One man’s imagination is another man’s treasure. To wit: the Millennium House on King Phillips Trail in East Boothbay, the creation of artist-builders David and Jenny Lee, and the stop for many on a number of informal tours of the peninsula. The 4,800-square-foot marvel of imagination, Middle Earth musings and fairy tale wit has drawn the attention of the A & E network, which contacted the Lees for its television show, “Unplugged Nation.” The series documents unique homesteads that are off or nearly off the grid.

The well-documented house is one of the 27 original creations Lee has constructed over the years and according to him, it’s still in the process of becoming.

“A house is never finished,” said Lee.

A trip through the grounds is like taking a step back through a time that may or may not have existed. The architecture is classified as “Story Book” and owes its beginnings to Marie Antoinette (not: the property is guillotine-free) and modern popularity to Walt Disney, who modeled parts of his theme parks on the style. A quick survey of the house reveals why it draws so much attention. Simply put, there’s nothing else like it. The house was built in 1994 over the course of six months and features a distinct exterior of natural weathered wood patina. The interior is a mix of functionality and exquisite craft; hand-carved door handles, custom-built windows to trap heat, full spectrum glass to ward off the evils of Seasonal Affective Disorder, and a host of details that reward closer examination. Lee is perhaps proudest of the 47-ton stone fireplace that extends from the basement to the main living area and provides long-lasting heat with very little wood.

The creative and colorful Lee could be considered a modern-day Renaissance man. Growing up in Vermont, he wanted to become a priest but soon found out the sacrifices it would entail.

“What’s that word that begins with C? Celibacy?” said Lee.

With a career in the cloth shelved, Lee joined the National Guard in high school until landing a three-year apprenticeship with a machinist and learned the craft of mechanical engineering. After working on rocket parts for the NASA space program, Lee had a turn as an industrial private detective, high school teacher and even was the muscle for Maine country singing legend Dick Curlis.

“I was the security when he was at the height of his fame,” said Lee. “My job was to keep people from the backstage but the pretty girls managed to slip by somehow.”

Lee has built 25 Middle Earth homes since 1975 across from five states, from Maine to Washington. The Lees are currently in the process of building their retirement home near Adam’s Pond in Boothbay and the Millennium House is on the market. As for prospective buyers, David Lee is particular; it has to be lived in and not just a retreat for a summer person. 

As for the home’s turn in the spotlight? The producers from A & E have promised to feature the dwelling on another show as “Unplugged Nation” now features strictly off-the-grid properties.

“Oh well, that’s show business,” said Lee. “The house will still be here when they come back.”