DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
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Way back in July 1997, Fox had an incredible and audacious promotional idea: To build a full-sized, livable replica of 742 Evergreen Terrace, the Day-Glo domicile from its animated megahit, The Simpsons, and then give it away to one lucky viewer in a contest. Farmed out to a building company called Kaufman And Broad (now KB Home) and constructed at a cost of $120,000, the real-life Simpsons house was located at 712 Red Bark Lane in Henderson, Nevada. The designers took great care to mimic the look of the famous fictional residence, both inside and out, even though the architects had to take a few liberties in order to insure that the house was structurally sound. As it turned out, however, the contest winner opted to take a $75,000 cash prize instead of the gimmicky Nevada residence. So what happened to the real-life Simpsons house? In a DVD commentary, Simpsons creator Matt Groening suggested the place be blown up on live television, but in reality the house simply became a piece of commercial real estate.
Pop-culture archaeologist and voracious YouTuber Adam The Woo recently decided to visit 712 Red Bark Lane to see how the property had held up over the years. These days, the former Simpsons house really does just look like a regular suburban residence for the most part. The outrageous cartoon color scheme is gone, as is Bart’s treehouse and an original “El Barto” graffito by Matt Groening. The subdivision in which the house resides, meanwhile, is now simply referred to as South Valley Ranch rather than Springfield South Valley Ranch. But there are hints of the home’s infamous past. It’s the only residence in the neighborhood, for instance, with a (purely decorative) chimney, and it’s seemingly the only place for miles around without a Spanish tile roof. A crude rendering of Homer Simpson in the cement has been left untouched. Best of all, Adam discovers that the house’s original “orange reddish paint” is starting to peek through the more sensible beige shade that had been applied to the garage. “The Simpsons are having their revenge, house!”
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