You’ve probably driven past it… or at least know someone who has slowed down on Ocean Avenue just to sneak a look.
The Amityville Horror House isn’t just famous. It’s one of those Long Island stories that somehow keeps getting stranger the deeper you go.
What most people remember is the “haunted house.”
What actually happened? That’s where things get a lot darker… and a lot more complicated.
The House That Put Amityville on the Map
The home sits quietly on Ocean Avenue in Amityville, looking like any other waterfront colonial.
But behind that picture-perfect exterior is one of the most infamous crimes in Long Island history.
- The house was built in 1927
- The original address was 112 Ocean Avenue, later changed to 108 to keep curious visitors away
- On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered six members of his family with a .35 caliber rifle
- All six victims were found face down in their beds
- Somehow, no neighbors reported hearing gunshots
- Even more unsettling: none of the victims appeared to wake up
And then things got even stranger.
- DeFeo initially claimed a mafia hitman committed the murders
- He later admitted responsibility
- Over the years, his story changed multiple times
- Some theories suggest a second killer, but nothing has ever been proven
- He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, where he remained
Then Came the “Haunting”
About a year later, the house was sold again… and this is where the legend really takes off.
- The Lutz family bought the home for $88,000
- They stayed just 28 days before fleeing
What they claimed happened inside would turn a local tragedy into a global phenomenon.
- Their 1977 book, The Amityville Horror, described terrifying supernatural experiences
- Reports say the book has sold over 10 million copies
- It inspired the 1979 film The Amityville Horror starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder
- Since then, more than a dozen films have been made about the house, with some counts exceeding 20
The Part Most People Don’t Know
Here’s where the story takes a sharp turn.
- Experts have widely debunked the Lutz family’s claims
- Their own lawyer later admitted the story was essentially made up during conversations over drinks
But even that isn’t the full picture.
- One of the Lutz children, Daniel, later said he did experience something supernatural
- Another child, Christopher, also claimed strange events
- Both said the book exaggerated or fictionalized most events
- They blamed their stepfather George, claiming he experimented with the occult
So was it all fake? Not entirely clear.
But it definitely wasn’t what the movies made it out to be.
What the House Is Like Today
Despite everything, people still treat it like a roadside attraction.
- Visitors still stop by to take photos
- The house has been renovated, including replacing the iconic quarter-moon windows
- Owners after the Lutz family have reported no paranormal activity
And yes, it’s just… a house.
- The next owner after the Lutzes bought it for $55,000
- It sold for $950,000 in 2010
- Listed for $850,000 in 2016
- Became realtor.com’s most popular home of the week that year
- Sold again in March 2017 for $605,000
- Listings describe it as a center hall colonial on the Amityville River with a boathouse, garage, and boat slip
- Zillow has referred to it as a “Legendary Amityville Home” with an estimated value around $663,877
The Long Island Legacy
This is one of those stories that only works on Long Island.
A real-life mass murder.
A supposed haunting that turned into a bestselling book.
A Hollywood franchise.
And a house that’s still sitting there… quietly… like nothing ever happened.
You can change the address.
You can renovate the windows.
But on Long Island, everyone still knows exactly which house it is.
