Hey horror fan! Have you ever dreamed of walking through the infamous house from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? I‘ve put together this detailed guide just for you on everything you need to know to visit the legendary filming location in Kingsland, Texas.
As a longtime horror buff and movie set location enthusiast myself, I‘m thrilled to provide the inside scoop. By the time you‘re done reading, you‘ll be an expert on the history of the house, how to tour it, and fascinating facts about the movie‘s production. Let‘s dive in!
History of the Terrifying Texas Chainsaw House
The house was built in the late 1800s in a rural unincorporated area outside of Round Rock known as Kingsland. It was just your average old farmhouse falling into disrepair.
That is, until director Tobe Hooper spotted it while scouting locations for his upcoming slasher film. He knew the decrepit, creepy vibe of the house would be perfect for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
So in the summer of 1973, cast and crew descended on the Kingsland house to turn it into the stuff of nightmares. Here are some terrifying transformations made for the film:
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Truckloads of old bones were brought in from India and scattered around the rooms and porch to give the house an unsettling, sinister feel.
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Entire walls were ripped out on the interior to allow for better camera views and achieve Hooper‘s desired angles.
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The house was filled with strange set decorations like creepy dolls, animal skins, and macabre lighting fixtures to portray the Sawyer family‘s abnormal living environment.
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Furniture and design elements evoked the 1950s era to match when the fictional events occurred.
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The existing knife slashes on the front door were emphasized to hint at the horrors awaiting inside.
Once filming wrapped, the house sat empty before passing between several owners. But theChainsaw house still drew in dedicated fans seeking it out.
In 1998 it was moved 70 miles southeast to its current Kingsland, Texas location, where it became a horror landmark open year-round for tours.
Grisly Filming Location Highlights
As you walk through the house on a tour, you‘ll recognize chilling scenes from the original 1974 movie, like:
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The infamous human meathook used to hang actress Marilyn Burns is still mounted in the downstairs room where her character was tortured.
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The kitchen, filled with animal bones and creepy-crawlies, where her finger was cut for Leatherface‘s dinner.
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Out on the porch you‘ll see the door that locks from the outside – keeping victims trapped.
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And who could forget the notorious dinner table scene where a helpless girl realizes she‘s sitting with a dead family.
Getting to see where these iconic moments were filmed is so cool for diehard fans like us!
Current Location and Tour Details
Alright, let‘s get into the specifics of where the house sits now and how to visit:
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The house is located at 1010 County Road 172, Kingsland TX 78639 on the grounds of the Antlers Hotel.
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It‘s open year-round from 9 AM to 6 PM daily. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under.
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Your ticket gets you access to a self-guided tour of the house with time to take photos.
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FREE parking is available on-site. Advance booking for large groups is recommended.
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Give them a call at (325) 388-3324 to confirm tour times if coming from out of town.
Visiting the iconic house is a must-do for horror buffs! I definitely recommend going on a weekday morning when it‘s less crowded. That way you can really immerse yourself and take it all in.
Leatherface and the Texas Chainsaw Legacy
Of course, a big part of what makes visiting the house so exciting is its role in introducing Leatherface, one of horror‘s most legendary villains!
The character‘s terrifying presence was brought to life through actor Gunnar Hansen‘s committed performance. His emotional portrayal humanized the masked killer.
Fun fact: the powered chainsaw was real and Hansen had to learn to operate it himself! Talk about dedication.
While a body count of only 5 may seem low by today‘s gory standards, the film was groundbreaking for its shocking violence at the time.
It cost just $140,000 to produce and went on to gross over $30 million. This makes it one of the most profitable horror movies ever based on return on investment.
The huge success inspired countless slasher flicks to follow. Leatherface remains an icon today with a terrifyingly loyal fanbase.
Ownership and Preservation Details
Now let‘s get into some of the logistics of how the house has been maintained over the years:
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Lawyer Robert Kuhn purchased the house in the 1990s to preserve the filming location.
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Horror actor Ed Neal (the creepy hitchhiker) bought it in 1998 and operated it as a tourist stop.
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Current owner Benny Josey acquired it in 2004 and continues tours plus upkeep.
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The siding and windows have needed replacing over time to keep the exterior looking similar to its movie days.
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A full roof replacement happened in 2012 to prevent leakage and interior damage.
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Inside, set decorations like furniture recreate the look of scenes from the 1974 film.
The owners definitely deserve props for keeping the house in a condition close to its onscreen glory days!
Fun Facts About the Film‘s Production
I want to leave you with some fascinating trivia that any hardcore fan will appreciate:
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The cast got so immersed filming inside the cramped house that it genuinely creeped them out!
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Locals were hired to play the murdered corpses strewn about the house. They had to lay motionless for hours.
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The actors were purposefully kept separated from Gunnar Hansen until the dinner table scene for added shock value when he entered.
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Cinematographer Daniel Pearl walked off set for a day after an argument with Tobe Hooper.
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There was a real skeleton on set that the crew found and used. It disappeared after filming.
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The opening narration was an afterthought, added during post-production.
How awesome is it learning these insider facts? It gives you a whole new view next time you watch the movie.
Plan a Trip to Terrify Yourself
Now that you‘ve got all the behind-the-scenes scoop, it‘s time to plan your visit! I strongly recommend going if you‘re a true chainsaw aficionado.
There‘s something spine-tingling about walking right where iconic scenes happened, seeing the infamous meathook on the wall, and standing in Leatherface‘s actual house. It‘s an experience you won‘t forget.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to nerd out over horror movie trivia and film locations. Hope to see you at the Texas Chainsaw Massacre house soon!
