KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas entrepreneur is the new official owner of the famous “home of the Goonies” in Astoria, Oregon.
Victorian-era home built in 1896 featured in Richard Donner and Steven Spielberg’s classic film The Goonies. The film stars an ensemble of 1980s child actors and spotlights a group of kids who, after discovering that their friend’s parents’ house has been foreclosed, set out to find a legendary pirate ship full of gold, rubies, emeralds and diamonds.
The house in question is the same one that Kansas City native Behman Zakeri bought for $1.6 million.
Zakeri told The Heartlander that he saw the film in the summer of 1985 and it inspired him to find the real-world treasures.
“He inspired me and shaped and shaped who I am today,” Zakeri said. “The positive influence The Goonies did for me was like teaching me that you have to have relentless desire when trying to be successful. It doesn’t matter what obstacle is thrown at you, what rock tries to fall on your head or if the floor falls out from under you, you keep pushing yourself and going through that tunnel. Eventually you will find gold at the end of the tunnel.
Zakeri says his goal for the Goonies house is to make sure it looks like it did when the movie was filmed and that fans enjoy it as much as he does.
“Really, it’s open to anything. I wish as many fans could enjoy it as we do. It’s such an iconic landmark. My neighbor two houses down is so passionate The Goonies and preserving this too. We must all work together to make sure that as many fans can appreciate it as much as everyone else.”
The new owner says he and his family plan to find as many props as possible. Previous owner Sandi Preston befriended Zakeri and offered to leave some memorabilia behind. Recently, engineers have been on hand to recreate the Rube Goldberg-style chain reaction contraption from the film on the outside of the house to help properly mimic the “truffle noise” dance that Chunk does in one scene.
Plus, Zakeri says fans have already driven up the driveway and had to do the “truffle mix” for a video.
“It’s almost like recreating the film and making it The Goonies. Fans feel like, ‘Wow, this is how it felt and looked like when they filmed this.’ People who came today asked if they could go up to the porch. I told them, “Absolutely, come and take pictures.” Hug the post like Mikey did in the movie and look at the horizon.’ Whatever you have to do to make that magical feeling happen, that’s what it’s all about.
The city of Astoria celebrates a Goonies Day every year on June 7 that attracts thousands of fans from around the world. This summer’s celebration will mark the 38th anniversary of The Goonies release date.
The Goonies’ neighbors are all fans of the film. An 80-year-old neighbor says he likes to be called “Old Goonie.”
Zakeri and his wife plan to continue living in their Kansas home and will use their new Goonies treasure as a vacation home. He says there’s the option to rent it out for months at a time for special occasions, including filming for a much-anticipated one Goonies sequels if the directors are interested.
Preston felt that Zakeri was the right man to buy the house and chose his offer over another higher one. He befriended Preston during her first visit to the Goonies’ house and discussed buying it if she was ever willing to sell. Once Zakeri learned of the viral listing, he immediately threw his name in the hat.
The entrepreneur built and runs a trading and trading card company called Collector’s Cache and an escape room business, as well as ‘We Buy Gold’ and ‘Bury the Hatchet KC’. Zakeri told The Heartlander that he’s not done with his business ventures, and says there’s a possibility for more Goonies adventures in the form of an idea called “One-Eyed Willy’s Treasure Hunt,” in where players would receive real money and jewels as prizes. prize.
Not sure if you start in Kansas City or start in Astoria or a mix of both.
“Maybe you have to start in Kansas City and end in Astoria to find the treasure. I think it would be great to work with someone like MrBeast, the great YouTuber. He regularly gives away over a million dollars on Youtube videos of him. I’ve already reached out to Logan Paul; he is my friend and Logan is a Goonie. His mate Mike (from his podcast) is one big Goonie. I invited them to do an episode of their podcast inside the Goonies house. They are interested.
