John Hughes produced an updated version of the holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street in 1994 starring Mara Wilson as Susan Walker, a little girl who wants this yellow house for Christmas.
The real house they used for the movie is now on the market in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Take a look!
The House from “Miracle on 34th Street”
This is the photo Susan shows Santa (below):
It still has the yellow siding today.
Unlike the house in the original movie, which was empty…
…the house in the remake was furnished and lavishly decorated.
Every time I’ve seen this movie, I’ve wished we could see more of the house. I wrote about it back in 2011 but, although I knew it was in Lake Forest, Illinois, somewhere, I had never been able to track it down.
So when a reader who says she grew up in this house contacted me with the address and told me it was on the market, I was doing a happy dance.
In the listing you can see the living room has a fireplace with a white mantel and trim and windows that look the same.
And the dining room has a bay window like this one that we saw in the movie, too (below):
The listing says:
Coveted East Lake Forest Location. Designed by Russell S. Wolcott in the Normandy farmhouse style and updated by Traditional Concepts. New pool and pool house are welcome additions, as is the 3rd floor “Man Cave.”
It’s bigger than it looks from the front, with 5 bedrooms, 7 baths, and about 6,000 square feet.
It’s on the market for $3.4 million, so you may want to ask Santa for a little help.
For photos and information, check the listing.
If you’re a fan of this Christmas classic, check out my original post about the movie, too.
Visit my Houses Onscreen page to see other movies I’ve featured, listed A-Z.
I watch this movie every year just to see that last scene where they drive up and then walk in to this house. It just looks so homey and Christmas-y and reminds me of my grandmother’s house. It has been very well taken care of and I love all of the updates. And that yard! Who knew that was even back there??? I have never wanted to live in Illinois but I think I would move in a heartbeat if I could live here! (I would just need to dial down the foo-foo in the living and dining rooms!)
That is a gorgeous house. The exterior is not my favorite style, though it’s pretty, but the interiors are swoon worthy. Especially that dining room. Wow! The upstairs is not a man cave! No way am I giving that over to manliness. That is my art and music room!!!
Love this house! It was on trend in the 90’s, when it was in the film, and it’s on trend now. As Jana said, the living and dining rooms are a bit “foo-foo” 🙂 but that could be easily remedied. Hard to believe this place is as old as it is. It’s in fabulous condition. That paneled library! That property! That footprint! And don’t even get me started on that butler’s pantry! Great post, Julia. Thanks for doing this. I can’t believe I’m already thinking about Christmas, but I know I’m not alone, judging by the number of holiday related pins I’m seeing on Pinterest.
LOVE, LOVE! I do love a traditional home and it’s a plus to see one from a favored movie. Thanks for sharing!
Well as I am listening to Christmas music here (yes 🙂 ) and your post pops up, I am loving it. If I won the lottery I would buy it purely for sentimental reasons…and probably decorate it back like it was when the movie featured it. Not quite my style, but nostalgic none the less. Thank you for featuring it Julia! Happy Holidays. 🙂
LOVE this house. I also watch this movie every year, along with the Polar Express. I appreciate how the design flows from room to room without a lot of ‘modernism’ taking over the character of the house. They did a great job of making the house light and airy while keeping the wood paneling from the past.
Julia, why was this house not on the market when I was looking for a house in the greater Chicago area this spring? Instead, I am stuck with this Fixer Upper house ( and no Chip and Jo to help me) that was just a little cheaper. Okay, $3 million cheaper, but still, with some creative financing (a.k.a. Powerball) I may have been able to swing it! Truly LOVE this house, and have swooned over it ever since I first saw the movie years ago. Does anyone know what the Powerball is currently up to? 😉
I am swooning………………..
Julia-I live near this home in Lake Forest. As lovely as it looks in the photos, it is even much more beautiful in person. The pitch of the roof is so dramatic and the home is much wider than it appears in the pictures.
No kidding? I’d be driving by verrry slowly every time I had the chance. Ha. 🙂
The butlers pantry is awesome. The kitchen
Is a bit off for me. What is up with the swan in the pink alcove above the massive fridge? Also not loving the window treatment above the kitchen sink, but over all an amazing house with an even more amazing property. Kind of looks like something in a dream, it has an almost unreal atmosphere about it.
I love when a house “hides” how big it really is the way this one does. The northern suburbs of Chicago are one of my favorite places to do a little virtual house hunting.
I missed that movie! I will watch it again this weekend. I was 7 yrs old at that time and i forgot much of the movie. So sad to know that the house is for sale.
The house is gorgeous, 100% fabulous but it’s interesting that buyers aren’t comfortable with its price tag.
07/22/15 Price change $3,400,000
06/01/15 Listed for sale $3,625,000
10/07/08 Sold $2,840,000
05/15/08 Listing removed $3,695,000
04/17/08 Listed for sale $3,695,000
Hi Julia, this home has the same effect on me everytime I watch this beautiful movie. My husband has been playing the Lotto for a very…very…long time, perhaps one day. Thank you for sharing beauty. Before I forget NBC Today were talking about the return of The Gilmore Girls, I’ve been enjoying the re-runs. Have a wonderful weekend. Till next time regards Esther from Sydney. PS they were also talking to Francis Ford Coppola about his winery…just beautiful.
Beautiful home inside and out. I’ve been by it many times and didn’t realize it is a “movie” home. I will be by there tomorrow and will have to do a extra slow drive-by to take it all in.
The neighborhood that it is in is just breathtaking. I love strolling through the streets and looking at all the beautiful, well manicured homes. It always inspires me to get projects done on our home. Thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful house! I love the library and backyard. They’re both beautiful and I’d spend a lot of time in each one.