In the comedy Funny Farm, Chevy Chase plays Andy Farmer, a sportswriter who quits his job and buys a house in the country, where he plans to write a novel.
The movie takes us through all four seasons in the small town of Redbud, Vermont, but it ends during the holidays when the Farmers’ charming Cape Cod is decorated with white lights and covered in snow.
Let’s take a look back at the house from the movie!
(Note that this post may have spoilers for those of you who have inexplicably failed to watch it before.)
The House from “Funny Farm”
Funny Farm was based on a comedic novel by Jay Cronley (now out of print, but I managed to find a used copy online, and it’s hilarious).
Andy and his wife Elizabeth think life will be perfect and peaceful in Redbud, but things go wrong from the start.
The fact that he has writer’s block is the least of his problems.
The house is a simple Cape Cod that sits (in real life) on a pond in Grafton, Vermont.
A reader named Michelle wrote me about it:
“Wanted you to know I got an e-mail from the Grafton Historical Society regarding the house in the Funny Farm movie. The house is still around and is still a private residence.
The exterior and interior house shots in the movie were of the same house. The owners’ furnishings were moved out and stored, and the movie company furnished the house to fit their needs.”
Things haven’t been going too well for the couple, but they get worse when Elizabeth digs up the body of a former homeowner buried in the garden:
They also have to deal with a crazy mailman who flies past their lane, throwing their mail out into the road every day. Andy tries everything he can think of, but nothing works:
The decor is a little dated (the movie came out in 1988, after all), but I like how simple and unpretentious it is.
Andy and “Yellow Dog” sit by the fire in the living room:
Looking into the living room from the kitchen:
The kitchen on moving day:
The kitchen after they move in:
They finally get a phone installed in the kitchen — too bad you have to feed it quarters:
Looking up the stairs to the second floor:
Madolyn Smith (Elizabeth Farmer) kind of disappeared from Hollywood after making this film. I think it’s time for her to stage a comeback!
Andy’s working on a novel called “The Big Heist,” but while he’s not making much progress on it, Elizabeth writes and sells a children’s book about a squirrel who moves to the country.
After a series of mishaps, misunderstandings, and general misery, Elizabeth and Andy decide to sell the house and get a divorce. They know it will be easier to sell the house if the town is on board, so they offer a $50 reward to anyone who does something to help them sell it. At the town meeting, Andy says:
“Citizens of Redbud, we came to Redbud filled with hopes and dreams for a better life and a better place. Basically, we’ve seen those hopes and dreams crushed and shattered before our very eyes.”
Bud and Betsy Culbertson are the unwitting couple that comes to see the house.
The Farmers are prepared to wow them.
Andy grabs his walkie-talkie and says, “Cue the deer!“
According to This Is Vermont:
In 1987, the Chevy Chase film, “Funny Farm” was being filmed in the area and a local citizen’s home was used for the movie character’s house.
The film crew meticulously decorated the building and lawn for winter, complete with plastic snow and icicles, cotton batting over rooftops and fences.
The next day eight inches of heavy wet snow fell.
The “Redbud” town scenes were shot in Townshend, Vermont:
The filmmakers built the gazebo for the movie and the community liked it so much that they kept it.
Is this one of your favorite Christmas movies to watch every year, too?
Visit my Houses Onscreen page to see all the others I’ve featured, listed A-Z.
Thanks.. we loved this movie!
We have loved and laughed over the postman ever since we first saw this movie! and watch it at least once a year now. The postman is a hoot!!! and Chevy Chase? Gotta love each and every film the man is in! And the video with Paul Simon “You Can Call Me Al” is yet another stroke of laughter from this awesome actor!!
.-= Nancy Hood´s last blog ..Our Mississippi Babes & Christmas! =-.
Oh, thanks for sharing! This is one my Hubby’s favorite movies. I think he’s becoming hooked on your blog too. We browsed through all your movie links last night…love them!
.-= Lisa@DestinationSeaborn´s last blog ..Holiday Open House =-.
I love Funny Farm…I’ve wanted that house since watching the movie when it first came out…and yellow dog…omg, I now have a yellow dog but she’s not as laid back.
.-= Kelly Ann´s last blog ..Weather is Strange =-.
My husband and I LOVE this movie. Whenever we get tired of the hustle and bustle of city life, we always say we want to move to Red Bud. And when we retire, we want a dog just like “Yellow Dog”.
What a delightful post!
.-= JeanetteS´s last blog ..Intaglios… =-.
I haven’t thought about this movies in so long! I am definitley going to put it on my list of movies to see again soon.
.-= Stacy@RedDoorHome´s last blog ..Flower Frog Fun =-.
I have never seen this movie, but I love the house. I dream about having a home on lots of property someday.
I think it would be cool to live in a town or community where everyone’s friendly and kind.
I absolutely love your blog ! It’s great to see all of the houses that I adored in so many movies and tv shows. I would LUV to see the houses in The Stepford Wives movie with Nicole Kidman, if you can post them !!!!!! Thanks so much !
Benita–
I recently featured The Stepford Wives–you can see the post here:
https://hookedonhouses.net/houses-onscreen/
Thanks! -Julia
After being in extra holiday crowded Manhattan today I think I’,m ready to move to Red Bud too Julia! 🙂 This was a funny and sweet movie.
Hope you had a joyful holiday and that 2010 will bring all good things your way!
I love this movie! It was on TV today, even! My east coast friend said whoever wrote it really knew their easterners. 🙂
Funny Farm was probably one of my inspirations for going to school in NH! Loved it! (Funny Farm…not the school)
: )
Julie M.
.-= The Little Red Shop´s last blog ..~ Glad Jul ~ =-.
I remember how we decorated back then. The house and place is beautiful. The interior so outdated. The beautiful bedroom closet? By now we would have painted it grey in the shabby chic Jeanne d’Arc of Danish design, wouldn’t we ? Or ox-red ? And the kitchen with the bar in the middle, oh yes…so we could socialize with our familymemebers: that is the time we women were growing into being “Multi-tasking talented”, some compliment that by now means: do it all, be it all, work your bud off night and day and be glamourous and succesfull and loving and serving as well. ( by the time you are: you are a single mom with teenagers…)
Give me the house: I will Up date it and make it beautiful again !
I don’t even live on your continent, haha…
Love your posts always. Well done again. Thank you.
Godeliva van Ariadone
.-= Godeliva´s last blog ..Prikkel arme omgeving in huis ……… =-.
ps. Julia, could you do “Fanny and Alexander” somewhere in 2010 ?
.-= Godeliva´s last blog ..Prikkel arme omgeving in huis ……… =-.
Geesh I loved this movie, and I am such a big fan of CC, I think he can pull any humour off, he’s amazing!!! Great post!
.-= Annie@A View on Design´s last blog ..Sensational Soverign Islands =-.
I love the house in this movie! Always have. Its just beautiful.
.-= MamaHen´s last blog ..Christmas Eve =-.
Julia-I have wanted to visit Vermont ever since Bob Newhart opened a B&B there :)! That family room could be updated with very little trouble–it has classic pieces. Madolyn Smith is beautiful and I love all the old Chevy Chase movies–Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas. I am off to see “It’s Complicated” this week–bet that is a GREAT house! As always, love Mondays 🙂
.-= susan´s last blog ..The Day After Christmas =-.
Great post! So many great photos, but I love that first photo with all of the lights, the second photo, and the photo of the antique shop. Have a good week!
.-= pk @ Room Remix´s last blog ..Christmas Ornament Lamp – Use it All Year =-.
I love, love, love this movie and this house is one of my favorites. I have always admired Elizabeth’s blue and white collection and how it contrasted so well with the avacodo green. We would be calling it sage today…..:)
I would love to see what it looks like now. Maybe someone who knows will send you pictures of updates on it. Great job, Julia!
I loved that movie!!! Thanks for taking me back~ Happy New Year!
.-= susie harris´s last blog ..Paint….Say it aint’ so…. =-.
Love this movie..love this house…love everything about it! It’s kind like an updated version of Mr. Blandings in my mind, although nothing will ever top Mr. Blandings! My inner house lover pictures myself right there with yellow dog and all!
