Leave me alone

Goonies house under wraps

Would you like to live in some iconic property, a house made famous in a film or TV show living with fans constantly turning up at your door

Astoria! My reaction was what/where until the film ‘The Goonies’ was mentioned and most people would have that eureka moment. Straight away, I have a picture of the white house where Mikey and his family lived. Although there have been a few other movies filmed in Astoria, Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy and Short Circuit it’s the Goonies the is the big draw for film tourists and every day visitors to the town.

The owner of the house as finally snapped with the steady stream that has turned into thousands of visitors almost every day in the summer and overwhelming the neighbourhood. Homeowner of that house Sandi Preston has in the past let fans — within reason — approach, photograph, gawk at, and geek out on her property and on rare occasions opened up her house to them but now her neighbours and herself are experiencing fan fatigue.

Preston recently asked the local council to do whatever they can to limit public access to her home and has put up blue tarpaulin around the front and side of the house. The local council has urged fans to view the house from a distance but it’s a mega tourist attraction for the City of Astoria. I have to admit, if I were in Astoria - I would probably pop along to the Goonies house for a look and a stare.

Film locations can generate cash for a local community. My home of Cardiff has grown over the recent years with the likes of Dr Who and others filmed in and around Cardiff. Like Ms Preston, I would hate to be on some film trail like the lady in Barry who lives in the Gavin and Stacey house who complain about fans turning up in their droves.