The Hollywood actor dished on his new off-the-grid digs in Minnesota, describing the wooded abode as a “big playground” in an interview with Parade published last week. “It really got me back in touch,” he said. “There’s something about it that fulfils the soul in a lot of ways.” Duhamel told the outlet that the house, which he built himself over the course of 15 years, is his slice of heaven on earth far away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood — or any major town, for that matter. “Part of the reason I built my place out in Minnesota, deep in the woods, is it’s removed from everything,” he shared. “The closest store is 40 miles (64km) away. Once we get there, it’s really about everybody taking care of each other — making memories, spending time with family and friends. You really get a chance to get back to the basics. You’re not consumed by all these other distractions.” “When you’re out there, it’s really about having fun, making sure everybody’s warm, everybody’s got food and water,” he added. The home has also served as a vehicle to bring the actor’s family closer. Duhamel, 52, is father to two sons: Axl Jack, 11, whom he shares with ex-wife Fergie, and Shepherd, 15 months, whom he welcomed with his current wife, Audra Mari. “My son is going to have memories of this place forever. He’s not on his iPad when he’s out there. He’s out there in the boat with me, or he’s playing soccer on the beach, or he’s out there in the woods doing whatever I’m doing,” he told the outlet. “And then I have a little baby who’s going to experience the same thing. Someday, I hope to pass this on to them [so] they’re able to share it with their kids. It’s really important to me that they have this. It’s not just about having all the amenities and all the luxuries that we become so used to. It’s really about family. It’s about legacy.” The Shotgun Wedding star, who grew up in North Dakota, shared that he’s grown closer to his own dad, who originally found the land the cabin is built on, through the experience. “I’ve become a lot closer to my own parents because of this place, which has been interesting. My dad absolutely loves coming out there to hang out. And we’ve spent more time together in these last five, 10 years than we ever did growing up. I’m much closer to my dad,” he expressed. “My mum now loves coming out there. It’s become a real, central hub for all of us.” The self-described “doomsday prepper” previously shared that he was building his home to be a safe haven for his family “if things do go south” in his February 2024 interview with Inverse. “I have this crazy fixation on what happens if s**t hits the fan in LA and I have to take my family out there and live off the land,” he shared at the time, adding that he was “growing crops” and learning to hunt and fish. “I believe that we could live off the land out there. I’m not very good at it yet, but I’m getting there.” The remote home also comes equipped with Starlink internet connection and has a custom water filtration system. This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission.