A lifelong fan of the 1982 horror film Poltergeist has purchased the actual house used as the Freeling family home in the movie. The owner, who grew up watching the film in Chicago before moving to California, decided to buy the property when it went on the market. She now allows other fans to visit or stay overnight in the historic location.
Buying the Freeling Family Home
The owner first saw the film in theaters with her mother and sisters. She recalls being particularly frightened by the scene where a toy clown drags the character Robbie Freeling under the bed. The movie became a Halloween ritual for her family. After moving to California in the early 1990s for art college, she lived near Simi Valley, where the house is located. She would drive past the property when visiting her sister.
She had a feeling the house would soon be sold. When her sister texted her that the property was on the market, she immediately booked a viewing. She was looking for a new home for herself and her three daughters. The house was being sold by the same people who owned it during the film’s production. Walking inside, she found honey-colored retro furniture still in place. She described the experience as feeling like she had traveled back to the 1980s.
Multiple offers were made on the property. When hers was accepted, she spent her first night alone with her dog, Emmy. The dog barked all night, and the owner woke up with scenes from the movie playing in her mind. She felt uneasy about what she had just purchased. The sale attracted significant press attention. Families began stopping to take selfies outside. Fans from around the world emailed her with their memories of the film.
Hosting Visitors in the Iconic Location
She realized she could offer fans a chance to experience the house. She started adding playful touches for occasional visitors. She did not attempt to recreate the movie set exactly. Instead, she added items like a television that only displays static. Guests can watch her personal video cassette copy of the film. She also provided a stack of other 1980s movies. Her daughters were not fans of the movie and were unimpressed when she added a 1980s Atari console.
When fans stay in the house, the owner takes her daughters camping or to her sister’s house. Visitors have recreated scenes from the film. Some have staged the moment where a steak comes to life on the kitchen counter. Others have filmed themselves sliding across the floor. Many guests bring their own clown dolls. Some report seeing flickering lights or hearing voices on the landline phone. The house still has old copper phone lines, which likely explains the noise.
Everyone agrees the house is welcoming. The tree that came alive outside the bedroom window was removed after filming. The muddy hole full of skeletons where the character Diane Freeling falls is now a finished swimming pool. Oliver Robins, who played Robbie Freeling, has visited the house. He came last Halloween and handed out candy in front of the home. He wore red pajamas, just as he did in the movie.
She did not originally plan to keep the house forever. That view is changing. Her children now say she can never let go of the property. She considers it an honor to live in such a unique piece of film history. She still receives many requests from fans wanting to stay. She has not taken recent bookings, but continues to share the experience with visitors.
Source: The Guardian
