The True Location Of The Amityville Horror House: 5 Shocking Changes That Made It Unrecognizable
The Amityville Horror House, a property synonymous with mass murder and alleged demonic possession, remains one of the most famous—and most secretive—private residences in the world. As of this current date, December 19, 2025, the house is still a private home, occupied by owners who have gone to extreme lengths to protect their privacy and deter the endless stream of curiosity-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts.
The original address, forever etched in horror history, is no longer the correct one, making the true location a source of constant confusion and deep-dive research for fans. The house has been structurally altered, sold multiple times, and its very identity has been masked in a deliberate attempt to escape the horrifying events that unfolded within its walls over fifty years ago.
The True Address and Current Status of the Infamous Long Island Home
The house that served as the setting for the 1974 DeFeo murders and the subsequent Lutz family haunting is located in the quiet, affluent village of Amityville, Long Island, New York. However, if you were to search for the address made famous by the book and the 1979 film adaptation, 112 Ocean Avenue, you would be looking at the wrong number.
The house’s address was officially changed to 108 Ocean Avenue by one of the subsequent owners. This was a calculated move, a common practice for properties with a dark history, designed to prevent the constant influx of tourists, journalists, and ghost hunters who flocked to the original number. The home remains a private residence, fiercely guarded by its current occupants.
The Last Known Sale and Current Ownership
The property has changed hands several times since the Lutz family fled in 1976. Each new owner has attempted to distance themselves from the notorious past, often selling the house for a discounted price due to the stigma attached to it.
- Last Sale Date: March 2017.
- Sale Price: $605,000.
- Current Owners: The buyers were an undisclosed couple, purchasing the home for significantly less than its original asking price, which was reportedly $850,000.
- Subsequent Owners: Notable previous owners include Jim and Barbara Cromarty, who purchased the home after the Lutzes and lived there for a decade, and the family who changed the address. None of the owners after the Lutzes have publicly reported any paranormal activity, casting doubt on the veracity of the original "horror" story.
The fact that the house sold for $605,000 in a desirable Long Island neighborhood—a price often considered low for the area—highlights the continued financial impact of its gruesome history, a concept known in real estate as "stigmatized property."
The DeFeo Murders: The True Horror That Started It All
The real-life tragedy that set the stage for the global phenomenon occurred on November 13, 1974. The events of that night are not disputed, forming the undeniable, terrifying foundation of the Amityville story.
Ronald "Butch" DeFeo Jr., the eldest son of the family, used a rifle to murder his entire family while they slept in their beds. The victims were:
- Ronald DeFeo Sr. (Father, 43)
- Louise DeFeo (Mother, 43)
- Dawn DeFeo (Sister, 18)
- Allison DeFeo (Sister, 13)
- Marc DeFeo (Brother, 12)
- John Matthew DeFeo (Brother, 9)
DeFeo Jr. initially claimed a mob hitman was responsible, but later confessed to the murders, claiming he was driven to kill by voices in the house. He was convicted on six counts of second-degree murder and remained incarcerated until his death in March 2021, providing a definitive, recent update to the story's main antagonist.
Architectural Erasure: How the House Was Made Unrecognizable
Perhaps the most fascinating and definitive change to the property is the physical alteration of the home's most recognizable feature. The house itself is a Dutch Colonial-style residence, built in 1927, featuring a distinctive gambrel roof.
The movie version, which cemented the image in the public consciousness, features two iconic third-floor windows that are quarter-circle in shape, giving the distinct, chilling impression of two glowing eyes staring out from the attic.
To discourage the constant stream of onlookers, the owners undertook a significant remodel. The distinctive "eye" windows have been removed or drastically altered to standard rectangular or square windows. This single architectural change has made the current house at 108 Ocean Avenue look dramatically different from the cinematic version, further protecting the privacy of the occupants.
The Short-Lived Lutz Family Occupation
Thirteen months after the DeFeo murders, George and Kathy Lutz purchased the house, moving in with Kathy's three children from a previous marriage. Their stay lasted a mere 28 days—a period that became the central narrative for the world-famous book.
The Lutz family claimed to experience a torrent of terrifying, unexplainable events, including:
- Green slime oozing from the walls.
- Doors being ripped from their hinges.
- A priest being warned by a demonic voice to "Get out!"
- George Lutz waking up every morning at 3:15 a.m., the estimated time of the DeFeo murders.
- Mysterious odors and cold spots.
The family fled in a panic, leaving all their possessions behind. Their story, told to author Jay Anson and published as *The Amityville Horror: A True Story* in 1977, launched a multi-billion dollar media franchise. Despite the success, the Lutz's account has been widely scrutinized and largely dismissed as a hoax, particularly after the family's lawyer admitted to "making up" parts of the story with George Lutz "over many bottles of wine."
The Amityville Horror Media Franchise and Legacy
The story's enduring legacy is primarily due to its massive success in print and film, ensuring the location remains a point of macabre fascination decades later. The franchise has generated dozens of films, books, and documentaries.
Key Entities in the Media History
- The Book: *The Amityville Horror: A True Story* (1977) by Jay Anson.
- The Original Film: *The Amityville Horror* (1979), directed by Stuart Rosenberg and starring James Brolin as George Lutz and Margot Kidder as Kathy Lutz.
- The Remake: *The Amityville Horror* (2005), starring Ryan Reynolds.
- The DeFeo Film: *Amityville II: The Possession* (1982), which is loosely based on the DeFeo murders.
The irony of the Amityville Horror house is that the current residents—the people who actually live there—have successfully erased its visual identity and changed its address. The house that tourists seek is the one from the movie, a fictionalized version of the property that no longer exists at 108 Ocean Avenue. The true horror of the house is not a demonic presence, but the very real, tragic mass murder of the DeFeo family, a historical fact that remains the only undisputed truth of the Amityville legend.
For those still seeking a glimpse of the original house, the structure remains a private dwelling on Ocean Avenue, a street that runs along the Amityville River. Respect for the current residents' privacy is paramount, as the house has long since ceased to be a public spectacle and has returned to being a quiet, albeit historically notorious, family home in Long Island.
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