Here's Where You Can Visit Buffalo Bill's House From Silence Of The Lambs

Horror movie fans will instantly recognize the home of the infamous villain, Buffalo Bill, from "The Silence of the Lambs." The film, directed by Jonathan Demme, was released in 1991 and won a slew of Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, via IMDb.

The iconic horror film follows a young FBI trainee, Clarice Starling, who is assigned to consult the film's other bone-chilling villain, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a cannibal kept in a high-security prison. The Bureau needed his help to track down Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb, the killer behind multiple gruesome murders. When Starling finds herself in Gumb's home alone, the ensuing final face-off between the two has cemented itself as a classic in the thriller genre.

Buffalo Bill's house plays as much of a central role as the main characters in the film's final moments. If you are a fan of horror movies, you will be thrilled to know that you can visit the terrifying set, according to House Beautiful.

A look inside the iconic horror home

The property depicted as Buffalo Bill's home is in Pennsylvania, in a rural neighborhood just outside Pittsburgh, per House Beautiful. Property Records on Zillow show that the single-family residence sold in 2021 for $290,000, a slight markdown from its original price of nearly $300,000.

The house, built in 1910, looks almost identical to the film, minus the moths and haunted house aura. It was painted blue in the movie, but it's an orangey-yellow shade in real-life; everything else remains eerily similar. The foyer has the same structure, and it's composed of antique wallpaper, Victorian light fixtures, and original wood features — flooring, staircase, and doors.

A built-in antique cabinet showcased in the film still stands intact, as does the stunning original fireplace. Overall, the layout seems untouched and looks identical to the early '90s movie, though much cleaner, well-lighted, less spooky, and, thank heavens, without the basement.

Some modern touches

This three-story Victorian has four bedrooms, one bathroom, and a three-car detached garage which was once a general store. It sits on 1.76 acres of land along the Youghiogheny River and offers 2,334 square feet of living space. The former owners added a few new updates and modern touches for convenience and comfort, including reflooring the gazebo and wrap-around porch, adding a rosebed and a water fountain in the front of the house, and refinishing the hardwood floors in the attic. They also installed a new hot water tank, UV filter, well pump, and a pool with a new ceramic tile deck. 

They certainly did not shy away from acknowledging the home's notoriety — posters of the movie are visible in the listing on Zillow. Along with its fame, the house is a Queen Anne Victorian, which adds to its value and heritage. We appreciate how the owners have kept the house in excellent condition and maintained most of its original features, including the hardwood floors, pocket doors, and fireplaces.