The original movie set for the Walt Disney picture "Swiss Family Robinson" was constructed in the 200-foot spread of a living Samaan tree on the island of Tobago near Trinidad. Art director John Howell famously spotted it in 1958 through a gap in a fence at the corner of a cricket field just outside the town of Goldsborough.
Although the Disney Studio planned to remove all evidence of movie-making from the island at the end of shooting, the native Tobagoans requested the treehouse remain in the Samaan tree as a tourist attraction. In 1960 the tree and the three remaining thatched-roofed rooms (barren of any props or furnishings) was put up for sale for $9000. The treehouse remained on display until a hurricane eventually swept the structures away.
The good news is, the Samaan tree reportedly survives today, its branches filled with bromeliads. Is there anybody out there reading this in Tobago who could snap a photo and give us a report?
mojavegirl, marlcal, screaming_artist, sailsborne, and 34 other people added this photo to their favorites.
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sniffydoodles 18 months ago | reply
Thanks for the great,(its late ,I cant sleep,and I wonder what ever happened to) fun search !!!
Keishaun Julien 13 months ago | reply
Hi.I live in Tobago.My father friend currently owns the land that this tree is on.I was there today and my father friend was telling us that the tree was the tree from Swiss Family Robinson.
Miehana 13 months ago | reply
Hi Keishaun - Wow, that's great! I wish I could visit the tree someday!
yellowbluepink 12 months ago | reply
Wow Keishaun, that is neat! I wish I could visit the tree someday too!!!