A Christmas Story House is a museum, and you can tour it. The yellow house with green trim in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood was the exterior of the Parker family home in the 1983 film, and it is open to visitors every day of the year except a handful of holidays. A guided tour, a museum of film props across the street and a gift shop are all on the same block.
The attraction now goes by “House from A Christmas Story.” Wikipedia’s article on the house says it was renamed in mid-2023 because of licensing issues. You will still see the older name in many guides and on signs around town, and this guide uses both.
Quick facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 3159 W. 11th Street, Tremont neighborhood |
| City/State | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Film or show | A Christmas Story (1983) |
| Can you visit? | Yes. Guided tours, a museum and a gift shop. Overnight stays are also offered. |
| Cost | Tours were listed “from $20,” with children under 5 free, as of October 2026. See the official hours and admission page. |
| Best time to go | Weekday mornings outside the holiday season are the quietest. November and December are the busiest. |
What was filmed here
According to Wikipedia, the Victorian house served as the exterior and some of the interior of Ralphie Parker’s home, and most interior scenes were filmed on a sound stage in Toronto. The producers chose Cleveland partly because of Higbee’s Department Store, which appears in three scenes, and the house was picked for its proximity to downtown and its views of the steel mills.
How the house became a museum
Wikipedia reports that in December 2004 San Diego entrepreneur Brian Jones bought the house on eBay for $150,000. Earlier owners had added modern windows and covered the original wood siding with blue vinyl. Jones spent about $240,000 gutting and reconfiguring the house, recreating the film’s interior and restoring the exterior to its movie look. He also bought the house across the street and turned it into the Museum of A Christmas Story. The attraction opened to the public on November 25, 2006, with original cast members in attendance.
Wikipedia says the complex went up for sale in November 2022 and that a long-time employee became owner in November 2023. Cleveland Magazine’s December 2025 feature says the yellow Christmas Story house and the blue Bumpus House are locally owned and draw about 80,000 to 100,000 visitors a year, mostly around the holidays.
What you can see
- The Parker house tour. A guided tour of the recreated interior, which is decorated to look like the film’s set.
- The museum across the street. Wikipedia says it displays film props, including Randy’s snowsuit and the Higbee’s window toys, plus behind-the-scenes photos.
- The gift shop. The official site links to a separate online shop for leg lamps and memorabilia. Cleveland Magazine says the gift shop sells pink bunny suits in adult and kid sizes and that you can rent one for $10 to wear while touring.
- The Bumpus House. The house next door is part of the property, and the official site says guests can book a night in either the Parker house or the Bumpus House.
Hours and tickets
The attraction’s hours and admission page says it is open year-round, seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As of October 2026, the page lists these holiday-season hours for November:
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Nov. 1–22 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Nov. 23–25 | 10 a.m.–7 p.m. |
| Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving) | Closed |
| Nov. 27–28 | 10 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Nov. 29–30 | 10 a.m.–7 p.m. |
The page says the site closes on New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, with an annual maintenance closure from February 16 to 27. December hours are posted as a calendar image, so confirm those on the official page or by phone at 216-298-4919. Check the official site before you go, since schedules and prices change.
Booking rules
The official page gives these practical notes:
- Tickets are purchased online for available tour times, and guests should arrive about 10 minutes early. Late admission is not permitted.
- In November and December, private group tours are not available. On self-guided days there is a 40-guest limit inside the house at one time, and entry times are not guaranteed.
- For a self-guided visit, the page recommends allowing 2 to 3 hours for the house, museum and gift shop.
Accessibility and parking
Per the official page, ramps reach the first floor only at the house and the Bumpus House, and the gift shop is fully accessible. Parking is on surrounding public streets, with accessible parking in the lot between the house and the Bumpus House and near the gift shop.
Higbee’s department store
The department store from the film was the real Higbee’s in downtown Cleveland. The building is now Jack’s Casino Downtown, and Cleveland Magazine reports that the casino installed a plaque marking it as a “historic filming location.” Since it is an active casino, check the casino’s own entry rules before planning a visit, particularly if you are traveling with children.
Other places nearby
Two Tremont businesses mentioned by Cleveland Magazine, The Treehouse pub and the Banyan Tree boutique, display holiday leg lamps. The magazine does not say they were used in the film, so treat them as themed stops rather than filming locations. Castle Noel, in Medina, has its own replica of Ralphie’s slide, according to the same article, since the original prop was destroyed after filming. Medina is outside Cleveland, so plan extra driving time.
Planning your visit
Tremont sits just across the river from downtown Cleveland, and Wikipedia notes that the house was picked in part for its closeness to downtown and its view of the steel mills. That makes it easy to pair with the former Higbee’s building on the same day. If you are traveling in November or December, buy tour tickets before you leave home, since the official page says tickets are sold online for set tour times and that private group tours are unavailable then. Outside the holidays, a weekday morning gives the best chance of a smaller group and a more relaxed pace.
Visiting etiquette
For other holiday-film destinations, see our Christmas movie filming locations guide.
Even though the house is a ticketed attraction, it sits in a residential neighborhood.
- Park only where signs allow, and do not block driveways on neighboring streets.
- Keep noise down when you queue or take photos outside, especially in the evening.
- Follow staff instructions inside, and do not touch props or lean on the displays.
- Do not stand in the road for photos. Use the sidewalk.
FAQs
Is the Christmas Story house open to the public?
Yes. As of October 2026, the official site lists it as open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with longer hours around Thanksgiving week and a short list of closure days. Confirm on the official site.
Can you stay overnight at the Christmas Story house?
Yes. The official site says guests can book a night in the Parker house or the Bumpus House next door, with reservations and policies on its overnight pages.
Was the movie filmed inside the house?
Partly. Wikipedia says the house provided the exterior and some interiors, while most interior scenes were filmed on a Toronto sound stage.
How long should you plan for the visit?
The official page recommends 2 to 3 hours for a self-guided visit of the house, museum and gift shop.
Where is the Higbee’s department store from the movie?
The real Higbee’s building in downtown Cleveland is now Jack’s Casino Downtown, which has a plaque marking its role in the film.