.-= Pat´s last blog ..SUNDAY SCRIPTURE =-.
Love the house! Love the movie! What is the location of this house? Where are Sid’s Hideaway Bungalows featured in this movie? You did not show them. Do you have them? Vermont is a great state to love in or visit I believe. Too bad a second movie was not made with the child she was expecting in Vermont. Does anyone live in this house now? Maybe they would rent it out again and Chevy and his wife would star in it, too. Love seeing all the houses on your site. Some of them are really cool!! Hate the idea that some of them was destroyed after filming though. The Funny Farm house is GREAT though. As was the movie. Don’t forget about the bungalows. Maybe you could feature them and connect it to the Funny Farm site and vice versa. Love what you do! How do you find these pictures? Feel free to e mail with these answers if you want. Happy New Year!
Teresa–
According to ichabod, Sids Hideaway Bungalows were located in Castleton, VT. The house is in Grafton, VT. If anyone has any more information, I’d love to hear it! This movie has been more difficult to research than most. Very few answers out there! -Julia
Castleton is further south than Grafton, near Lake St. Catherine (a great swimming/boating place in summer…possibly where Andy loses his fishing buddies?). My husband and I went there for our honeymoon (yes, we’re both into fishing and camping) but it rained at Lake Bomoseen’s State Campground where we had reservations. So, about 2 hrs. and a couple bottles of rum later) we rolled into the hotel at Lake St. Catherine. NOTHING stays open in VT past 8 PM!
My sister lives just down the road from Groton, in a house eerily similar to the one in “Funny Farm” (decor, pond, hillside and all!). The town of Groton is classic VT (on route 302-E-W). There are three excellent campgrounds/VT state parks on the three lakes to the north of town (no doubt where they filmed some of the movie–Lake Groton is the biggest). The entrance is about 5 miles from Interstate 91 and roughly 4 hrs. from the MA/CT border.
Groton and its environs are actually closer to and have more in common with the White Mountains of New Hampshire, but don’t tell a Vermonter that! The quaintness pretty much stops around White River Junction (or Bradford, depending on your definition of quaintness).
If you want the kind of friendly, pretty, well-kept town and neighborly attitude you are shown (by LA filmmakers) in “Funny Farm”, stay to the south (visit the “Antique Shop” in Townsend, just outside Brattleboro. The next town south, Newfane, has a HUGE fleamarket each weekend, well worth visiting. Townsend itself has a spotless State campground and swimming area. Both towns are on Route 30 and are so civilized that many Vermonters don’t consider them to be part of the state!
Great movie! FYI, the lake scenes for the fishing derby were shot on lake Bomoseen and Sids Hideaway Bungalows were located in Castleton Vt. I am not sure if they are still there, but they were in 1995.
.-= ichabod´s last blog .. =-.
I’m not sure where ichabod got his information about the fishing derby lake scene, but it was not filmed on lake Bomoseen. It was filmed in Windsor Vermont on Mill Pond or Kennedy’s Pond. It still looks very similar. It is not set up with picnic tables like in the movie and the small dock is not there. A local told me that motorized boats are not allowed on the lake. When I was there (06-10-10) I saw people in kayaks and people fishing. I think people still swim there also. I’m not sure about Sid’s Hideaway Bungalows. I went to Castleton and asked some people in a general store and in the post office and no one knew where these could be anywhere around Castleton. One postman said that it might have been torn down, but he wasn’t for sure. If anyone out there knows exactly where these are please post it on here. FYI, the softball game field and the fishing derby lake are only about 6 miles apart. The softball field is in Hartland and it is still a ball field. The big tree that Chevy walks by after getting his hotdog is still there and is recognizable as the one in the movie. The duggouts look different and the backstop fence is a little different. There is also a huge library directly behind the backstop that wasn’t built when the movie was made. I also found the antique store and it is still an antique store! The house is also basically the same as it was in the movie. The road that the mailman drives down past the driveway is nothing but grass now. I’ve had a great time finding these places from my favorite movie.
Thanks for the synopsis! I really need a pond and a cedar shake house.
