If you are a fan of the classic Christmas movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you must have wondered at some point whether the house in the movie was a real house. Well, wonder no more because we have the answers for you!
First off, let’s take a look at the exterior of the house. The Griswold family home is located on a quiet suburban street and is a two-story house with a basement.
The exterior of the house features white columns, red brick siding, and green shutters. The front yard has a large tree decorated with Christmas lights and an inflatable Santa Claus on the roof.
But was this iconic house real? Yes, it was!
The exterior shots of the Griswold residence were filmed at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois. This is a real private residence that still stands today.
However, not all scenes from Christmas Vacation were shot at this location. In fact, many scenes were shot on a soundstage in Burbank, California. This includes most of the interior shots of the Griswold’s home.
Now let’s talk about some interesting facts about the iconic house from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation:
1. The filmmakers had to add fake snow to make it look like winter during filming since they shot during spring and summer.
2. The homeowners who lived in the real-life house during filming had to stay elsewhere while production was underway.
3. A restored version of the home was sold for $3.1 million in 2016.
4. Fans still visit the home today to take pictures and soak up some nostalgia.
In conclusion, while most interior scenes were shot on sets in Burbank, California, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation did use a real house for its exteriors that still stands today! It’s fun to know that we can visit this iconic location that holds so much holiday spirit even after all these years.