- American Horror Story spans an impressive 12 seasons.
- The AHS production has filmed everywhere from L.A. to New Orleans and New York City.
- Most of the interior shots featured in the series were filmed on a sound studio.
- The series has played host to a vast variety of actors, both recurring and single-season cameos.
- The latest season “AHS: Delicate” features reality star Kim Kardashian.
With the release of American Horror Story: Delicate, this popular horror anthology now spans a whopping 12 seasons. From ghosts to witches and killer clowns to all the crazy in between, AHS has been telling dark tales of murder and the supernatural since 2011. The first season – aka Murder House – is still considered one of the best in the series and the infamous ghost-filled estate that plays the story’s central location has captured the interest of many over the years – so much so that it’s been featured in additional seasons of the series as well as its spin-off “American Horror Stories.” So, is the American Horror Story house real? Keep reading for the full scoop on AHS Murder House and more on American Horror Story’s most memorable filming locations below!
Where Is the American Horror Story House? | AHS Murder House Location
If you thought the AHS murder House location was a work of fiction, think again! This property, known as the Rosenheim Mansion in reality, is very much real and has a rich history within its historic walls.
Located in Los Angeles, the Rosenheim Mansion was built by German architect, Alfred Rosenheim, in 1902. It’s important to note, however, that is is a private residence and does not offer tours to the public.
In fact, its current owners had no idea that this iconic filming location was so famous when they purchased it in 2015 for $3.2 million. After having numerous break-ins and unwanted visitors to the home, they actually went on to sue the real estate agency that sold them the estate for not disclosing its past.
As of 2023, the property is now protected by a tall security gate.
American Horror Story Murder House Filming Location
American Horror Story 1984 Filming Location
American Horror Story Roanoke Filming Location
American Horror Story Hotel Filming Location
American Horror Story Freakshow Filming Location
American Horror Story Coven Filming Location
American Horror Story Asylum Filming Location
American Horror Story Murder House Filming Location
While the interior shots of the home used in AHS Murder House were done on a film set, the actual interior of this home easily looks like something from the show!
As previously stated, the iconic red brick estate was built in 1902. It boasts an impressive 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms as well as approximately 14,000 square feet.
Inside, you’ll find a plethora of delicately-crafted Peruvian Mahogany paneling as well as beamed and coffered ceilings and beautiful hardwood floors.
The living room area boasts a surprisingly spacious layout, complete with a gorgeous antique chandelier, fireplace, and dual French doors that lead deeper into the estate.
Speaking of the fireplaces, there are actually 6 in total located throughout the property, each possessing its own carefully crafted Batchelder tiling.
While much of the house still possesses its historical charm, you can’t expect the property to be habitable in 2023 without some modern luxuries! The kitchen, for example, features modern stainless steel appliances and a beautiful dark glossy floor that brings it a bit more into the present day.
Among its many artistic touches, the estate also boasts an impressive collection of painted Tiffany glass throughout. Here, we see the Tiffany glass window panels on display via the staircase leading to the second floor!
Another modernized area in the home is this state-of-the-art recording studio!
The home was made into a Historical and Cultural Landmark in 1999, but it’s also become a historical landmark of sorts in the film industry. The estate has been featured in not just “American Horror Story: Murder House”, but also “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Bones”, and “Law & Order: SVU.”
The home has reportedly been rented out in the past for $1,450 per night, but as we said before – it’s important to remember this is now a private residence. So, if you intend on driving by, please respect its current owners’ privacy.
Is the American Horror Story House Haunted in Real Life?
So, is the American Horror Story house based on true events? Thankfully, the real-life AHS house isn’t filled to the brim with vengeful spirits looking to terrorize its living residents. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t playing host to some incorporeal guests.
According to the owners themselves, they believe the home is actually haunted. A friend of the family visiting the home allegedly witnessed the apparition of a butler moving up and down the stairs.
To make the case even stranger, this very same butler apparition was also witnessed by the daughter of the estate’s previous owners! #spooky
One of the current owners also said she spoke to a former nun who resided on the property, while it was acting as a convent, that also reported a ghost sighting. According to the nun, she herself witnessed the apparition of a fellow sister, that had passed away, casually rocking in a rocking chair.
American Horror Story Filming Locations
The AHS franchise has used some pretty incredible locations as the backdrops for its dark and twisted tales. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the more famous filming locations from some of AHS’s most memorable seasons!
American Horror Story 1984 Filming Location
Is Camp Redwood a real place? In reality, the entirety of the spooky camp featured in AHS 1984 was a set, carefully constructed with prop cabins and other elements to give it that campy feel that you see in the show.
They built the set at the Franklin Canyon Park – a public park consisting of 605 acres near Los Angeles between Beverly Hills and San Fernando Valley.
Of course, the cabins and other set items you see in the photos are no longer part of the landscape. Following wrap-up on filming, the massive set for AHS 1984 was completely deconstructed.