-Trish
.-= Trish@TheOldPostRoad´s last blog ..A Chateau in France =-.
I so love this movie and this house! thank-you for show-casing it, I had asked you to months ago it is truly a favorite of mine. I still love how it is decorated and homey. love the blue and white, the sage green, the pine sideboards, the exterior actually all of it. to me it will always be a classic light-hearted movie. oh yes I even love the brass! fun,fun,fun! thanks again tana
Great home and post. Thanks.
nancy
.-= Nancy Ellison´s last blog ..Twas The Day After Christmas =-.
That was fun! With a little updating, I would love to live in that house!
.-= Cottage Dreamers´s last blog ..??? daze ??? =-.
“Cue the Deer” has certainly become a part of my lexicon! Love that house and of course being a Vermonter myself I understand the “dated” deco; we call it “classic”.
Happy New Year to you and your family, I loved your video card.
.-= Janet´s last blog ..LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW =-.
I grew up in Grafton and had the privilege of being an extra in this film. I remember the evening in Autumn 1987 seeing the convoy of trucks come into town and set up for the movie. It was quite an event.
The house that Andy and Elizabeth lived in has always called the Hall House in my memory. That either refers to the original builders or recent owners. I believe it was for sale within the last few years but must have sold since I haven’t seen it in the area real estate listings lately.
The house sits on a hill above the village of Grafton at the end of a road just past the village fire pond. In the movies, the postman roars past the house on his rounds but in reality, he would have had to turn around just offscreen. Its a beautiful place sitting on a beautiful piece of land.
The Townshend village green, where the Christmas village scenes were shot is a 15 minute drive south from the house and Grafton village is a 10 minute walk. Here is the google map image of the property though it doesn’t show the house well. I haven’t seen it in a few months, but as far as I can tell it looks just the same.
I know at least some of the interior scenes were shot in the house. But I couldn’t tell you if all of them were.
https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.174286,-72.618862&spn=0.003513,0.008256&t=h&z=18
Thanks, Joe! That’s very helpful! -Julia
How funny we were just watching this for the first time ever. It is still on in the other room but I’m trying to get Christmas
Cheri
.-= cheri peoples´s last blog ..I need you help =-.
This is another classic movie!
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..The Christmas Sweater =-.
I’ve never seen this movie – but I like the decor for the time, and some of it would still be classic today! Thanks for not showing the snake! 🙂
~angela @ peonypatch
.-= Angela´s last blog ..12 Days of Christmas =-.
This is another of our favorites, Julia. We’ve seen it many times! I’ve always loved that house and the setting.
.-= Pat@Back Porch Musings´s last blog ..~A Bit of This & That~ =-.
Another movie to add to my “to-see” list. 🙂 I liked reading Joe’s comment above. I think this house would have been my mom’s dream come true in 1988…maybe even today too. 😉
.-= Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..Starting ‘Em Young… =-.
I wish to thank everyone who has answered my questions about the house location and Sid’s Bungalows. That is very helpful. Joe, thanks for the map. Hopefully we can get to Vermont for a vacation soon. Joe, it must have been great to have been an extra. You got a spot in the movie, right? That would be so cool! Was it hard to get a part as an extra? Movies are made everyday and I thought of checking it out to be an extra. I wish I could write in that house. I am a published author of 2 children’s books so far with more to come hopefully. Ready to mail my 3rd book to the publisher. I could write in that house for sure! Again, thanks for the information. Will check your site in a few days again. I check it often. Does anyone know the name of the song that is being played in the beginning of the movie? I liked it, too. My hubby got me this movie for Christmas this year. Now I can watch it whenever I want and this makes me very happy! Happy New Year!
To answer your question Theresa,
Yes I made it into the movie as one of the many in the background of scenes. I am one of many dressed in old-fashioned holiday clothing, (corduroy knickers, heavy waistcoat, and a furry hat) during the village Christmas scene shot in Townshend, and playing Frisbee in the outfield of the softball scenes, which were shot in Hartland, VT.
I actually couldn’t make it to the winter scenes at the Hall House.
