Silence of the Lambs is a film that toed the line between thriller and horror with the tale of a young FBI trainee confronting not one but two monstrous killers. The movie had one of the tensest endings in film when Clarice Starling followed the killer Buffalo Bill through his house and into the basement where she was forced to hunt for him in complete darkness. Now, fans of that iconic five-time Oscar-winning film have the opportunity to visit Buffalo Bill’s house.
Buffalo Bill’s House, a three-story, four-bedroom Queen Anne Victorian, is the actual house used in the filming of Silence of the Lambs. The owner, Chris Rowan (who works in film as an art director and prop stylist), has been making renovations and upgrades since he purchased the home early in 2021. The house opens for visitors on Labor Day Weekend and beyond. It is available for private rentals with exclusive use of the entire house reserved only for guests in the party. A maximum of eight guests can stay at a time. Large parties and unauthorized visitors are not allowed on the premises.
“We have been working hard to create an unforgettable experience for fans,” Rowan said. “That’s why we decided to offer the house on a private rental basis. In other words, you and your booked group alone, will have exclusive access to the house during your stay. No other visitors or guests will be allowed at the home or on the premises. We want to give fans access to this unique opportunity to spend a night or two or even a week at Buffalo Bill’s House and live out all of their Silence fantasies.”
The house contains period accurate furniture, including a dining set, a parlor room with a decorative antique harp and church organ, and a large living room. Each bedroom, which contain four-poster beds, are named after characters in the movie, starting with the Buffalo Bill master suite, Clarice and Hannibal rooms, and the Precious room that contains twin beds. Guests will have access to the full kitchen and there is a charcoal grill outside. In the attic, Rowan designed Buffalo Bill’s Playhouse, a retro game room with a large TV, a library of ‘80s and ‘90s movies on DVD and VHS, classic arcade video games (including Asteroids and Pac Man), and a dual pool table/air hockey table. All guests will also receive a surprise gift.
Among the house’s unique features is the artwork, including pieces donated from artists around the world. The art includes oil paintings of Buffalo Bill and Clarice, and a gilded framed taxidermy death’s head moth.
Of course, staying at the Buffalo Bill House would be incomplete without a trip to the basement. “Guests are going to be in for a real treat when they head downstairs to the infamous basement,” Rowan said. “We have recreated what we are calling ‘Buffalo Bill’s Workshop of Horrors,’ complete with vintage Singer sewing machine, disco ball, four female mannequins dressed to resemble the ones in the movie, and of course, a full length mirror and Buffalo Bill style kimono for our guests’ use, designed to help fans get ‘in the mood’ to live out their Buffalo Bill fantasies. We even have ‘Goodbye Horses,’ the haunting song that plays during the famous Buffalo Bill dance scene, on auto play, as folks enter the basement. So, we encourage fans to put on that kimono and get their own ‘tuck’ on. And don’t forget to take and post photos!”
Buffalo Bill’s House is located in Perryopolis, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh. It has a wraparound porch and gazebo, a rose bed garden and fountain, three-car garage, a vintage train caboose that sits next to the in-ground pool, a firepit, and it sits along the Youghiogheny River.
The house is also available for use as a filming location for cinematic projects and future plans for the house include recreating the well for photo ops.
Bookings can be made at buffalobillshouse.com and details are also available on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.
