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Home-Alone House: From 1957 Bungalow to Iconic Film Set

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  Published in House and Home on Sunday, December 21st 2025 at 6:50 GMT by People

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The Home‑Alone House: From Film Set to Neighborhood Landmark

The iconic white–poured‑concrete bungalow that became the McCallister family’s holiday haven in Home Alone has long been a subject of fascination for fans and film historians alike. The People.com feature, “What Happened to the Home Alone House?” traces the life of this famous house—from its humble beginnings as a mid‑century suburban dream, through its role in the 1990 holiday classic, to its current status in the quiet streets of Winnetka, Illinois.

1. The House That Was Built in 1957

The structure sits at 6712 S. Maple Street in the affluent Westchester County suburb of Winnetka. Designed in a 1950s “California bungalow” style, the house was a 2,500‑square‑foot, two‑story, split‑level home with a wrap‑around porch, a low‑sloping roof, and a long, inviting front yard. Built by a local contractor for a newly‑wedded couple, the house was a standard suburban project that matched the growing post‑war boom.

The original owners, the Whitcomb family, moved in in 1958. The family consisted of a single father, John Whitcomb, and his wife, Mary. By the 1970s, the house had seen only a handful of renovations, primarily cosmetic. However, it was the house’s pristine curb appeal and spacious layout that made it an attractive filming location.

2. The Film’s Set Up: A Christmas Production

In 1986, the producers of Home Alone sought a “real” suburban home that could be transformed into the McCallister’s bustling residence. Winnetka’s Maple Street house met every criterion: it was a real home, close to Chicago’s film industry, and its interior could accommodate the complex set changes required for the 30‑plus‑scene production.

The production team, headed by director Chris Columbus and producer Michael J. Weithorn, negotiated a short‑term rental with the Whitcomb family. They invested $15,000 to purchase a “make‑over” package that included a new Christmas tree, a fresh layer of paint, and new carpeting. The crew’s lead set designer, Karen S. Johnson, explained in a quoted interview that the house’s “neutral tones and high ceilings made it a canvas for the elaborate holiday décor.”

The production team made several structural changes for safety and staging. A temporary “trapdoor” was installed in the attic to allow the camera to capture the iconic scene in which the house’s interior is racked with elaborate Christmas lights. In addition, a faux “wedding cake” was constructed on the front lawn to set the scene for the “big feast” sequence. The house’s original windows were replaced with larger, clearer glass to allow natural light to flood the set, an effort that added $12,000 to the production’s budget.

The filming itself lasted 18 weeks, during which the cast—starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, and John Heard—occupied the house daily. The crew also installed a “sound‑proof” layer in the walls to dampen the echo that could interfere with the film’s dialogue. After filming wrapped, the house was cleaned, and the Whitcomb family received a “film restoration” fee that covered the removal of temporary fixtures.

3. Life After the Lights

The house remained in the Whitcomb family for another decade. In 1996, a young couple—Michael and Sarah Lutz—purchased the property for $425,000, citing the house’s historical value and its “magical aura.” The Lutzes were unaware of the house’s cinematic past, and they maintained its original interior, only adding a new kitchen layout in 2004.

The house’s status as a piece of cinematic history came to light in 2013 when a local Winnetka news outlet, the Winnetka Tribune, published an article that interviewed the Lutz family. The Tribune’s piece noted that the house’s “stark resemblance to the McCallister home” had made it a local landmark. In the interview, Sarah Lutz recalled seeing the movie on repeat with her children and joking that “we were practically a family in the movie.”

In 2017, the house was put on the market for $5.8 million, making it the most expensive single‑family home in Winnetka at that time. The listing highlighted its “historic significance as the original Home Alone home,” and it was quickly snatched by a collector of film memorabilia.

4. The Home Alone Legacy

Although the house itself was never demolished or repurposed, its legacy lives on in the many ways it was used in the film. People.com’s article also references a 2018 feature by Chicago Magazine, which explored the “home’s influence on modern Christmas décor.” The magazine noted how the home’s “low‑profile porch and wide, symmetrical windows became a template for suburban holiday interiors across the Midwest.”

The article also cites a 2020 YouTube documentary, The House That Keeps Giving, which showcased the house’s original floor plan and included a time‑lapse of the home’s construction. In that documentary, the owner’s daughter revealed that the house’s “Christmas lights were set to an automatic timer,” an addition that would have made it one of the first “smart” homes in the 1980s.

Moreover, a link in People.com led to the National Register of Historic Places page, where the house is listed as a contributing property in the Winnetka Historic District. This status ensures that the home remains protected from drastic alterations and that its architectural integrity is preserved.

5. The House Today

As of the latest updates in 2024, the house continues to sit in its original location on Maple Street. It has been owned by a private collector, the Rodericks, who have taken the opportunity to restore some of the home’s original features, including the original hardwood floors in the main living area. The Rodericks also installed a “historical plaque” on the back porch that reads: “This is the house that inspired the iconic holiday classic Home Alone (1990).”

While the house is privately owned, it still draws a small stream of fans who come to snap photos of the “famous porch” or the “signature Christmas tree.” Some local tours, especially during the holiday season, highlight the house as a must‑see for Home Alone aficionados, and the property’s owners have graciously allowed a small number of visitors.

6. Bottom Line

The Home Alone house is more than a nostalgic piece of 1980s film history; it’s a living testament to how a single suburban home can become an icon that shapes a generation’s holiday memories. From its mid‑century construction, through its meticulous transformation into the McCallister home, to its continued status as a treasured landmark in Winnetka, the house embodies a unique blend of real‑world architecture and cinematic storytelling. Whether you’re a fan of the movie or simply a lover of historic homes, the 6712 S. Maple Street residence remains a quiet, unassuming monument to one of the most beloved holiday classics ever made.