WINNETKA — Long before Airbnb listings and Instagram-famous locations, one suburban Chicago home became a pop culture pilgrimage site thanks to a Hollywood holiday hit: Home Alone. Now, 35 years later, the man who owned the home during filming is finally sharing the full story — from movie magic to privacy invasions — in a new memoir.
John Abendshien, a retired health care executive, lived with his wife and daughter at 671 Lincoln Ave. in Winnetka, the Georgian-style house where much of the 1990 classic was filmed. In his forthcoming book Home But Alone No More, Abendshien recounts what it was like to live through production — and the chaotic years that followed.
An Unexpected Hollywood Adventure
Back in 1990, Abendshien said he had no idea what agreeing to host a film crew for several months would lead to. Although they were paid $65,000 for the use of their home, it wasn’t about the money.
“It was just a life adventure that we weren’t sure we wanted to turn down — what I call the fear of missing out,” Abendshien said.
The family spent five months living upstairs while the rest of their home became a working movie set, complete with food trucks, camera crews, and one very famous scene: Kevin McCallister sledding down the stairs and out the front door. (The real staircase didn’t align with the front door, so the crew built a ski ramp inside the house.)
Life After Kevin McCallister: Fame and Frustration
What the family didn’t anticipate was the decades of fanfare that followed. Even now, strangers regularly visit the house, peer through windows, and walk the property — despite it being sold in 2012 and now surrounded by a protective fence.
“Suddenly, your peaceful suburban retreat is crawling with tourists… as they stare down your front door,” Abendshien writes.
In one particularly surreal moment, Michael Jackson visited the home to see his friend Macaulay Culkin during filming. Abendshien ended up chatting with the pop icon for 45 minutes in his personal study.
A Suburban Memoir of Movie Fame
Abendshien’s new memoir includes both the surreal highs and the unnerving lows — from neighbors’ quiet patience to strangers claiming his yard was “public domain.” He reflects on how his feelings have evolved.
“At first, I was very put off by the loss of privacy. Later, I realized they are not there to do harm… This was an adventure to them,” he said.
The book is expected to release this August, and features original artwork by Chicago illustrator Julia Hagen. Fans of Home Alone — and those curious about suburban celebrity real estate — can visit homebutalonenomore.com for updates.
Ever visited the “Home Alone” house in Winnetka? Or lived near a famous movie location? Share your story in the comments — or explore more local history at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
