A Christmas Story House Tour
Growing up I loved watching Christmas movies. There are many great ones, like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but the very best Christmas classic is without a doubt, A Christmas Story. On a recent trip to Cleveland, I knew I wanted to tour the Christmas Story house and follow in the footsteps of a childhood hero, Ralphie Parker.
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I don’t know about you, but it’s been a Christmas tradition in my house to watch the movie at Christmas time. Usually during the annual marathon on TNT and TBS called “24 Hours of A Christmas Story“. It’s a cult classic and one of those funny movies that never really gets old. Visiting the house is one of the best things to do in Cleveland. Read on for more info before you go!
Ten Random Facts About A Christmas Story
- A Christmas Story is based on material from author Jean Shepherd’s collection of short stories, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.
- Both the author Jean Shepherd and director Bob Clark make cameos in the film.
- The movie was filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, and Toronto, Ontario.
- Three leg lamps were made for the movie and all of them were broken during filming.
- The film is set in 1940 in Hohman, Indiana, a fictionalized version of Jean Shepherd’s hometown of Hammond, Illinois.
- Cleveland was chosen because Higbee’s department store agreed to be a filming location after the movie crew scouted over different 20 locations for the shopping and Santa scenes.
- 8,000 children auditioned for the part of Ralphie Parker before the crew decided on Peter Billingsley.
- The house was purchased on eBay in 2004 for $100k by Brian Jones a fan of the movie. It required extensive renovations to restore it.
- The movie was made with a low budget of $3 million and it was not an instant success.
- The movie is now one of the top-rated shows on cable tv every year at Christmas time. Millions of people tune in and it’s popular in both the US and Canada.
A Christmas Story House and Tour Information
Where is the House From the Movie A Christmas Story?
The house is located at 3159 W. 11th Street, Cleveland, OH 44109. Smack dab in the Tremont neighborhood on the West Side of town.
What is the Christmas Story House Tour?
It’s a tour through the Parker family home from the movie A Christmas Story. There are three buildings to visit in total. The main house, a museum across the street, and a gift shop.
The tour includes facts and stories about the home, good humor, and various trivia questions. Guests can also interact with replica props from the movie. The funny photos you get are kinda the best part!
How Much is the Tour of the Christmas Story House?
The guided tour is $18 per adult, $16 for seniors, and $13 for kids over 3. You can purchase tour tickets inside the gift shop or on the Christmas Story website. Parking is plentiful and free.
What are the Hours of the Christmas Story House?
It’s open daily from 10am-5pm and closed on most major holidays.
When is the Best Time to Visit the Christmas Story House?
Anytime you’re in Cleveland, but weekdays are less busy than weekends. They also close for the last two weeks of February for maintenance. Don’t go then! It gets the most crowded around Christmas time.
How Long Does it Take to Tour the Christmas Story House in Cleveland?
The tours are one hour, but you’ll need a little more time to wander the gift shop.
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The museum contains behind-the-scenes photos, fan art, costumes, and props from the movie. Like the original Golden Age sign that Ralphie shoots when the bb hits him in the eye. Conversely, you can also see Randy’s snowsuit and his bib from the mashed potatoes scene.
Other memorable items in the Christmas Story museum are the 1938 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan, and a replica of the firetruck, from the scene when Ralphie’s friend Flick gets his tongue stuck to the flagpole.
You Can Rent a Pink Bunny Suit
For those of you who are looking to get weird, or take really goofy photos you can rent a suit for $10.00. You can fulfill all of your Ralphie fantasies by wearing it on the tour. Dreams were made of this, but I didn’t rent one, in case you were wondering.
The Rowley Inn
The Rowley Inn has been in business since 1906. It’s been featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and it was a popular hangout for cast and crew members during the filming of the movie.
It’s located directly across the street from the museum. Stop by after your tour for some classic Cleveland eats like pierogis and chicken paprikash, or to try a local beer. It’s open from 7am daily.
Staying at the Christmas Story House
Yes, you can stay at the Christmas Story house too. There’s a suite that sleeps six people. Including a queen bed, a queen pull-out sleeper sofa, and two twin beds. There’s also a private kitchen.
Guests have access to the entire home outside of tour hours. Prices vary by season from $545 to $1295 a night. Major holidays, when the museum is not open, require a two-night stay. This room is obviously not on the tour.
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Christmas Season at the Christmas Story House
During the Christmas season, the neighborhood swells with tourists. Lines get long and parking is harder to find. If you want to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day inside the house opening gifts, it gets pricey. That’ll cost you about $8,000. Rates are $4,000 per night and it requires a two-night stay.
Christmas in July might be a better idea after all.
The Bumpus House
The Bumpus House is located next door. It’s not on the tour. You might remember the scene in the movie when the neighbor’s dogs run into the Parker family’s kitchen and steal their turkey. Well, luckily for you, that home is also available for overnight stays.
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The Bumpus House has three floors divided into two sections. The upper two floors are the Stolen Turkey Suite. Stays range from $245 a night on a normal weekday up to $995 per night at Christmas time. This is the biggest brightest space.
The smaller lower floor is the Hound Dog Haven Suite. Varying from $195 to $345 per night.
The Cast of A Christmas Story
- Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker
- Ian Petrella as Randy Parker
- Melinda Dillon as Mrs. Parker
- Darren McGavin as Mr. Parker (The Old Man)
- Jean Shepherd as adult Ralphie (voice) / man standing in the Santa Claus line at Higbee’s
- Scott Schwartz as Flick
- R. D. Robb as Schwartz
- Zack Ward as Scut Farkus (Bully)
- Yano Anaya as Grover Dill
- Tedde Moore as Miss Shields
Conclusion
It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re a fan of the movie, want a unique place to stay, or find yourself heading to Cleveland for a few days! Don’t miss out on this small slice of cinema history.
Travel Resources
- Find Cheap Flights: Skyscanner.com
- Find Hotels: Booking.com
- For Rental Cars: Discovercars.com
- Discover Tours and Activities on: Viator.com
For more info and to check rental rates visit: achristmasstoryhouse.com
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Are you a fan of the movie? Would you like to visit? Comment below…
Love the Christmas Story House movie.
Plan to visit it …. Medina to Cleveland,
Ohio – when my friend from Cincinnati
next comes to visit me here in Medina.