Build your own fort: Some of us are not as creative or skilled enough to design our own forts. This instructional document is to help the novice or semi-experienced carpenter to create their own fort for their children or even pets. This fort was specifically designed in a certain manner. It is called a shotgun fort because it is straight back from the entrance like a shotgun apartment. The picture on the front cover is the fort that was designed for this plan. Some modifications were made to simplify this plan for the novice. These instructions are a guide to build a 4x8 fort that is roughly ten feet tall. It has a ladder leading into a four by eight foot housing area. The housing area is four feet from the ground and the roof is four feet from the deck.