Where Is 1313 Mockingbird Lane from 'The Munsters'?


When you are walking down the street at night, then the Munsters are following you.

Well that street is likely the fictional Mockingbird Lane in the equally fictional town of Mockingbird Heights. The ghoulish monster clan—sitcom rivals of "The Addams Family"—live at 1313 Mockingbird Lane, which looks like your typical Second Empire Victorian-style suburban home, except that it is supposed to have been built on the remains of an old fort. 

The script originally gave away the address of the freakish kin as 43 Mockingbird Lane, New Jersey. It's not entirely farfetched in hindsight, given the number of Second Empire-style homes dotting the state. 

A Second Empire Victorian house in Sparta, New Jersey. Photo via Doug Kerr

If you've watched "Desperate Housewives," then you might have blinked and missed a glimpse of the building that stood as the façade for The Munsters' house. The set at Universal City's Colonial Street backlot was still standing proud and tall in 2004 when it served as part of the fictional Wisteria Lane. 

The set has a long history dating back to the filming of 1946's "So Goes My Love." Its façade underwent a dark makeover by 1964 in time for the premiere of "The Munsters" and a drastic one 40 years later for "Desperate Housewives." 

The ill-fated pilot of the 2012 "Munsters" reboot, "Mockingbird Lane," was also shot in LA.

NBC passed on Mockingbird Lane, the 2012 reboot of The Munsters starring Jerry O'Connell and Portia de Rossi as Herman and Lily Munster, after the pilot 

Speaking of reboots, Munsters superfan Rob Zombie is directing a theatrical reboot of his decades-long obsession. (His hit song "Dragula" was actually inspired by a car 's name on the show.) A set for the movie has been built in faraway Budapest. 


Rob is not alone as a Munsters stan. A couple in Waxahachie, Texas, Sandra and Charles McKee,  have replicated the Munster home, down to the staircase with the fire-breathing monster as well as the coffin phone booth. 

Sandra McKee at her Munsters-inspired mansion in Texas. Photo via Yitz

Sounds like every evening is Halloween at the McKees. To all our Fancy travelers, Happy Halloween!

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