighborhood landmark that had become a source of both joy and legal disputes.
Rick Polizzi, a former producer on The Simpsons, built the treehouse 24 years ago in front of his home in Sherman Oaks. Over the years, it grew into a local attraction, drawing families and children who saw it as a gathering spot. Polizzi told KTLA 5’s Andy Riesmeyer that the structure was designed to be aesthetically pleasing and a way to bring the community together. However, the same attention that made the treehouse a neighborhood staple also led to legal complications that would ultimately force its removal.
Polizzi spent nearly eight years in a legal battle over the structure, which he said cost him approximately $50,000 in legal fees. A neighbor’s complaint about the increasing crowds prompted city officials to investigate whether the treehouse complied with zoning and permitting regulations. That legal challenge eventually resulted in criminal charges against Polizzi, further complicating the situation.
After a pre-trial hearing in January, Polizzi made the decision to tear down the structure rather than continue fighting the case in court. In an interview with KTLA, he expressed frustration over the legal process and said he felt he had no choice but to remove the treehouse to resolve the dispute.
“We went to pre-trial [in January, and] it was just so frustrating,” Polizzi said. “We did not get to have our say…When we left, I just said, ‘I’m not going back to this trial. We’ll tear it down so that the case gets dismissed.’”
On Saturday, as workers began dismantling the structure, Polizzi reflected on the memories associated with it and the role it played in the community. He told KTLA 5’s Carlos Herrera that watching the treehouse be taken down piece by piece was “tough” after nearly 25 years.
“I wanted it to look nice, fit in the neighborhood and be aesthetically pleasing,” Polizzi said. “I wanted it to bring people together, so we were always out here inviting people to come over and see it.”
“We got big crowds,” he added. “We were a victim of our own success.”
NEW: Simpsons producer Rick Polizzi forced to demolish his 24-year-old Simpsons-inspired treehouse after the city of LA demanded he permit it like a “single-family dwelling.”
Thousands of homes burned down and this is what LA is worried about. Lunacy.
Polizzi says he has spent… pic.twitter.com/B80CD68K6W
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 9, 2025
The loss of the treehouse has been felt beyond Polizzi’s household. Several longtime visitors expressed disappointment over its removal, including a woman who recalled bringing her now-adult son to visit it every Halloween.
“My son is 39 years old, and we used to come here every Halloween in preparation for the big holiday,” she said. “With everything going on in the world right now, you have to figure out [a way to keep the treehouse up]…this is joy for our neighborhood. I am in mourning today.”
I thought this video was a joke and watched it all the way until the end.
It turns out California is the joke. https://t.co/FkTitMfsRl— Boople Snoot (@jrhalasz) March 10, 2025
Despite efforts to preserve the structure, the legal and zoning challenges proved too difficult to overcome. As the demolition continues, many in the community are reflecting on the role the treehouse played in their lives and the memories created there over the past two decades.
