CLEVELAND — Who bought the house from A Christmas Story in Cleveland?
It's a question that remains unanswered since we first learned last month that a deal had been reached for the iconic movie property at 3159 West 11th Street in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.
Some have been speculating that Ralphie actor Peter Billingsley could be the new buyer.
But is he?
We got the answer as he stopped by WKYC Studios for an interview Thursday morning ahead of the film's 40th anniversary celebration event in Cleveland.
“I can confirm that I did not purchase the house. I don’t know who did either," Billingsley told 3News' Dave Chudowsky. "Generally, we know these things. We can find these things out. This is highly confidential, apparently. To think that the house is now a museum here. I’ve never been, so maybe I’ll go check it out.”
So there you have it. Billingsley is NOT the new owner of the house.
The new owner's identity is expected to be revealed "by the end of November" once the agreement is finalized.
The home was officially placed on the market last year on Nov. 14, 2022. 3News broke the story about the house going up for sale exclusively on GO! as the owner Brian Jones put the “for sale” sign in front of the property.
The asking price, however, was never publicly announced.
"Looking for the right buyer," Jones told 3News last year. "It's an interesting property to not only own, but you also have to take care of as a piece of Americana. It's going to be an interesting journey."
Neighboring properties associated with the house were also included in the sale.
“When we say all this can be yours, we’re serious,” according to the initial listing. “The entire campus is for sale, which spans a total of 1.3 acres including five buildings on seven parcels. Additionally, there are two public and one private parking lots, and two empty lots, which create room for further expansion."
MOVIE MAGIC IN CLEVELAND
The house, which has become a bucket list tourist destination for film fans around the world, has been ranked by TripAdvisor as one of the top things to do in Cleveland. Overnight stays at the main house and neighboring Bumpus house are also available.
While Ralphie’s house is the most-celebrated location used in the film, it’s not the only Cleveland spot seen in the movie.
The scene where Ralphie first lays eyes on the Red Ryder BB gun was filmed at the former Higbee building windows in Public Square. Remember the Santa slide scene? That was filmed inside the Higbee building, which is now home to the JACK Cleveland Casino. The Christmas parade featured in the film was also recorded in downtown Cleveland's Public Square.
Although the movie wasn’t a big box office success upon its initial release, A Christmas Story has become one of the most beloved holiday films of all time. It tells the heartwarming tale of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his desire to have Santa Claus bring him a Red Ryder BB gun. His Christmas wish takes plenty of twists and turns as the Parker family embarks on a hilarious holiday journey filled with countless lines fans frequently quote, while making leg lamps a must-have item in many households.
