REPORT: City Forcing ‘Simpsons’ Producer To Tear Down Iconic Treehouse After Years Of Battles

Los Angeles crews began dismantling a 24-year-old treehouse inspired by “The Simpsons” Saturday after a lengthy legal dispute between its creator and city officials, NBC 4 reported.

Rick Polizzi, a former producer on the animated series, built the structure in 2000 for his daughters, but it grew into a neighborhood attraction, according to NBC 4. The demolition began Saturday, bringing an end to what had become a gathering spot for the neighborhood’s children.

“I wanted it to look nice, fit in the neighborhood and be aesthetically pleasing,” Polizzi told KTLA as workers removed the first sections. “I wanted it to bring people together, so we were always out here inviting people to come over and see it.”

Much to the dismay of Rick Polizzi, the demolition of the large “The Simpsons”-inspired treehouse in front of his Los Angeles home began Saturday. https://t.co/eN36E2OAlz pic.twitter.com/Nf72Qc1ld1

— KTLA (@KTLA) March 8, 2025

The treehouse fell into legal troubles after complaints from neighbors. City officials eventually closed the treehouse in 2017 and classified it as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), which led to permit and zoning challenges, NBC 4 reported. Polizzi told KTLA he faced criminal charges after a neighbor complained about the treehouse’s notoriety.

“We went to pre-trial [in January, and] it was just so frustrating,” he said in February. “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.’”

Polizzi told NBC 4 that the legal battle cost more than $50,000, with potential additional expenses of $20,000 to $30,000 if he continued fighting.

“We got big crowds,” Polizzi told KTLA. “We were a victim of our own success.”

Local residents expressed sadness over losing the landmark. “My son is 39 years old and we used to come here every Halloween in preparation for the big holiday,” one woman 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.” (RELATED: FACT CHECK: Did ‘The Simpsons’ Foreshadow Hurricane Milton in an Old Episode?)

“It’s really strange because everybody’s gotten so much joy out of it,” he said regarding the city’s position, according to NBC 4. “It’s sad to see that it’s not really necessary. It’s been up for 24 years, never had an incident once so it’s just sad. My daughters were upset. I didn’t think they would be that upset.”