Dare you take a tour inside the real ‘The Conjuring’ house?

Every year fans of horror in all of its terrifying forms flock to get a glimpse of the real people and places which have inspired some of our scariest stories. For those who think themselves braver than the rest, haunted tours and visits are the ultimate way to prove, or disprove, a legacy of horrors are mere human imagination. 

If you believe not even the most sinister locations can deter your interest, you may be interested in taking a trip to Harrisville, Rhode Island – there you’ll be the real-life inspiration behind the horror-classic film, The Conjuring. If you haven’t heard, the owners of this  infamous house plan to offer inside tours; trust us, they’re the real deal. 

The house behind The Conjuring

Like any good tale of horror, the true story of The Conjuring began at a rural farmhouse in Rhode Island. This supposed haunted house has existed for centuries, belonging to many families – most notable of its owners was the Perron family, whose alleged terrifying encounters in the 1970s created the basis for the films. 

The family of seven moved into the house back in 1971 – Roger and Carolyn along with their children Andrea, April, Christine, Cindy, and Nancy. The Perrons alleged their initial experience with the house included slamming doors, odd smells, voices, and a cornucopia of unexplainable events; however, things soon took a violent turn.

Out of nowhere, the Perrons were visited by the house’s former owners, the Warren family. The Warrens proclaimed the house to be haunted by “a malevolent spirit,” and decided to hold a seance to have it removed. 

In a 2013 interview with the Providence Journal, father Roger Perron revealed what happened to his daughter Carolyn during the seance: “Her entire body was distorted. … and it lasted several hours, until they de-demonized her. And then I threw [the Warrens] out.” The Perrons lived in the house until the 1980s before finally relocating. 

The legacy of the real The Conjuring house

Of course both the Perrons and Warrens were heavily scrutinized for their accounts of what happened in the Rhode Island home. Many were either unable to believe, or eager to dispel claims of a house haunted by an evil spirit. 

Whether or not the public believed, the story was fitting enough to get attention from film studios who spotted an opportunity to retell the events in spectacular – if not gruesome – fashion. Of course anyone who doubted the true events in Rhode Island would not bite at the sensenalized film – but it still makes for a great horror flick. 

In 2013 The Conjuring launched a franchise and even its own film universe, exploring the original events with a pair of fictionalized paranormal investigators named Lorraine & Ed (Vera Farmiga & Patrick Wilson) who arrive to help a distressed Perron family. 

The success of the 2013 film led to the creation of The Conjuring 2 (2016), and director of both, James Wan, is gearing up for the anticipated release of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021). So if you love the films, or even the story itself, then its newest owners have some great news for you. 

The Conjuring: Plans for the real house

The Conjuring house was purchased in June 2019 by its most recent owners, a couple named Cory & Jennifer Heinzen. Reportedly a pair of “paranormal enthusiasts,” the couple have worked on the house for well over a year; in their spare time, they also do some paranormal investigating. 

In interviews with both INSIDER and The Sun, Cory Heinzen has revealed the house is just as haunted as one wants to believe. Heinzen described having experienced, “doors open on their own, footsteps, disembodied voices, electronic voice phenomena, and some awesome spirit-box sessions.” 

Despite seeing no evidence of an evil spirit, the couple acknowledged, “You can tell there’s a lot of things going on in the house.” Since their initial purchase, the couple has maintained plans to one day allow tours for lovers of the films and horror thrills. 

Braving a tour of The Conjuring house

Although Cory Heinzen admitted to having a tough time bearing the house alone, he will fear no more. His quiet, haunted farmhouse will soon be receiving an influx of new activity – the pitter-patter of eager tourists. 

Fans of the film may be thrown off to see the multi-part, brown farmhouse looks nothing like the film’s portrayal; In fact, one might argue the real house looks even more eerie. But this didn’t stop the Heinzens from falling in love with their new home. 

Although the current global pandemic may have hindered their timeline, the Heinzens are growing closer to finishing the repairs on the house and opening it up for paranormal tours. Receiving a blessing from Andrea Perron over their intentions, the Heinzens hope to satisfy fans of The Conjuring, and skeptics of the paranormal world.