While you won’t be able to reserve a spot at Camp Redwood, however, you can enjoy a picnic or take a stroll along the duck pond in this lush park!
American Horror Story Roanoke Filming Location
So, like Camp Redwood in AHS 1984, the old farmhouse that set the stage for AHS Roanoke was also the work of TV magic! In truth, the building was manufactured exclusively for filming and was later deconstructed following the series wrap-up.
Despite the series being set in rural North Carolina, it was actually filmed in a forest in California! The farmhouse took around 4 months to build and was used for both exterior and interior filming.
Here, we see the lush piece of land where the farmhouse set was originally constructed!
The set/farmhouse was even fully furnished for filming!
American Horror Story Hotel Filming Location
So, AHS Hotel took much of its inspiration from the Cecil Hotel – a location historically known for its infamous history of deaths (16 to be exact), drugs, and all around unsavory activity.
The Cecil Hotel even played host to not 1, but 2 different seriel killers throughout its time – Richard Ramirez aka the “Night Stalker” and Johann Unterweger, who murdered several sex workers in his hotel room during his 5-week stay.
In terms of the series, however, AHS Hotel was not actually filmed at the Cecil Hotel, but rather an Art-Deco high-rise known as the James Oviatt Building! It’s located on Olive Street, only half a block south of 6th St in Los Angeles. The Oviatt Building is designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
While interior shots of AHS Hotel were filmed on a soundstage, viewing this historic building from outside may still give you that much-needed dose of AHS nostalgia you’re looking for!
American Horror Story Freak Show Filming Location
AHS Freakshow was fictionally located in Jupiter, Florida – but in reality the series was actually filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana!
One memorable location in particular from the show was the “Mott Manor” aka home of the deeply disturbed Dandy and his mother, Gloria. While interior was, of course, filmed on a sound stage, the exterior shots of the building were taken at a lavish estate in New Orleans known as Longue Vue House & Gardens.
The estate took 3 years to constructed, completed by 1942. It features 20 rooms and a whopping 4 gardens, including a vegetable garden.
The Longue Vue House & Gardens is a frequent location for various events and photography, and it’s not hard to see why!
American Horror Story Coven Filming Location
The site of Miss Robicheaux’s Academy in AHS Coven in reality is known as Buckner Mansion. Like the fictional academy for witches, this estate is actually located in New Orleans, Louisiana!
Located in the Garden District and constructed in 1856, the Buckner family resided in the estate until 1923, at which point it was transformed into the Soule Business School.
As of 2023, Buckner Mansion is now a private residence, though it can be rented for around $480 to $4,700 per night, depending on what parts of the property are rented out.
American Horror Story Asylum Filming Location
Though the interior was filmed on a sound stage, all exterior shots of Briarcliff Manor in AHS Asylum were filmed at the Orange County Courthouse located in Santa Ana, CA.
The Roman Revival-style courthouse was built in 1901 and is still in use today by the local Government. The massive building spans 30,000 square feet, with many of its oversized rooms still decked out in antique furnishings.
The courthouse features a History Center, which consists of a courthouse museum and archives, as well as modern government offices.
It’s listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is considered a historic landmark.
American Horror Story Cast
Okay, so it could take almost an entire article to go over the plethora of actors who have lent their talents to the American Horror Story universe. That being said, let’s take a look at the veteran cast, along with a some of the series’ most talked about cameos!
So, as for actors that have pretty much been there from the start, we have Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Dylan McDermott, Francis Conroy, Finn Wittrock, Zachary Quinto, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Leslie Jordan, Denis O’Hare, Taissa Farmiga, Lily Rabe, Billie Lourde, Emma Roberts, John Carroll Lynch, and Gabourey Sidibe.
As for cameos, Lady Gaga has starred in two seasons, including as the gorgeous Countess in AHS Hotel. We’ve also seen Billy Porter, Neil Patrick Harris, Naomi Campbell, Mena Suvari, Billy Eichner, Clea DuVall, Eric Stonestreet, Cody Fern, Stevie Nicks, Chrissy Metz, Adina Porter, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kate Mara, Matthew Morrison, Angelica Ross, Patti LaBelle, Chaz Bono, Macauley Culkin, and Adam Levine.
Even Kim Kardashian has added her name to the list of famous cameos for AHS, starring in the latest season titled “American Horror Story: Delicate.”
Sources
https://www.hgtv.com/design/home-tours/tour-the-american-horror-story-house-in-la-pictures
https://www.moviemaker.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-real-life-murder-house-ahs
https://www.distractify.com/p/rosenheim-mansion-history-ahs-murder-house
https://americanhorrorstory.fandom.com/wiki/Murder_House_(location)/Rosenheim_Mansion
https://screenrant.com/american-horror-story-roanoke-filming-location-real-house
https://maps.roadtrippers.com/us/new-orleans-la/points-of-interest/buckner-mansion