Tree House restaurant to open in March
BY LELAND ACKER STAFF WRITER

Occasionally, an idea will appear out of nowhere. Such is the case for Tomas Holguin of Rusk. Mr. Holguin had purchased a garage apartment to be moved, when he noticed the wooded lot on the corner of North Main and Seventh Streets in Rusk.

"It just came together," said Mr. Holguin. "I talked to Stephanie (Caveness) about the lot."

Mr. Holguin said he wanted to put a restaurant in that would allow the people to enjoy the natural beauty of the trees on the lot as well as the downtown square. So the idea for his new restaurant, "The Tree House" was born.

"I would really like to see the community out here enjoying the trees and the square," he said.

The elevated house that has been moved onto the property has been elevated to give it the tree house atmosphere. The structure is built out of cedar wood, a look that Mr. Holguin said he plans to preserve.

"I heard about it on the Country Corner (an afternoon trade show on KWRW 97.7 FM) and decided to buy it," he said.

As far as what type of food Mr. Holguin will serve at the Tree House, he said he will ask around to see what people would like.

"I'm still working on the menu and looking for the pulse of the community. It's going to be good," he said. "It's not so much about the food, really. People won't be required to eat at the restaurant to enjoy the beauty of this place."

Those who are leery of climbing into a tree house for the first time since childhood will be relieved to find that a bridge from Seventh Street to the Tree House will be built, allowing for easy access and making the place accessible to those who use wheelchairs.

Mr. Holguin said he appreciates the support the community has given him so far.

"We've been blessed with supportive people," he said, noting the help given to him by Mrs. Caveness of Arrowhead Creek Realty and Rusk City Manager Mike Murray. "The community has been really supportive."

Mr. Holguin, a native of El Paso, has spent the last 25 years as a teacher in Los Angeles, Calif. and Seattle, Wash. He said he is too young to retire and looks forward to inviting the community to the Tree House. Currently, Mr. Holguin plans to open the Tree House in March.