CONWAY, Ark. — For many families, the holidays aren’t complete without watching classic movies, especially as the countdown to Christmas dwindles out.
One family in Conway, Arkansas has taken one of the season’s most iconic films and turned it into a full-blown Christmas spectacle.
Angie Howard, Tim Howard, and their eight children’s home has been transformed to resemble the house from Home Alone so closely, you can almost hear Kevin McCallister’s famous scream.
The house comes naturally with an exterior that closely resembles the original, but is decorated with a clever holiday display, that has turned it into a must-see Christmas destination.
The Howard’s home is located on Bay Hill in Conway and is hard to miss. It’s a place where Christmas joy and movie magic collide.
“Every time we would pass this house, we always called it the Home Alone house,” Angie Howard said.
The Howard family’s home looks nearly identical to the one in the iconic 1990 film, but a big decision three years ago led them to their holiday house.
The Howards planned to move out of state but decided to stay in Conway to remain closer to their college-aged children.
“We looked at the inside of the house and we loved it,” Angie Howard said. “We decided we’ll get this house, but asked ‘Do we paint the brick, or leave it?' I’m so glad we didn’t change it, because it wouldn’t be the Home Alone house.”
A few wreaths on the windows grew into a decision to fully embrace a theme, which turned the house into a holiday movie set.
Angie created the displays and painted the decorations seen at their home, while Tim set up the props and established the movie projections.
“The first thing we did was the Marv and Harry van, and it all takes a lot of work,” Angie Howard said. “Each prop, from drawing to cutting to painting, takes around 12 to 15 hours, but while it’s such a huge movie there’s not a lot of merchandise out there.”
Some of the clever movie nods include Old Man Marley with his shovel in hand, Harry and Marv’s van and their burn marks. They even remembered to put a Michael Jordan cutout in the window.
The resemblance to the original home paired with the hints to the movie have sparked a social media frenzy.
“Seeing people outside your house all the time is a little bit different, but it’s so fun,” Tim Howard said.
The display attracts people from all over to enjoy the holiday nostalgia. Some visitors shared their experience on social media, which has contributed to the growing popularity.
“Combined, there’s been over a million views of the house on TikTok,” Angie Howard said. “It’s humbling because it’s just our cutouts, and our home, but I’m so grateful that so many people think it’s a fun thing to do with their family."
Angie, Tim, and their eight children love to see the joy their displays bring, even taking it all a step further with a scavenger hunt to provide a more interactive experience.
“We made a little game where visitors can find things in the display and get points,” Tim Howard said. “We’re trying to make it interactive so people can enjoy it instead of just driving by.”
As for what’s next, the Howard’s are already thinking of Christmas 2025, but staying true to the Christmas classis is most important.
“We're trying to stay authentic to the movie, but we have to find out how to store all this stuff because our attic is almost maxed out,” Angie Howard said. “We love people coming, so this is where we’re supposed to be, and what we’re supposed to do.”
The Howard family’s Home Alone inspired house proves that holiday memories don’t have to be bought, as magic can come from a little creativity and a lot of heart.
“We have a big house because we have a big family, but we love having an extended family as well now.” Tim Howard said.
Visit the Howard’s Facebook page, Home Alone House on Bay Hill, dedicated to their display, they post times families can visit, and different games to play.