Denver entrepreneur Michael Dunahay and his cat, Puff, moved into the famed Sculptured House on Genesee Mountain two weeks ago, becoming the first full-time residents of the home since it was completed in 1965.
Dunahay, 53, founder of Vacation Solutions, bought the 7,500-square-foot house June 1 from John Huggins, Denver’s director of economic development, for an undisclosed price.
Dunahay said he had wanted to see the house since he was a child, but it wasn’t until he met listing agent Rollie Jordan of the Kentwood Co. at a fundraising event that he had the opportunity.
“Just like everyone else in Denver, every time we drove by, we looked at it,” Dunahay said. “My mom always said it had the best view in Colorado. View has always been important.”
Designed by architect Charles Deaton, the landmark home clearly visible from Interstate 70 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural merit. The home was featured in the 1973 Woody Allen comedy “Sleeper.”
Over the years, Huggins has hosted a number of political fundraisers and benefits for various charities at the house, a tradition Dunahay plans to continue.
“It’s a huge responsibility,” he said. “Everyone knows this house, and everyone wants to see it.”
A few days after buying the house, Dunahay hosted a party attended by a representative of MTV’s reality series “The Real World.” A deal to film the current cast at the house has not been negotiated, Jordan said.
Huggins said he feels a mixture of relief and sadness over the sale of the house, for which he paid $1.3 million in 1999 and then spent two years and millions of dollars renovating.
“Michael seems like a really nice guy, really interested in the house and protective of it,” said Huggins, who used the house as a second home.
Three years ago, Huggins listed the furnished house and 15 acres of surrounding land for $10 million. Last summer, he dropped the price to $4.86 million for the house and 5 acres. He sold two adjoining 5-acre lots to Robert Dykes of Family Tree Oil and Gas.
Dunahay is negotiating with Dykes to buy back the land. He said he would like to build a Santa Fe-style adobe home on it.
Dunahay is the perfect buyer for the house, Jordan said.
“He’s from Denver. He wants to carry on the tradition. He’s single. He’s good-looking. He’s a car collector,” she said. “He’s just who you picture should be living in the James Bond house.”
By chance, Jordan met Allen at the opening of a New York restaurant shortly after Dunahay put the house under contract, she said.
“He said he had really fond memories of the house,” she said.
Staff writer Margaret Jackson can be reached at 303-820-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com.
$1.3 million
Purchase price for the 7,500-square- foot house in 1999 by John Huggins
$10 million
Original asking price, for the house and 15 acres of land, sought by Huggins in 2003
$4.86 million
Huggins’ asking price for the house and 5 acres of land last year, after selling two adjoining 5-acre lots
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What Michael Dunahay paid for the house and property
