# A Geek Too Far: A LOTR Housing Development **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 15, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842 "2006-09-15T15:12:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/1 "2006-09-15T15:12:03Z")
[To quote Shatner, “Get a life!”](http://www.bendshire.com/) > [@](#): > > The Middle Earth Village architecture is from rural English villages with styling cues from the seventeenth century. > The Old World Townhomes are a throwback to a peasant life long gone. . . without the chickens running in the street! The central plaza is vibrant as well as walkable with ponds and water features. > > This area of The Shire stands as a cluster of sharply pitched high roof groups of hand hewn looking stone and stucco structures. The overhanging floors, pointed and arched doors and windows, stone surfaces, and hand hewn timbered look set these extraordinary townhomes apart from anything else in the United States. The cobbled street ends on Elves Pond. Vehicles are hidden from view in second-story garages accessed by short bridges to the structures from access roads. > Bree Street from the New Line film, Lord of the Rings. And I thought that the guy who had the Star Trek apartment was bad, and the guy who had the bridge of the Jupiter 2 in his basement was bad, but both of those things _pale_ in comparison to an _entire high-end LOTR themed housing development!_ ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/2 "2006-09-15T15:25:23Z")
I’m wondering which “rural English villages” the architects got their cues from. They look more like ski-chalets than the stereotypical English cottage. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/3 "2006-09-15T15:40:05Z")
I’m sorry, I think I just had a geekgasm. I love it, sincerely. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/4 "2006-09-15T15:48:44Z")
LOTR or not, looks pretty nice. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/5 "2006-09-15T15:54:07Z")
That’s about three miles from where I live. Bend’s such a small town, I never thought I’d see it on the SDMB. As far as I know, I’m the only BenDoper (hey, I live here, I get to make up the name for it, okay?). The amusing thing is that the housing market has pretty much collapsed here. Most of those houses are going to stand empty for a long, long time… and when they sell, the manufacturer’s going to take a bath on 'em. There’s only about sixty geeks in town, and most of them work in my office. ---
**Author:** ![Agonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Agonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agonist)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/6 "2006-09-15T15:58:45Z")
How is this LOTR themed? The word “shire” wasn’t made up by Tolkein. It seems to me like it’s trying - and as **Dominic Mulligan** commented, mostly failing - to create an Old English-themed village. There’s no reference to LOTR on the site that I can see. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/7 "2006-09-15T16:00:14Z")
I dunno–they’re pretty nice houses, but they also remind me of Thoman Kinkade paintings. On the one hand, I’m all for better craftsmanship in homes, on the other, these are really twee. However, if someone wants to give me one… ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/8 "2006-09-15T16:07:23Z")
[QUOTE=dangermom] I dunno–they’re pretty nice houses, but they also remind me of Thoman Kinkade paintings. On the one hand, I’m all for better craftsmanship in homes, on the other, these are really twee. However, if someone wants to give me one… [/QUOTE] Umm…that’s because they [are](http://www.bendshire.com/index.php?p=3&side=select) Thomas Kinkaide paintings! 😃 > [@](#): > > One can view the artistry of contemporary painter Thomas Kinkaide and appreciate the warmth and freshness felt in these simple but elegant designs. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/9 "2006-09-15T16:09:06Z")
[QUOTE=Agonist] How is this LOTR themed? The word “shire” wasn’t made up by Tolkein. It seems to me like it’s trying - and as **Dominic Mulligan** commented, mostly failing - to create an Old English-themed village. There’s no reference to LOTR on the site that I can see. [/QUOTE] Look harder. They’re shooting for a Bree feel. Nice ideas on some of the homes though. ---
**Author:** ![Agonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Agonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agonist)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/10 "2006-09-15T16:09:23Z")
I retract my statement. I should have looked further: > [@The Shire of Bend](#): > > Origins of the Shire > > Forty leagues it stretched from the Fox Downs to the Brandywine Bridge, and fifty from the western moors to the marshes in the south. The Hobbits named it the Shire, as the region of the authority of their Thain, and a district of well-ordered business; and there in that pleasant corner of the world they plied their well-ordered business of living, and they heeded less and less the world outside where dark things moved, until they came to think that peace and plenty were the rule in Middle-Earth and the right of all sensible folk… On the other hand, if it weren’t so obviously a marketing scheme, I might think it was a good idea. There are worse people to model your lifestyle on. I’ve always liked hobbits. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/11 "2006-09-15T16:12:19Z")
