If you drive down to the end of a quiet street in a sleepy Long Island suburb, you’ll find a house that looks nothing like the movies. It’s a beautiful Dutch Colonial. It has a manicured lawn. The iconic "eye" windows are gone, replaced by standard squares to discourage the endless parade of gawkers who have haunted this neighborhood for decades.
108 Ocean Avenue in Amityville New York isn't just an address anymore. It’s a brand. It’s a ghost story that somehow turned into a multimillion-dollar media franchise. But honestly, if you strip away the Hollywood jump scares and the bleeding walls, you’re left with two very different stories: a horrific true crime and a brilliant, if questionable, marketing scheme.
People still flock here. They take photos from their cars, much to the annoyance of the locals who just want to mow their grass in peace. But most of those visitors are looking for a haunting that arguably never happened, while ignoring the very real tragedy that actually did.
The Night Everything Changed: November 13, 1974
Before the "horror," there was a massacre. We have to talk about Ronald "Butch" DeFeo Jr. because without him, the address 108 Ocean Avenue in Amityville New York would just be another high-end property.
At approximately 3:15 AM, Butch walked through the house with a .35-caliber Marlin lever-action rifle. He systematicallly murdered his parents, Ronald Sr. and Louise, and his four siblings: Dawn, Allison, Marc, and John Matthew. They were all found face down in their beds. No silencer was used. Yet, strangely, no neighbors heard the shots, and none of the victims appeared to have struggled or been drugged.
That’s the part that actually creeps people out.
Butch initially tried to blame a mob hitman, but his story fell apart faster than a cheap umbrella. He eventually confessed, famously telling police, "Once I started, I just couldn't stop. It went so quick." He was later convicted on six counts of second-degree murder. He died in prison in 2021, taking many of the unanswered questions about that night to his grave.
The Lutz Family and the Birth of a Legend
Thirteen months after the murders, George and Kathleen Lutz bought the house. It was a steal. They paid $80,000 for a waterfront property that should have cost way more, even in 1975 dollars. They knew the history. They even had the furniture from the DeFeo family included in the deal.
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They lasted 28 days.
When they fled, they claimed they were terrorized by paranormal activity. We’re talking green slime, cold spots, a demonic pig named Jodie, and George waking up every night at 3:15 AM—the exact time of the murders. Jay Anson’s book, The Amityville Horror, turned these claims into a global phenomenon.
But here’s the kicker: William Weber, Butch DeFeo’s defense attorney, later admitted that he, George, and Kathleen "created this horror story over many bottles of wine." Weber needed a way to get DeFeo a new trial—maybe by claiming "demonic possession" influenced the murders—and the Lutzes needed a way to get out of a mortgage they couldn't afford.
It was a business transaction dressed up as a haunting.
Why the Story Won't Die
You've probably seen the 1979 film or the Ryan Reynolds remake. Maybe you’ve seen one of the 30-plus low-budget sequels that have nothing to do with the real house. The reason 108 Ocean Avenue in Amityville New York stays in the public consciousness isn't because it's haunted. It’s because it taps into a very specific American fear: that your home, your sanctuary, can turn against you.
The house has changed owners several times since the Lutzes left in 1976. Interestingly, none of the subsequent owners—including James and Barbara Cromarty, who lived there for a decade—reported anything remotely supernatural.
"Nothing weird ever happened," Barbara Cromarty used to tell reporters, "except for people knocking on the door asking where the ghosts were."
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The Cromarties actually sued the Lutzes and the publishers for "invasion of privacy" because the book turned their home into a circus. They eventually won a settlement, but the damage was done. The house was no longer a home; it was a landmark of the macabre.
The Architecture of a Hoax
If you look at the floor plan of 108 Ocean Avenue in Amityville New York, it's a classic 1920s build. It’s got a boathouse. It’s got a heated pool. It’s a luxury estate.
Researchers like Rick Moran and Joe Nickell have spent years debunking the "supernatural" claims. They found that many of the physical "damages" mentioned in the book—like the front door being ripped off its hinges—simply didn't happen. The original hardware was still intact when the next owners moved in. The "Red Room" in the basement? It was just a small storage space under the stairs.
Yet, the legend persists. Why? Because the truth is boring and the lie is cinematic. We want to believe that evil lingers in the floorboards because it gives us a reason for the senseless violence Butch DeFeo committed. It’s easier to blame a demon than to admit a young man could just decide to kill his entire family.
Visiting Amityville Today: A Reality Check
If you're planning a trip to see 108 Ocean Avenue in Amityville New York, there are some things you absolutely need to know. First, the town of Amityville is tired of the hype. The residents are protective of their privacy.
- The address has been changed. The house is no longer officially numbered 108. It was changed to discourage tourists, though a quick GPS search renders that effort mostly symbolic.
- It is a private residence. People live there. They pay taxes. They don't want you on their lawn. Trespassing will get the cops called on you faster than you can say "Get Out."
- The windows are different. If you're looking for the "scary eyes," you won't find them. They were replaced years ago to make the house look less like the movie poster.
- The neighborhood is high-end. This isn't a spooky, isolated cabin. It’s a wealthy, densely populated suburb.
Basically, it's a beautiful house with a dark history, but the "vibe" is more Better Homes & Gardens than The Conjuring.
Separating Fact from Hollywood Friction
It is kinda wild how much of the "lore" is just pure fiction. For example, the idea that the house was built on a Shinnecock Indian burial ground? Totally made up. Local historians and tribal leaders have debunked that repeatedly. There’s no evidence of any such site on that specific plot of land.
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Then there’s the claim of "cold spots." In an old house on the water in New York during December, you’re going to have drafts. It’s not a ghost; it’s a lack of insulation.
But the tragedy of the DeFeo family is very real. When you look at the photos of the house today, you’re looking at a crime scene. That is the only haunting that matters. The fact that six people lost their lives in those bedrooms is a heavy enough burden for any building to carry without adding fictional monsters to the mix.
How to Respectfully Engage with the History
If you're a true crime or paranormal enthusiast, there's a right way to handle the 108 Ocean Avenue in Amityville New York legacy.
- Read the Trial Transcripts: If you want the real story, skip the movies and read the court records from the DeFeo trial. It’s a fascinating, albeit grim, look at forensic psychology and the legal system in the 70s.
- Visit the Local Museums: The Amityville Historical Society has information about the town’s history that goes way beyond the horror story.
- Respect the Perimeter: If you must see the house, do a drive-by. Don't stop, don't park, and definitely don't walk onto the property.
The current owners are the latest in a long line of people trying to reclaim the house's dignity. It was sold most recently in 2017 for about $605,000—well below its potential value if it didn't have such a "loud" history.
Actionable Next Steps for Enthusiasts
If you want to dive deeper into what actually happened at 108 Ocean Avenue, stop watching the sequels. Start with The Amityville Horror Casebook by Stephen Kaplan. He was a paranormal investigator who was originally supposed to investigate the Lutz's claims but became one of the most vocal critics of the "hoax."
Alternatively, look into the work of Laura Didio, a journalist who was one of the few people to actually spend time in the house right after the Lutzes left. Her perspective is much more grounded than the sensationalized accounts you find on YouTube.
The real story of Amityville isn't about ghosts. It's about how a tragedy was converted into a commodity. It’s a lesson in how the media can reshape reality until the truth is almost unrecognizable.
If you go to Amityville looking for a scare, you’ll probably be disappointed. But if you go looking for a deeper understanding of how we process trauma and mythology in America, you’ll find plenty to think about. Just keep your eyes on the road and stay off the grass.