Actor Josh Duhamel turned an old cabin on his Minnesota lakefront property into a rustic retreat. He initially bought the 52-acre plot around 2008 for its proximity to where his father lives and because of his fond childhood memories in North Dakota’s outdoors. The original cabin had no electricity or plumbing, but Duhamel saw it as an opportunity rather than a drawback, embracing its simplicity. Over time, he added amenities like a well and other structures, transforming the property into a serene getaway spot for him and his son.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
When he is not swamped with his Hollywood projects,
Josh Duhamel retreats to his off-grid property in Minnesota, where outdoor barbecues, fishing and lake days offer him and his son a taste of the simple life.
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barbecues → swamp → life
Duhamel bought his first parcel of Minnesota lakefront land around 2008.
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Duhamel → buy → 2008
Soon enough, he purchased the property next to it, bringing the total to 52 acres.
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he → purchase → acres
The land sat empty except for an old cabin.
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land → sit → cabin
It was the kind of fixer-upper that most buyers avoid.
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buyers → avoid → that
The cabin had no electricity or plumbing.
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cabin → have → electricity
For Duhamel, it became the most meaningful investment he had ever made.
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he → become → Duhamel
The property sits 40 minutes from civilisation in northwest Minnesota, nestled on a lake not far from where his father lives.
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father → sit → lake
So, for him, buying this land only made sense.
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buying → buy → sense
The fixer-upper soon became his favourite getaway spot.
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upper → become → ?
Now with all the amenities, the Minnesota cabin is every bit the family retreat he dreamt of.
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he → dream → amenities
Before becoming the heartthrob of Hollywood, Josh Duhamel was an outdoorsy guy.
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Duhamel → become → Hollywood
As a kid, he chased salamanders in the woods of North Dakota.
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he → chase → Dakota
"My buddies and I were living our lives like Huck Finn," the actor, 53, told Men’s Journal.
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actor → live → Journal
His days were spent fishing in the summer and sledding in the winter.
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days → spend → winter
Those memories made him want a place in Minnesota’s wilderness, and that led him to purchase the fixer-upper cabin.
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that → make → cabin
"My father lives in Minnesota.
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father → live → Minnesota
The place that I got is near his, on the lake and out in the deep woods.
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I → get → woods
I always come back with my spirit feeling lifted," he told the outlet.
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he → come → outlet
When he bought the property, it was just a piece of land with a cabin on it.
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it → buy → it
"It was just half a parcel of land at first, which had an old cabin on it with no plumbing or electricity," he said.
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he → have → plumbing
But he had no complaints.
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he → have → complaints
In fact, he found the place refreshing.
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place → find → fact
Going back to a simple life only brought him joy.
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Going → go → joy
"Straight-up old-fashioned outhouse, and it was time to shower in the lake.
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it → shower → lake
Building from scratch
While the wilderness of Minnesota and the fun the lake and outdoors had to offer were exhilarating, the challenges inside the cabin were real.
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challenges → build → cabin
The initial cabin offered nothing but the basics.
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cabin → offer → basics
Water came from the lake.
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Water → come → lake
Waste went into an outhouse.
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Waste → go → outhouse
Showers meant a trip to the lake.
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Showers → mean → lake
Doing dishes involved carrying water.
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Doing → do → water
When the neighbouring property came on the market, the actor bought it, taking the whole property to 52 acres.
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actor → come → acres
That second parcel had electricity.
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parcel → have → electricity
Over time, a third parcel joined the portfolio, bringing with it another structure.
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parcel → join → structure
The transition from outhouse to infrastructure took time.
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transition → take → time
Digging a well became a priority once he could afford it.
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he → dig → it
‘I put in a well this year, so we finally have a working toilet and shower inside,’ he told the outlet during their 2017 interview.
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he → put → interview
Running water meant no more shuttling to the lake.
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water → run → lake
Electricity from the second cabin followed.
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Electricity → follow → cabin
With power and water secured, he could focus on other improvements: a boat dock for fishing, cleared areas for grilling, and the kind of installations that transform raw land into liveable space.
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that → secure → space
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
