Can You Visit the House from A Christmas Story?
Do you remember the house from A Christmas Story? Have you ever thought about visiting it?
We’ve found out where the house is and if you can take a look inside.
Let’s go!
About the Movie
A Christmas Story is a classic Christmas movie filmed in 1983. It follows a 9-year-old boy named Ralphie in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Ralphie narrates the film as an adult looking back on a Christmas where all he wanted was a Red Ryder Air Rifle.
Unfortunately for him, no one wants to get it for him, not even Santa. His family is less than perfect, and we get to go along for the ride, and hilarity ensues.
Where Is the House from A Christmas Story?
The house from A Christmas Story is located 10 minutes south of downtown Cleveland in the Tremont neighborhood. In fact, the neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of Cleveland’s oldest communities.
The house was built in 1895 and is located at 3159 W 11th St.Cleveland, OH 44109.
Can You Visit the House from A Christmas Story?
Yes! A Christmas Story House opened to the public in 2006 with a museum and gift shop across the street with props, costumes, and memorabilia from the film.
The house, museum, and gift shop are open daily from 10 am – 5 pm except for major holidays and the last two full weeks in February for maintenance.
Brian Jones restored the house to allow visitors to walk through Ralphie’s home. Displays include a decorated tree, the leg lamp in the window, and Ralphie and Randy’s bedroom.
At the gift shop, you can buy your very own bunny costume, a leg lamp, and other Christmas Story merchandise and keepsakes.
What Happened to Ralphie (Peter Billingsley?)
After A Christmas Story, Peter Billingsley continued acting in film and television, appearing in The Dirt Bike Kid, Death Valley, Punky Brewster, and The Wonder Years. Billingsley is also a director and producer.
Things to Explore Near the House from A Christmas Story
Once you have explored A Christmas Story House and Museum, we recommend getting outside and exploring The Ohio and Erie Canalway and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The Ohio and Erie Canalway
The Ohio and Erie Canal was created as an inland connection for goods from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. It’s now a National Heritage Area with biking, birding, boating, scenic driving, camping, hiking, running, and photography opportunities.
There are many points of interest along the Canalway, including Towpath Trail and Greenway, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, National Scenic Byway, and the Historic Zoar Village.
The Towpath Trail is one of the most used areas of the Canalway, with 2.5 million visitors exploring it each year. It’s called the Towpath because mules pulled canal boats up and down the Ohio and Erie Cancel. The Towpath Trail has 48 trailheads along 87 miles. We recommend exploring the trail portion in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Pro Tip: If you’re over the cold and Christmas, dream of these 7 Best Beaches in Ohio.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
This 33,000-acre park is the only national park in Ohio. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron. The Canal Exploration Center is a great launching point for exploring the park. It’s only 18 minutes south of A Christmas Story House at 7104 Canal Road, Valley View, Ohio, 44125.
A unique experience in the national park is The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. The railroad runs through the park with excursions to the canal-era Village of Peninsula and Akron. It also has special events throughout the year, including “Grape Escape” wine-tasting and The Polar Express.
Best Camping Near the House from A Christmas Story
A Christmas Story House is in a major city. Because of this, it’s not easy to find camping close by. The better RV parks and campgrounds are often found outside of major cities. As a result, if you’re looking for something specific, you might want to look a bit farther out from Cleveland. However, we were able to find two parks less than 40 minutes away: Woodside Lake Park and Streetsboro-Cleveland SE KOA.
Woodside Lake Park
Located around 35 minutes from A Christmas Story House, Woodside Lake Park is a seasonal park with 250 grassy campsites. The campground has full hookup, partial hookup, and tent-only sites. The park has seasonal activities for the entire family, and an onsite lake is excellent for fishing and swimming.
Location: 2486 Frost Rd, Streetsboro, OH 44241
Streetsboro-Cleveland SE KOA
With 250 gravel campsites, Streetsboro-Cleveland SE KOA is less than 40 minutes from the house from A Christmas Story. This is a KOA, and it gets mixed reviews. It’s convenient and clean, but some campers felt it was too expensive for what it was. The park has several ponds for fishing, and they have themed weekends and activities for the whole family.
Location: 187 State Route 303, Streetsboro, OH 44241-5245
Pro Tip: Unsure if KOA Campgrounds are worth your time? Read more here to find out!
Is a Trip to the House from A Christmas Story Worth It?
If you’re a fan of A Christmas Story, this is certainly worth a visit. Not only can you see behind-the-scenes items from the movie, but you can buy your own leg lamp!! And if visiting the house wasn’t enough, The Ohio and Erie Canalway and Cuyahoga Valley National Park are just a short car ride away. Movie history, nature, and American history all in one place!
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