Did Elves Make a Home in a San Francisco Park?
Speculation has swirled around a Lilliputian doorway in Golden Gate Park. We give you the true story — and a design dilemma
Vanessa Brunner
May 2, 2013
Houzz Contributor
Once upon a time, a father and son happened upon the perfect house for the fairies and elves in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The only problem was no front door. How were the fairies supposed to get any privacy? "The doorway seemed to want a door," says Anthony Powell, the San Francisco resident who found the tree with his son, Rio.
With his son's help, Powell carefully built a working door for the little opening in the tree. To his surprise it quickly acquired a fan base, with people leaving treasures inside every day.
With his son's help, Powell carefully built a working door for the little opening in the tree. To his surprise it quickly acquired a fan base, with people leaving treasures inside every day.
The day after finding the tree, Powell came back with a ruler, a pencil and paper to carefully measure and trace the shape of the doorway. He traced the doorway's outline onto a piece of scrap pine, cut it out and sealed it.
Around Valentine's Day of 2013, Powell mounted the door to the tree using small brass screws to penetrate the bark as little as possible. He also coated the small screws with a tree sealant from Orchard Supply Hardware to prevent damage to the tree.
Around Valentine's Day of 2013, Powell mounted the door to the tree using small brass screws to penetrate the bark as little as possible. He also coated the small screws with a tree sealant from Orchard Supply Hardware to prevent damage to the tree.
Powell and Rio went on their way, leaving the door to its own magic and failing to notice that it began to cause a stir among San Franciscans.
Theories about the door's origins swirled around — everything from elves to quirky Giants pitcher Brian Wilson. It wasn't until mid-March that someone forwarded Powell an article about the door, recognizing his creative handiwork.
Theories about the door's origins swirled around — everything from elves to quirky Giants pitcher Brian Wilson. It wasn't until mid-March that someone forwarded Powell an article about the door, recognizing his creative handiwork.
Visitors have been so touched by the door that they've left different trinkets for whatever little beings they like to imagine live inside. Every few days the tree gets dressed up with ribbons, flowers and branches. Powell has found flowers, candy, nuts for squirrels, little seashells, tiny toys, notes and more.
"I've enjoyed reading some of the notes left inside, mainly from children, asking questions like whether the tooth fairy is real and such," Powell says. Although he initially put responses to some of the notes ("Yes! Fairies are real!") back inside, the hollow got so full that he gave that up. He's now creating a website where he can post messages to and responses from the fairies. "I'm happy that most people realize that just because the thing was made with human hands does not mean that there was no magic guiding them," Powell says.
Here, Powell's son Rio poses with a stuffed friend outside the door soon after its installation. "Rio has not been much impressed by the media attention," says Powell. "But he does like to visit the little door and has left some messages for the fairies, too."
"I've enjoyed reading some of the notes left inside, mainly from children, asking questions like whether the tooth fairy is real and such," Powell says. Although he initially put responses to some of the notes ("Yes! Fairies are real!") back inside, the hollow got so full that he gave that up. He's now creating a website where he can post messages to and responses from the fairies. "I'm happy that most people realize that just because the thing was made with human hands does not mean that there was no magic guiding them," Powell says.
Here, Powell's son Rio poses with a stuffed friend outside the door soon after its installation. "Rio has not been much impressed by the media attention," says Powell. "But he does like to visit the little door and has left some messages for the fairies, too."
The whimsical door has not been without controversy. San Francisco's Recreation & Park Department, like many other parks departments, has an understandable policy against installing things on trees in the park, no matter how small. The department removed the door, but after public outcry replaced it with an identical version, which is on the tree now.
Powell has been working on new tiny door designs that don't need to be attached to a tree at all. He's working on potentially using a narrow stake as a pinion or hinge, or creating a frame for the door that could be secured by a structure inside the hollow.
He hopes to work out the kinks for one of these new designs soon. Until then, as adorable and carefully attached as this fairy door is, installations on trees are probably better suited to one's own magical backyard.
Tell us: Do you dabble in diminutive doors?
More: Fairy houses surprise in the Maine woods
Powell has been working on new tiny door designs that don't need to be attached to a tree at all. He's working on potentially using a narrow stake as a pinion or hinge, or creating a frame for the door that could be secured by a structure inside the hollow.
He hopes to work out the kinks for one of these new designs soon. Until then, as adorable and carefully attached as this fairy door is, installations on trees are probably better suited to one's own magical backyard.
Tell us: Do you dabble in diminutive doors?
More: Fairy houses surprise in the Maine woods
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I wanted a little fairy garden as I explained to my hubby but he saw it a bit more upscale than I.....as time moves forward and the ivy grows like it does we will add to it's surroundings as I think of things that will be befitting to a suppose to be not so obvious fairy house instead of a Elf hangout.....lol
The tree was not cut or harmed in anyway...