How a landscaper built this legendary leaf-peeping tower

Autumn leaf-peeping season is Airbnb gold. But a cabin in Vermont doesn’t hold a candle to River Forest Lookout in Blue Ridge, GA. You’ll be even more impressed once you hear how the property’s host, Mark Derenthal, built this solar-powered, off-the-grid tower with no background in construction.

Q: What inspired you to build this tower? “I wanted to build a treehouse, but decided on a lookout tower because if there’s a bad storm, I could lose my investment. A lookout tower is designed to withstand storms. The tower is made of a crane mast; the living quarters are two shipping containers. It runs on solar plus propane for cooking and hot water.”

Q: Do you have any background in building? “Not at all. I’m a landscaper with a few rental properties. But most builders wouldn’t touch this—it was too unusual—so I had to do it myself. I just figured it out as I went along. My nephews and father, a retired engineer, came to assist.”

Q: What were the main challenges? “Getting the county to give me a permit. They fought me tooth and nail for over a year, even though it met all their codes. It took six years to plan and get the components together, then two years to build, and it was completed in 2023. Originally, I planned more towers, but I don’t know if I have the energy left for that!”

Q: What did it cost to build? “Financially, it wasn’t a winner. I sold four single-family rentals to fund it, which would be worth $2 to $2.5 million now. But the satisfaction of building something unique has been rewarding. So many people have reached out saying it was one of the most amazing experiences they’ve ever had.”