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A Kansas City businessman and self-described superfan of the 1985 cult classic The Goonies has bought the Oregon home made famous by the movie.
Behman Zakeri, 37, bought the $1.65 million property in Astoria, Oregon, in a bid to keep it as a sanctuary for the beloved family film.
“The reason I buy it is because of the community,” Zakeri said. ‘Someone has to be the caretaker, someone has to preserve the landmark. Someone has to keep it original and not be demoted.’
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 businessman and self-described superfan of the 1985 cult classic The Goonies has bought the Oregon home made famous by the movie.
“This moment is completely surreal,” he added. ‘It was a childhood dream. From the moment I saw the ‘Goonies’ when I was eight years old, I dreamed of one day owning the ‘Goonies’ house and finding One-Eyed Willy’s treasure, so this is amazing. Really is.’
Zakeri and his wife Liz plan to split time between their Oregon home and their permanent residence in Kansas City.
He adds that he won’t care if people are like him in the past, traveling alone to take a selfie at the location, noting that “Gonies are welcome” and just hoping they stay respectful.
The house has been an attraction for fans of the film since it was released in 1985.
The city celebrates Goonies Day on June 7, the film’s release date, hosting thousands of people for the event.
In 2015, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film, more than 1,500 visitors a day came to the Oregon coastal property.
The owner of the home at the time temporarily placed tarps over it and posted “no trespassing” signs.
Behman Zakeri, 37, bought the $1.65 million property in Astoria, Oregon, in an attempt to keep it as a sanctuary for the beloved family film.
In 2015, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film, more than 1,500 visitors a day flocked to the Oregon coastal property.
“The reason I buy it is because of the community,” Zakeri said of the house. ‘Someone has to be the caretaker, someone has to preserve the landmark. Someone has to keep it original and not be demo’
The 1896 home with sweeping views of the Columbia River flowing into the Pacific Ocean was listed for sale in November with an asking price of nearly $1.7 million.
Astoria itself took steps to issue tickets to people who parked in illegal places 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 for sale in November with an asking price of nearly $1.7 million.
Zakeri’s offer was accepted six days later the house was on the listaccording to public record.
“After word got out that the property was for sale, we received multiple offers, at the asking price and higher, and have a full backing offer,” said Jordan Miller of John L. Scott Real Estate.
Seller Sandi Preston is delivering movie memorabilia she has collected or been given, and some of the home’s furnishings, restored to their original 1896 style, may also be sold to the buyer, according to Miller.
Zakeri and his wife Liz plan to split time between their Oregon home and their permanent residence in Kansas City.
The city celebrates Goonies Day on June 7, the film’s release date, and hosts thousands of people for the event.
Zakeri adds that he won’t care if people are like him in the past, traveling alone to take a selfie at the location, noting that “goonies are welcome” and just hoping they stay respectful.
The film grossed $125 million 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 sometimes prompted her to close it off to foot traffic.
Based on a Steven Spielberg story, the film follows a group of friends fighting to protect their homes from a sprawling country club and foreclosure threats.
In the process, they discover an ancient treasure map which leads them on an adventure and allows them to save their ‘Goon Docks’ neighborhood.
It grossed $125 million at the box office and served as the launching pad for the careers of Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Martha Plimpton and recent Golden Globe winner Ke Huay Quan.