For slightly more than 3/4 of a million dollars the Swordsman’s lodge is everything I’ve ever wanted in a home – Now, I have something new to cry about never getting. This is actually a wonderful idea! ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/12 "2006-09-15T16:14:37Z")
If they built one like Bilbo’s house, I’d be there in a minute! ---
**Author:** ![Hogwash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e57/32.png) [@Hogwash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogwash)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/13 "2006-09-15T17:00:30Z")
[QUOTE=Turek] If they built one like Bilbo’s house, I’d be there in a minute! [/QUOTE] > **[RP77: Situs Property Game Terlengkap Menang Tanpa Batas](https://www.bendshire.com/index.php?p=2&side=hobbits)** > > RP77 menghadirkan property game terlengkap dengan peluang menang tanpa batas. Akses mudah, permainan lengkap, dan pengalaman bermain yang nyaman setiap hari. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/14 "2006-09-15T17:37:35Z")
The security guy’s a real dick. I was out for a walk one night and decided to cut across the theater grounds, when all of a sudden he jumps out at me and shouts, “You cannot pass! I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor! The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!” I said, “I just wanted to get a Coke out of the machine over there!” “YOU CANNOT PASS!” Looking at the pictures of the place, I must admit that I envy the inhabitants. I can only imagine how many medieval-themed soft porn movies will be filmed there in the future. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/15 "2006-09-15T18:10:15Z")
Wow, these builders were building with me in mind. First check out my location. I have had that in there since January. Second check out the [Green Construction link](http://www.bendshire.com/index.php?p=8&side=building). I currently have a solar Panel system on my roof, I like their attempts at green housing. Oregon would be a nice place to live. Maybe I can retire there, the pricing is in line with the value of my house. It could work. I wonder what the village will look like in 20-25 years. By the way **Tuckerfan** , I am both a TOS Trekkie (though only 1 convention back in 1986) and a Lord of the Rings fanatic and I have a very good life, thank you for asking. 😉 Jim ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/16 "2006-09-15T18:10:41Z")
Well, I can only imagine poor old Tolkien’s reaction–he’s not only spinning in his grave, he’s clawing out the eye he has left after having already clawed the other one out when he saw the ads for replica Sting daggers that glow blue at the touch of a button. Of course, I guess pretty much everything in America would horrify Tolkien… ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/17 "2006-09-16T00:36:14Z")
We could all move there and make it a Doper community! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/18 "2006-09-16T01:05:52Z")
Having grown up in a neighborhood called “Hobbit’s Glen,” I am hardened to this sort of thing. **Lightnin’** , don’t forget to look down in the valley for us WillameDopers. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/19 "2006-09-16T06:14:07Z")
As Shoshana mentions, the oldest neighborhood in the world with street names taken from Tolkien is probably Hobbit’s Glen in the village of Harper’s Choice in Columbia, Maryland. All the street names come from _The Hobbit_. The streets were named when the houses in the neighborhood were built in the early 1970’s, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842/20 "2006-09-16T06:31:02Z")
[QUOTE=Lightnin’] That’s about three miles from where I live. Bend’s such a small town, I never thought I’d see it on the SDMB. As far as I know, I’m the only BenDoper (hey, I live here, I get to make up the name for it, okay?). [/QUOTE] I’ve _been_ there, does that count? Spent my 21st birthday at the Deschutes brewpub (I think that was the name) while on a geology field trip in the Cascades. I _loved_ Oregon! As for the OP, there’s no way I could live in that little Shire-town. It would make for a cute little tourist attraction or vacation community, but I couldn’t stay there more than a week before I’d gag on the cute. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-geek-too-far-a-lotr-housing-development/372842.md?page=2)