You’ve seen the movie. A cranky widower ties thousands of balloons to his chimney to escape a changing world. It’s a tear-jerker. But the real life up house isn't actually just one place. It’s a messy mix of a stubborn woman in Seattle and a custom-built dream in Utah.
Honestly, the internet loves to conflate these two stories. People think the house in Seattle was the direct inspiration for the Pixar movie, but that's not quite how the timeline works. It’s more of a "life imitating art imitating life" loop.
The Ballard Holdout: Edith Macefield’s 108-Year-Old Stand
Edith Macefield is a legend. In 2006, she famously turned down a $1 million offer to sell her small farmhouse in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. Developers were building a massive shopping complex called Ballard Blocks. They wanted her land. She said no.
She wasn't a protester. She wasn't trying to make a statement about gentrification. She just didn't want to move. "I don't want to move. I don't need the money. Money doesn't mean anything," she told reporters back then. It's a vibe.
The developers eventually just built around her. Literally. Her tiny house became encased in solid concrete walls. It looks exactly like the real life up house from the film, tucked into a giant urban canyon. But here is the kicker: Up began development in 2004. Macefield’s story went viral in 2006. While the resemblance is uncanny, Pixar has stated the movie wasn't specifically based on her. Still, the public linked them forever.
The house still stands at 1438 NW 46th St. It’s a bit of a local shrine. People tie balloons to the fence. It’s faded. The paint is peeling. It’s lonely, but it’s still there.
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The Strange Friendship with Barry Martin
This is the part that feels like a screenplay. Barry Martin was the construction superintendent for the massive project meant to displace her. You’d think they’d be enemies. Instead, he started checking on her. He brought her groceries. He cooked her dinner. He took her to doctor appointments.
When Edith passed away in 2008 at the age of 84, she didn't leave the house to a relative or a museum. She left it to Barry.
Barry eventually had to sell it. He needed to move on, and the maintenance on a century-old house surrounded by a mall is a nightmare. Since then, the house has been through a rollercoaster. It faced foreclosure. A nonprofit tried to move it via barge to Orcas Island (it failed because the house was too heavy/fragile). Now, it’s owned by a developer who intends to keep it as part of the complex, though its future is always a bit "wait and see."
The Herriman House: When Disney Actually Built It
If the Seattle house is the "spiritual" version, the house in Herriman, Utah, is the literal one. In 2011, Bangerter Homes got permission from Disney to build an exact replica of Carl and Ellie’s home.
This wasn't a "sorta looks like it" situation. They matched the floor plan. They matched the weather vane. They even imported the exact shade of "Carl's Green" paint. It’s a 2,800-square-foot fully functional home.
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The Lynch family bought it for about $400,000. They still live there. They actually use the nursery as a craft room, much like the movie's opening montage.
Details That Only Fans Notice
- The Mailbox: It has the handprints.
- The Chairs: Custom-made replicas of Carl and Ellie’s armchairs sit in the living room.
- The Light Switches: They are the old-school toggle versions from the 1930s.
Living in a real life up house comes with a weird set of chores. You can't just let the grass die. You have people parked out front 24/7 taking selfies. The Lynches have been remarkably cool about it, often decorating the yard for holidays to give the fans something new to see. It’s a tourist destination in a quiet residential cul-de-sac.
Why We Are Obsessed With These Houses
Psychologically, the real life up house represents the "Holdout." We live in a world that moves too fast. Everything is being knocked down for a Five Guys or a luxury condo. Seeing a tiny, colorful house refuse to budge feels like a win for the little guy.
There are other "Up" houses, too. In the UK, a man named Simon Dale built a "Hobbit/Up" hybrid. In the Philippines, there's a colorful facade inspired by the movie. But Seattle and Utah remain the gold standards.
The Seattle house represents the grit.
The Utah house represents the dream.
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The Logistics of a Balloon Lift (Spoiler: It’s Hard)
National Geographic actually tried to recreate the balloon lift for a show called How Hard Can It Be? in 2011. They didn't use a whole house—that’s physically impossible with latex balloons. They used a custom-built light-weight 16x16 foot pod.
They used 300 giant weather balloons.
It reached 10,000 feet.
It stayed up for about an hour.
To lift a real 100,000-pound house, you’d need roughly 26.5 million balloons. The weight of the strings alone would probably snap the roof off before the house ever left the ground. Physics is a buzzkill.
What You Should Know Before Visiting
If you're planning a pilgrimage to see a real life up house, there are some rules.
- Ballard (Seattle) is for Looking: You can't go inside. It’s fenced off. Don't try to hop the fence; it’s a construction zone/private property. Just tie a balloon to the chain link and move on.
- Herriman (Utah) is a Residence: People live here. Don't knock on the door asking for a tour. Stay on the sidewalk. Respect the neighbors.
- Check the Status: The Seattle house is often in a state of "pending" development. Check local Ballard news before you fly across the country to make sure it hasn't been moved or integrated into a new structure.
The story of the real life up house isn't just about architecture. It's about what we're willing to hold onto. Whether it's Edith Macefield holding onto her memories in a sea of concrete, or the Lynch family holding onto a piece of cinematic magic, these structures prove that a home is more than just a real estate asset.
It's a place where you've lived. And that's worth defending.
Actionable Steps for Enthusiasts
If you're inspired by the "Up" lifestyle or want to see these sites, here is the best way to do it without being "that" tourist.
- For the Ballard House: Park at the Ballard Blocks parking garage. Grab a coffee at the nearby shops. Walk over to the 46th St entrance. The contrast between the cold grey mall walls and the tiny house is the whole point of the experience.
- For the Herriman House: Visit during the "Golden Hour" (just before sunset). The colors of the house pop against the Utah mountains, making for much better photos than the harsh midday sun.
- Support the Legacy: Instead of just taking a photo of the Macefield house, read Barry Martin's book, Under One Roof. It gives a much deeper look into who Edith actually was—a woman who supposedly worked as a spy and spoke multiple languages—rather than just the "old lady who wouldn't move."
- Build Your Own (Small Scale): If you want the vibe without the $400k price tag, the LEGO "Up" House (Set #43217) is surprisingly accurate to the film's floor plan and includes the garden and Carl/Russell minifigs. It’s a decent desk-sized tribute.