If you’re a fan of the classic Christmas comedy, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you may have wondered if the house where the Griswold family spends their holiday is a real house. The answer is yes! The exterior shots of the house were filmed at a real residence located in Burbank, California.
The House Exterior
The house used in the movie is located at 2311 North Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles. It’s a 7,500 square foot mansion that was built in 1937 and designed by architect J. H. Parks. The exterior of the house was used for all external shots in the movie, including the iconic scene where Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) falls off the roof while trying to install Christmas lights.
The Interior Shots
While the exterior shots were filmed at a real house, all interior scenes were shot on a soundstage in Burbank, California. The set designers did an incredible job recreating the interior of the home to match what was shown in exterior shots.
Current State Of The House
Since its appearance in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the house has become somewhat of a tourist attraction. While it’s still a private residence and not open to tours or visitors, fans can drive by and take photos from outside.
The House In Pop Culture
The house has made appearances in other movies and TV shows over the years as well. It was used as Aunt Bethany’s home in “S.W.A.T.” and featured on “Curb Your Enthusiasm”.
In Conclusion
While many movies use fake sets or locations for filming purposes, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation used an actual home for its exterior shots. The iconic Griswold family home still stands today and attracts visitors from all over the world. If you ever find yourself in Los Angeles, be sure to take a drive by and snap a photo in front of this iconic piece of movie history.