You Can Visit This Legendary ‘Hocus Pocus’ House
Hocus Pocus has been beloved by Halloween fans for years. Though it was not praised when it was first released, it has since turned into a cult classic. Fans have done deep dives into Easter Eggs about the movie, and Disney + has ordered a sequel to the film. Bette Middler has recently confirmed that the entire original cast will be returning.
Since there is no word yet on a plot or a release date for the film, Hocus Pocus fans will have to get their kicks differently. Luckily, if you live near or around Salem, or even if you’re just visiting, you can visit Allison’s home.
It just happens to be a historical location with some pretty epic history of its own.
‘Hocus Pocus’ was panned when it was first released
Each year, fans look forward to seeing the Sanderson sisters terrorize everyone in Hocus Pocus. However, when the movie was first released in July 1993, it was a massive flop for Disney.
Helmed by High School Musical creator Kenny Ortega, Hocus Pocus baffled critics and pulled almost no one into the movie theaters. In The Chicago Sun-Times, late film critic Roger Ebert called the movie “a confusing cauldron in which there is great activity but little progress and a lot of hysterical shrieking.”
It only made $8.1 million on its $28 million budget.
‘Hocus Pocus’ is connected to a ton of Disney movies including ‘Halloweentown’
Hocus Pocus fans have started noticing some of the Hocus Pocus costumes appearing in later Disney films. For example, Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Sarah Sanderson’s red sparkly dress and a purple robe appear on a random witch at the end of Disney Channel’s Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge.
However, you can spot other costumes in Hocus Pocus in earlier movies like Treasure Island, The Sword and the Rose, The Island at the Top of the World, and Tron. Middler would have also recognized some of the costumes from her movie, Gypsy.
The ‘Hocus Pocus’ house can be toured be fans
Set in Salem, Massachusetts, Hocus Pocus was filmed at some historical places. Allison’s house, one of the main locations for the film, is actually the Roper Mansion, which dates all the way back to the 1700s and has many of its original textures.
Fans can visit the home since it’s now a museum. The home has nine bedrooms built by the Roper family, two living rooms, two dining rooms, and two bathrooms. It also boasts three different pantries. The museum still has the original china and bedding dating back to the 19th century.
When Hocus Pocus was filmed, Disney squeezed in 20 extras into one living room to make it look like a Halloween party. The home also has a massive garden with some of the flowers and plants dating back to the 1900s. The museum is typically open from May through late October. However, Oct. is its busiest month.
