Superfan celebrates first anniversary as owner of 'The Goonies' house

Entrepreneur Behman Zakeri has celebrated the first anniversary of owning the iconic house from the 1985 movie "The Goonies." Zakeri, who watched the film over 100 times since he was eight, fulfilled a childhood dream by purchasing the Astoria, Oregon home for $1.65 million last year.

Zakeri expressed his lifelong connection to the film, stating, "The Goonies taught me what friendship is about and also made me dream as a kid of maybe someday finding a buried treasure." He added that buying the house was part of that dream: "I could go up in the attic and find a treasure map!"

Upon learning that Sandi Preston, the seller, wanted to pass her home to someone who would preserve its legacy for "The Goonies" community, Zakeri shared his plans to restore it to its cinematic glory. His bid was accepted despite not being the highest offer. "I think that the seller believed that I was the one who she could pass the torch to and keep 'Goonies' magic alive," Zakeri said.

Zakeri financed this purchase through loans and savings. Reflecting on his efforts, he remarked, “After getting three loans and using a mountain of savings I had saved for a rainy day, I was able to make it happen.”

Although local zoning laws prevent him from turning it into a museum, Zakeri welcomes fans from around the world while ensuring they respect neighbors. The property sees hundreds of visitors daily with more than 1,000 during ‘Goonies Day’ celebrations on June 7.

However, some neighbors have been less enthusiastic about increased tourism. A banner reading “Goonies Not Welcome” appeared last year but faced counter-responses like “Ignore Karen.” Despite these tensions, Zakeri collaborates with local authorities to manage visitor flow effectively. He noted city-installed signs guiding fans on where to park have been beneficial.

Financially speaking, Zakeri admitted no profits have been made yet from owning this house. He stated candidly: “It has been a huge money pit ever since we bought it... but it’s definitely very expensive and time-consuming to maintain.” Nevertheless, he emphasized that owning this piece of movie history is not just an investment but also fulfilling a personal dream.