Cleveland attraction that featured as Ralphie's house in 'A Christmas Story' goes up for sale
CLEVELAND, OHIO: One of Cleveland's most famous homes is up for sale. Ralphie's house from the 1983 movie 'A Christmas Story' is now on the market, according to the museum and landmark's Facebook page. The sale also includes the house's neighboring properties, spanning a total area of 1.3 acres.
According to the listing, “The House, built in 1895, was purchased on eBay in December 2004 and required a massive renovation to restore it to its original movie splendor. The House started public tours on November 25th, 2006, and since has welcomed over a million guests and counting,” Fox8 reported.
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The 'world’s LONELIEST home' is up for SALE! You can buy it, but with one condition
Why are the owners selling, and what does the property's future hold? Chad Whitmer of Hoff & Leigh Commercial Real Estate claims, “It’s just the right time. They’ve done a lot of work here. They’ve turned this into something special. It’s a family that owns it and they’re just looking for new opportunities to move on and they’re hoping somebody comes along takes this, creates it, and turns it into something even more special, and makes it an even greater destination for people visiting Cleveland.”
The mansion is currently listed by TripAdvisor as one of the best things to do in Cleveland and is considered a must-see tourist attraction for movie buffs worldwide. There are also options for overnight stays at both the main residence and the nearby Bumpus residence, as reported by Fox8.
The listing indicates that the sale covers more than just the house. “There is a whole campus here. There’s the gift shop, the museum, Bumpus’ house, some parking lots. It’s really a campus here the owners have developed this into,” said Whitner.
Although the asking price is not disclosed, the listing agency claims they anticipate "a high level of interest" and "significant" offers. The most well-known filming location is Ralphie's house, although Cleveland was utilized for other locations as well.
In Public Square, near the windows of the former Higbee building, was where Ralphie first sees the Red Ryder BB rifle. The Higbee building, which today houses the JACK Cleveland Casino, was where the Santa slide scene was filmed. The movie's Christmas procession was also filmed in Cleveland's Public Square.