Wednesday, May 1, 2024

'A Christmas Story' in Cleveland: The full tour, from the house to the donuts, 5K, beer, play and more

a christmas story house cleveland

We were staying in Tremont during our Cleveland visit, so it was an easy 15-minute walk to the house from our pad. If you drive, there’s plenty of free parking behind the gift shop or along the street right in front of the house. A Christmas Story House tickets are available in person at the gift shop or online. By online I mean you can purchase them online and they’ll send them to your house, so I feel like you don’t need to do that.

a christmas story house cleveland

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The old car next to the fire engine isn’t original, either. Darren McGavin’s Oldsmobile Touring Sedan also disappeared somehow after filming. Actually, maybe don’t do that, especially if you’re visiting during the pandemic, but also always. Cleveland was actually chosen as a filming location for its fairly reliable annual snowfall, but an unseasonably dry winter forced the crews to create fake snow from mashed potato flakes and firefighter foam.

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Jones is the owner of The Red Rider Leg Lamp Co., an operation that manufactures replica leg lamps such as the one Darren McGavin’s character won in the film. Jones renovated the home back to its configuration in the film, after studying footage of the house and drawing up plans as to its layout. The fortunes of the house, and eventually the immediately surrounding area, began to change in the early 1980s when director Bob Clark began scouting for a location in which to set A Christmas Story. Clark visited more than 20 cities looking for the perfect house.

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When “A Christmas Story” was released in 1983, it was not an immediate hit. But, as the years passed, the story of a little boy from Indiana who wanted nothing more than a BB gun for Christmas worked its way into the collective hearts of Americans to become a holiday classic. As the movie marks 40 years since its initial release, the cast is returning to Cleveland to celebrate with fans. "It's an interesting property to not only own, but you also have to take care of as a piece of Americana. It's going to be an interesting journey." A Christmas Story House & Museum is pleased to announce that we have reached a deal for a change of ownership.

A Christmas Story House: Visiting a Holiday Classic in Cleveland

a christmas story house cleveland

The museum across the street continues the obsession with the film and features a number of movie props such as little brother Randy’s snowsuit and all the toys from the department store window that Ralphie fawns over. If you can’t wait to watch A Christmas Story as it airs non-stop on cable this holiday, you can actually head to Cleveland and live the experience. Thanks to “A Christmas Story,” the ghosts of Cleveland’s past live on forever – even at Public Square. The site of the Christmas parade scene looks far different today and Higbee’s is now a casino, but the store that played such an important role on- and off-screen in the history of "A Christmas Story" comes alive again for the holidays. In the spirit of Higbees, JACK Cleveland Casino will yet again be decorating the display windows that line Prospect, Ontario and Public Square. Registration is closed for the 7th annual  A Christmas Story 5K/10K Run at 9 a.m.

In 2004, San Diego-based entrepreneur Brian Jones — a longtime fan of the film — bought the home on eBay and renovated it to once again match the scenes from the movie. He used profits from his own business (selling replicas of the movie’s iconic leg lamp) for the down payment. After the museum, be sure to browse through the gift shop, where you can buy everything from leg lamps to pink bunny pajamas just like Ralphie’s.

While in the house, you’ll get a primer on the history of the home. There’s also a selection of mugs, shot glasses, and memorabilia from other Christmas movies, like Elf. It felt like cheating to me, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t also love Elf.

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Iconic Ohio house from 'A Christmas Story' selling to new owner - WLWT Cincinnati

Iconic Ohio house from 'A Christmas Story' selling to new owner.

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The house, which has become a bucket list tourist destination for film fans around the world, is currently ranked by TripAdvisor as one of the top things to do in Cleveland. The house will remain open for tours throughout the sale's process. As Brian Jones, the current owner, officially put the “for sale” sign in front of the iconic movie location. You’re then on your own to either buy a bunch of stuff at the gift shop or pop over to check out the two classic cars in the driveway next to the Christmas Story store. After visiting the house, you’ll stroll across the street to visit A Christmas Story House Museum. Following all of those fun facts and more, you’ll be given about 15 minutes to explore the home at will.

The first parking lot is located directly to the left of the House. The second parking lot is located to right of the Gift Shop. The museum is located across the street from the A Christmas Story House.

Entering the house, visitors now are greeted by the infamous leg lamp, the Parker’s decorated tree, a kitchen stocked with Ovaltine, and the sink where Randy hid. Upstairs, they can see the bathroom where Ralphie’s decoder ring and a bar of Lifebuoy soap reside. The back yard, where several scenes were filmed, looks just like the movie.

“When we say all this can be yours, we’re serious,” according to the initial listing. “The entire campus is for sale, which spans a total of 1.3 acres including five buildings on seven parcels. Additionally, there are two public and one private parking lots, and two empty lots, which create room for further expansion." The scene where Ralphie first lays eyes on the Red Ryder BB gun was filmed at the former Higbee building windows in Public Square. That was filmed inside the Higbee building, which is now home to the JACK Cleveland Casino. The Christmas parade featured in the film was also recorded in downtown Cleveland's Public Square.

To visit the A Christmas Story Online Gift Shop, Click here. See the actual house of your favorite holiday family, now restored to its movie splendor. Higbee’s department store, located at the time in downtown Cleveland, also found a place in the film due to its vintage appearance. Shots of the elementary school were filmed on location in Ontario, along with the Chinese restaurant scene near the end of the film. In “A Christmas Story,” the house is set in a fictional town in Indiana, but location scouts could not find the exact home in that state to meet the needs of the director.

'A Christmas Story' house gets new owner amid the holiday season - FOX 13 Tampa

'A Christmas Story' house gets new owner amid the holiday season.

Posted: Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

When asked what she thought made this film and museum popular, she said that the story reminds many people of their own Christmas traditions. Kinton is an actress, and one of her recent jobs was in a Wendy’s restaurant commercial. When she is not giving tours or working one of her many other jobs, she is a regular on Disney Radio. “Everyone had something they wanted for Christmas,” Rae said. “We can all relate to that one thing we wanted when we were a kid.” During his career, Rae has worn many hats, from being an Assistant U.S. Attorney to serving on an Organized Crime Strike Force.

Visits to A Christmas Story house cost $18 per person, with reduced rates for seniors, children, and military personnel. I used to watch it every Thanksgiving to try to forget about the holiday goose I was being fed instead of the glistening turkey devoured by the Bumpus hounds. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

Military (active duty and retired) may purchase admission in person at 20% off of full price general admission (one ticket per each valid military ID). The fortunes of the house, and eventually the immediately surrounding area, began to change in the early 1980s when director Bob Clark began scouting for a location. Amanda was born and raised in northeast Ohio, and has always been a fangirl of her home state.

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