Is the House in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation a Real House?

By Anna Duncan

If you’re a fan of the classic holiday film, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you may have wondered if the Griswold family’s iconic home is a real house that you can visit. The good news is, yes, it is a real house! However, there are a few things you should know.

The house used in the movie for exterior shots is located at 5134 Christine Court in the city of La Canada Flintridge, California. The neighborhood is known as “The Ranch” and features many other beautiful homes. The house itself was built in 1957 and has four bedrooms and five bathrooms.

Exterior Design:
The exterior of the Griswold home is truly memorable and features several unique design elements. The most notable feature is the extensive use of red brick on both the main house and the detached garage.

The roofline is also quite distinct with its multiple gable peaks and dormer windows. Interestingly enough, some of these design elements were actually added to the house specifically for filming purposes.

Trivia:
– While the interior scenes were filmed on a set in Burbank, California, all exterior shots were filmed at this location.
– During filming, over 25,000 individual Christmas lights were used to decorate the house.
– The production company paid $42,000 to use the house for filming.

Interior Design:
As previously mentioned, all interior scenes were filmed on a set built specifically for this movie. However, that hasn’t stopped fans from trying to recreate some of the famous rooms from memory or by watching stills from the movie.

The Living Room:
One of the most iconic rooms in Christmas Vacation is undoubtedly the living room where Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) attempts to light up his massive Christmas tree. The room features a large stone fireplace, a wooden mantle, and plenty of holiday decorations.

The Dining Room:
Another famous scene takes place in the Griswold’s dining room where the family gathers for Christmas dinner. The room is beautifully decorated with festive red and green accents.

    Conclusion:

So there you have it, the Griswold family home from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a real house located in La Canada Flintridge, California. While the interior scenes were filmed on a set, fans can still appreciate the unique exterior design and recreate some of their favorite scenes in their own homes. Just don’t forget to grab some eggnog and enjoy the movie!