Was Christmas Vacation Filmed in a Real House?

By Alice Nichols

If you’re a fan of the classic holiday movie “Christmas Vacation,” you might be wondering if the iconic Griswold family home was a real house or just a set. The answer is yes – the house was indeed real, and it still stands today as a popular tourist attraction.

The Real-Life House

The Griswold house is located in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois. It was built in 1937 and has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a two-car garage. The exterior of the house was used as the setting for many of the film’s most memorable scenes, including Clark’s mishap with the Christmas lights and the arrival of Aunt Bethany and Uncle Lewis.

Interior Scenes

While many scenes from “Christmas Vacation” were filmed inside a studio, some interior shots were filmed inside the actual house as well. The interior shots were filmed on a set constructed to match the real-life layout of the house.

The House Today

Today, the Griswold house is still standing and has become something of a tourist attraction for fans of “Christmas Vacation.” The current owners have embraced their home’s pop culture status and even put up a sign outside that reads “Griswold House” during the holiday season.

Conclusion

So there you have it – while many movies use sets to create their scenes, “Christmas Vacation” used an actual house to bring its story to life. If you’re ever in Highland Park, be sure to swing by and check out this iconic piece of movie history for yourself.