Buyer of iconic Oregon 'Goonies' home says he's superfan of 80s movie
New owner of iconic Oregon ‘Goonies’ home says he’s superfan of 80s movie and bought $1.65m property to preserve it as shrine
- Behman Zakeri, 37, bought the $1.65million property in Astoria, Oregon
- He hopes to keep it as a shrine to the beloved 1985 family movie
- The entrepreneur said he’s visited the home in the past to take selfies
- The city of Astoria celebrates Goonies Day on June 7, the film’s release date
A Kansas City entrepreneur and self-described superfan of the 1985 cult classic The Goonies has bought the Oregon house made famous by the film.
Behman Zakeri, 37, bought the $1.65million property in Astoria, Oregon in an attempt to keep it as a shrine to the beloved family movie.
‘The reason I’m buying it is for the community,’ Zakeri said. ‘Somebody’s got to be the caretaker, somebody’s got to preserve the landmark. Somebody has to keep it original and not get demoed.’
Zakeri owns a business that sells collectible trading cards and plays in poker tournaments, describing himself on Instagram as a ‘serial entrepreneur.’
A Kansas City entrepreneur and self-described superfan of the 1985 cult classic The Goonies has bought the Oregon house made famous by the film
‘This moment is completely surreal,’ he added. ‘It was a childhood dream. From the time I saw the ‘Goonies’ when I was eight years old, I’ve dreamed of someday owning the ‘Goonies’ house and finding One-Eyed Willy’s treasure so this is unbelievable. It really is.’
Zakeri and his wife Liz plan to split time between the Oregon house and their permanent residence in Kansas City.
He adds that he won’t mind if people are like he was in the past, traveling just to take a selfie at the place, noting that ‘Goonies are welcome’ and just hoping they stay respectful.
The home has been an attraction for fans of the film since it debuted in 1985.
The city celebrates Goonies Day on June 7, the film’s release date, and welcomes thousands of people for the event.
In 2015, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film, over 1,500 visitors a day came to the coastal Oregon property.
The owner of the home at the time temporarily placed tarps over it and posted ‘no trespassing’ signs.
Behman Zakeri, 37, bought the $1.65million property in Astoria, Oregon in an attempt to keep it as a shrine to the beloved family movie
In 2015, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film, over 1,500 visitors a day came to the coastal Oregon property
‘The reason I’m buying it is for the community,’ Zakeri said of the house. ‘Somebody’s got to be the caretaker, somebody’s got to preserve the landmark. Somebody has to keep it original and not get demoed’
The 1896 home with sweeping views of the Columbia River flowing into the Pacific Ocean was listed in November with an asking price of nearly $1.7 million
Astoria itself took steps to impose fines for people who parked in illegal spots due to the volume of traffic, according to KING5.
The 1896 home with sweeping views of the Columbia River flowing into the Pacific Ocean was listed in November with an asking price of nearly $1.7million.
Zakeri’s offer was accepted six days after the house was listed, according to public record.
‘After the word spread that the property was for sale, we received multiple offers, at asking price and higher, and we have a full backup offer,’ said Jordan Miller of John L. Scott Real Estate.
Seller Sandi Preston is passing along movie memorabilia she has collected or has been given, and some of the furniture in the home, restored to its original 1896 style, may also be sold to the buyer, according to Miller.
Zakeri and his wife Liz plan to split time between the Oregon house and their permanent residence in Kansas City
The city celebrates Goonies Day on June 7, the film’s release date, and welcomes thousands of people for the event
Zakeri adds that he won’t mind if people are like he was in the past, traveling just to take a selfie at the place, noting that ‘Goonies are welcome’ and just hoping they stay respectful
The film made $125million at the box office and served as a launching pad for the careers of Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Martha Plimpton and recent Golden Globe winner Ke Huay Quan
Preston was known to be largely welcoming to visitors. But she lived in the house and the constant crowds were a strain that prompted her at times to close it to foot traffic.
Based on a story by Steven Spielberg, the film features a group of friends fighting to protect their homes from an expanding country club and threats of foreclosure.
In the process, they discover an old treasure map that leads them on an adventure and allows them to save their ‘Goon Docks’ neighborhood.
It made $125million at the box office and served as a launching pad for the careers of Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Martha Plimpton and recent Golden Globe winner Ke Huay Quan.
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