Guide to Visiting the “A Christmas Story” House

As the holidays approach, you might be looking for fun, holiday-themed activities to do around Cleveland, Ohio. One activity that’s great for all ages is a tour of the house from “A Christmas Story,” the beloved 1983 film. Located in a typical Cleveland neighborhood, the house is full of details from the film, bringing the movie to life for visitors. This attraction is open year-round with extended hours over the Christmas season, so you can visit the iconic house from “A Christmas Story” whenever you’re in Cleveland next. Here’s our visitors’ guide to the A Christmas Story House.

Cleveland’s Connections to “A Christmas Story”

christmas story by s_herman is licensed with CC BY 2.0

This iconic Christmas film is based on a series of short stories written by Jean Shepherd. Directed by Bob Clark, the film quickly became one of the most popular holiday movies, telling the story of Ralphie Parker’s Christmas wish for a BB gun. The story takes place in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, but some filming occurred in Cleveland, Ohio. The main reason “A Christmas Story” came to Cleveland was to shoot the Santa scene at Higbee’s Department Store. Rumored to be the only department store willing to participate in the filming, Higbee’s became a staple of the film.

While in Cleveland, the crew captured some exterior shots of the home now known as the A Christmas Story House. The crew used the house when Ralphie and Randy left for school, during the fateful shot of Ralphie’s BB gun, and any time an exterior door was needed for the scene. However, the interior of the house wasn’t used in the filming. Scenes that took place inside the family home were shot on sound stages in Toronto. The renovation of the house’s interior to match the film make this attraction a must-see.

Location: 3159 W. 11th St., Cleveland, OH 44109

The Neighborhood

As you make your way to the A Christmas Story House, you’ll drive through a typical Cleveland neighborhood. There’s a museum and gift shop across the street from the main attraction. Once you enter the neighborhood, you can park in the small visitors’ lot or on the street. Before you begin the tour, purchase tickets from the gift shop. Tickets cost $11 for children, $15 for adults, and $14 for seniors. You can purchase tickets online or in person.

Besides the main house, you can also explore the Bumpus House, which is the fictional home of the Parkers’ neighbors. The Bumpus dogs are best known for bothering Ralphie’s dad and stealing the coveted Christmas turkey. While the interior of the Bumpus House isn’t featured in the film, you can enjoy a unique look into Ralphie’s neighbors. You can even stay overnight in one of two suites, the Stolen Turkey Suite upstairs or the Hound Dog Haven Suite downstairs.

The House

Brian Jones, a long-time fan of the movie, transformed the residence into a replica of the house’s interior. Now, both the interior and exterior perfectly match the set from the 1983 film. The house includes tons of details from the film, like Ralphie’s letter to Santa, the infamous leg lamp, and the kitchen cabinet that Randy hid in.

The upstairs features the boys’ bedroom and the bathroom where Ralphie solved the radio riddle: “Don’t Forget To Drink Your Ovaltine!” You can even hear Mrs. Schwartz yelling on the hallway phone from when Ralphie blamed his friend for teaching him bad words.

The house was renovated to look as close to the movie set as possible, even though many scenes were shot elsewhere. Just like the Bumpus House, you can make a reservation to stay overnight. Overnight guests have access to the entire third floor during their stay, along with the whole house once tours finish for the day. Sleep in Ralphie and Randy’s twin beds in the nostalgic A Christmas Story House. You can make reservations online.

The Tour

After purchasing tickets from the gift shop, you can embark on a tour through the A Christmas Story House. It starts every hour, and your guide greets you at the front door of the gift shop before leading you to the house. The tour is informative and quick, so you have plenty of time to explore. You’ll learn about the making of the movie and hear some anecdotes and fun facts from the tour guide, all while exploring the classic house. The house is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours during the holiday season.

You can take photos in front of the Christmas tree or with Ralphie’s dad’s prized possession, the leg lamp. Pose in the kitchen cabinet or with the bar of soap used to punish Ralphie for getting into a fight and saying bad words. You can even see the Parker family car. The tour is a fun experience that’s great for families with kids of all ages, even if the parents understand the nostalgia more than the kids do.

The Museum and Gift Shop

After the guided tour, you can peruse the museum. It includes memorabilia from the film, like print materials and costumes. You can see props, like the chalkboard that the teacher wrote on when Ralphie dreamed of earning an “A++++++” in school. Look through behind-the-scenes photos and learn more about the history of the film, how it came about, and the process of renovating the house.

Visit the gift shop at the end to purchase trinkets or memorabilia to commemorate your visit to the house. These gifts make good holiday presents, especially for fans of the movie. You can choose between memorable items like the bunny suit, your very own leg lamp, and a small replica of the house to add to your holiday village.

Whether you’re a local or plan to visit Cleveland during the holidays, you can stop by the A Christmas Story House to get into the festive spirit. The house, museum, and tour transport visitors back to the time of the movie, and dedicated fans can enjoy stepping into the scene of their favorite film. Do you know of any other fun, holiday-themed activities in Cleveland, Ohio? Let us know so we can create helpful new guides.