I believe I still have my un-cashed paycheck from Warner Bros. enclosed in a book somewhere. I was a senior in high school at the time.
This has long been a favorite film wiuth our family and I have always loved the house…it is a classic. I know that most probably see it as outdated now but I would still love it…just like it is!!
This was such fun to see…you always give us such wonderful treasures to look at.
Love,
Sue
.-= Susie Q´s last blog ..From Our Home To Yours =-.
Love this house so much that we are currently redecorating our house in this classic style, using these pictures will help. Thanks
Where exactly…the building where they pull out from onto the street… are they at when she gets in the car after putting something in the back before they hit the road and they see the movers and the movers are clueless who they are? This is in the beginning of the film. The building looks familiar but I can’t place it. Tried to think of buildings it might be but came up with nothing after a search. My curiosity must be getting the best of me I guess.
The Apthorpe Building in NYC. Located at W79th & West End Ave.
I wonder if I drove to Grafton VT and drove by the house, would I be able to see it from the road? I wonder how many people drive by it and take pictures?
funny farm is about my favorite movie. my husband and i loved the house so much we built it with afew updates but we can never find the setting, so even though we have the house its not the same but almost. i hope the owners donot change the house to much.
Cindy, do you have floor plans drawn up for this house? How close to the original house in the movie is your house? I am wanting to build this house as close as I can get it to the original house. I would really like to get a copy of any plans you may have, even if it is just a scetch on some paper. I am currently vacationing in the Grafton VT area and actually took a few pictures of the house from the view over the pond. It looks exactly like it did in the movie. You can contact me at [email protected].
ashley, i have plans but because of present day building code i had to make some interior changes without going much larger as it turned out we have 2800 square feet. i can check with the person who helped me draw up plans if he kept the plans on a disk. we could not find a nice piece of land so we had to build ours in the woods. we also could not do a pond because it 55 feet down to water. but we are looking for the right piece of land and if we find we will rebuild. by the way I love the house. if any more questions you want to know I sent you my email add.
Cindy,
My husband and I are looking to build here in So.Vermont, and are currently working with cape house plans, looking to build the Funny Farm house. *We even have a pond!
Going by the movie, we have gotten a close representation of the house to go on, but do you have a basic sketch/layout that was a basis starter plan for the house?
Ashley – you really should put a link on this site to some of your awesome pictures that you took! We are going on our trek to Grafton the first week of August : )
cara I have a disk with my house plans if you want more information contact at [email protected]
cara, I have house plans on disk email me direct thanks cindy
Does anyone know the name of the picture above the fireplace where children are building a snowman?
Sorry, I don’t. -Julia
Does anyone know the name of the artist or picture that is hanging over the fireplace during the Christmas scenes. It looks a little child pulling a sled in the winter.
I love this movie and I live near this area in VT it’s 20 mins from me . Well the Hubby and I in 2002 took loads of pics of the house and land in the winter . We thought it was just used then as a summer home it looked pretty empty. But I love the house we had a blast Just remembered it was empty cuz the road was never plowed all winter well atleast nothing was plowed up till when we were there in Feb I gotta look at my date for the pics might of went earlier not sure so long ago lol. It is a very homey feeling house 🙂 and since I live in VT ummmm …well the movie kinda got VT people right ( not all people) LOL!!!!! WE alot of the time feel like we live in Redbud if you know what I mean 😀
Alyssa, would you be able to email me some of your pictures? I would love to see it in the winter. Did you take any of the inside? I have some good pictures of the house from back last June that I can send you. My email is [email protected]
Thanks.
Ashley I will send you the pics I have 🙂 I don’t dare go back now to get pics in the summer cuz of the owners request. EEK!! lol!
Alyssa, I too live in VT, but about 1 hr 45 min from Grafton. I went this fall, but couldn’t get close enough to get any pics w/o tresspassing. Ashley kindly shared her pics w/ me, but I would love to see your winter shots as well. I know what you mean about feeling sometimes like you live in Redbud. I can see where they got the ideas for many of the characters (taken to the extreme of course). Really we have found the folks around here very warm and helpful ! Anyway, if you wish to share the pics my email is [email protected]. Thanks!
I’d love to see them, too! -Julia 🙂
HI,I love funny farm and christmas vacation more than anything in the world.These two movies are on my mind so often tht I am begining to think something is wrong with me.Only once in a lifetime does a movie have all the most perfect lines and actors that they become legendary and classic.I think both of these great movies deserve this status.Its almost magical how something funny happens in every single seen.I have to say I am suprised that nobody else has mentioned this before.I may be the first to say it.Both of these movies must have been linked to each other .There can be no doubt.the comparisons are uncanny yet they go totally unoticed.Ill mention just a few.The Squirrel,flying out of theGrizwolds tree,the squiirel flying into the back of Andys truck,Clark waiting for his mailman to deliver the bonus,Andy waiting for his mailman to battle it out with him,Clarks christmas tree burns,he also cuts one down falls into the neighbors window,Redbud tree falls down aftger getting hit by the sherrifs car,The simple acknowledgment of the sherrifs presence in funnyfarm,and the swat teem in vacation.another words both reference the law.Grizwolds chased by the squirrel,Andy chased by the eel,ha ha ha funny and both have wildlife enter the household.Grizwolds car smashes into the snowbank,Andys publishers car gets totaled by the boulder,ha ha another funny one ha ha lol.The Cat gets burned by the tree lights,Andys yellowdogs tail gets sizzled by the fireplace.I can go on and on.IM telling you there has to be a connection .Im sure you will agree that the references in each movie are so obvious and similiar that one movie must have helped make the other.Since Funnyfarm came out first i can only guess that the creators decided to basicaly make funyfarm into one of the vacation franchises movies because they liked it so much.I dont know,all I can say is I think its so cool to compare them.I cant wait to find more similarities.Im posting a page on my website soon about this topic.please contact me at [email protected] if you can think of any other comparisons.I would like to say thank you for this great page.Tony Galla
The comparisons that you have are great. I’m not sure how much of a coincidence they are. With Chevy being in them both, maybe they had some of the same writers. Oh, and one thing, you said Chevy got chased by an eel, I believe that it was a black snake that he caught in his pond and it slithered into his house that you are thinking of.
I love this movie and watch it every Christmas. I love this house with all it’s furnishings and decor. This is back when houses had charm. I find all these new kitchens with all of this granite, new cabinets, fancy sinks, new tile floors etc. too cold. What’s wrong with kitchens like this? Not outdated just charming!! The whole house inside and out is simply charming!!
I think I found the house location using Google Maps, anyone want to confirm?
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=198+Fire+Pond+Rd+Grafton,+VT+05146&ll=43.174591,-72.618921&spn=0.005665,0.008143&gl=us&t=h&z=17
It does look like it could be–good detective work, Aaron! Does anyone know for sure?
Yes, you found it! The owners do not want anyone trespassing however, and they have a sign up at the end of the drive, which is quite a bit down hill from the house. You can’t actually drive up near the house as the mailman does, due to that portion being private property. The tops of the dormer windows are just visible from the end of the driveway, but that’s all you can see from that point of view. It’s unfortunate (though not for the owners I guess) that more can’t be seen from the road.
Thanks for confirming it, Sue!
I have always loved this movie and watch it whenever I want to relax – take a nap afterward on the sofa. I love the scenery and the home – it matches what I think of as a “home.” It’s a “shingle house,” and I am wondering what year it was built. Looks a little Craftsman, with the shingling and window trim on the outside. I agree that these HGTV gotta-have houses are getting very cookie-cutter with their granite countertops etc…everybody has to have what the next guy has. I’d grab this house in a heartbeat – it’s “lived-in.” A real home. I get a home-y feeling of comfort when I watch the movie and can smell the cinnamon and Christmas cookies when I see those scenes. I also love the man sitting on his porch in the beginning of the movie – giving directions to the movers. That red color of his house is so pretty, with the white trim, wood chairs and flowers – looks great in the VT countryside! I think of this movie when I watch reruns of “Newhart.” Was Funny Farm possibly the inspiration for the show, with the people and the Inn etc?