Goodnight, John-Boy: Bed-and-breakfast being built near ‘Waltons’ house - WTOP News (2024)

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Neal Augenstein | naugenstein@wtop.com

February 19, 2019, 12:32 PM

WASHINGTON — Fans of “The Waltons” television show will soon have a new place to stay, evoking the Depression-era home where three generations of the fictitious family lived.

Ground was broken Tuesday for a new bed-and-breakfast in Schuyler, Virginia, near the home where writer Earl Hamner, Jr. grew up. In 1961, Hamner published his second novel — “Spencer’s Mountain” — about life with his siblings, parents, and grandparents, which was the basis for the TV show.

Carole Johnson — the owner of The Walton Hamner House — has been offering tours of the home, which is located in Nelson County, about 40 miles southwest of Charlottesville, for more than a decade.

Johnson told WTOP visitors to the attraction have had to travel to other towns to spend the night.

“I’m just trying to give them a place that they can come and stay, once they’re up on the mountain,” Johnson said. “It’s directly across the street from The Walton’s Mountain Museum,” on Rockfish River Road.

Although the bed-and-breakfast is being built from the ground up, Johnson believes it will be infused with Waltons essence.

“It will look like the house from the front — we want people to drive up and have it looked like it did on “The Waltons” TV show,” said Johnson. “It’ll have a warm family feeling of love and kindness.”

Johnson said the B&B will be evocative, rather than a duplication of the “real” Waltons home.

“Of course, the house really wasn’t even a house — it was a facade,” built on a Hollywood studio back lot, said Johnson.

“We’ve also had to make some modern conveniences — the Waltons only had one bathroom,” Johnson said, noting each room in the bed-and-breakfast will have a bathroom.

In the Depression-era, wood was the exterior of the Hamner house and the home depicted on “The Waltons.”

“We were going to use Hardie board, but we have decided to go with vinyl,” said Johnson. “Supposedly it will look the same.”

Johnson and Laurie Lane will be involved in cooking breakfast and giving tours at the nearby Hamner home.

“We’re just trying to do nice, wholesome, southern food,” said Johnson. “Comfort food — grits, French toast, little casseroles.”

The bed-and-breakfast required zoning approval from the Nelson County Board of Supervisors, from business to residential.

The conditions include no amplified music and limitations on outdoor lighting.

With construction underway, Johnson said the house should be done by mid-October, in time for the yearly Waltons event Oct. 25-27.

“I hope to actually have the new bed-and-breakfast full of cast members for that grand opening weekend,” so she anticipates fans will be able to begin booking rooms by the middle of November.

Johnson anticipates visitors will feel the familial warmth they felt watching the show while growing up.

“It’s almost like an adult Disneyland,” she said.

Goodnight, John-Boy: Bed-and-breakfast being built near ‘Waltons’ house - WTOP News (1)

Neal Augenstein

Neal Augenstein has been a reporter at WTOP since 1997. Through the years, Neal has covered many of the crimes and trials that have gripped the region. Neal's been pleased to receive awards over the years for hard news, feature reporting, use of sound and sports.

naugenstein@wtop.com

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Goodnight, John-Boy: Bed-and-breakfast being built near ‘Waltons’ house - WTOP News (8)

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Goodnight, John-Boy: Bed-and-breakfast being built near ‘Waltons’ house - WTOP News (2024)

FAQs

Does the house from The Waltons still exist? ›

Popularly known as The Waltons House, the Hamner House is the childhood home of Earl Hamner, Jr., novelist and creator of the TV series, The Waltons and was listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register in 2004. The Walton Hamner House is open seven days a week and guided tours begin every half hour from 10am until 4pm.

Who owns The Waltons House? ›

The house will have a similar porch and first floor as the home portrayed in the popular '70s TV show, said Ray Castro, who co-owns the Waltons Hamner House with Carole Johnson, both long-time fans of the show.

Where is the house that The Waltons was filmed in located? ›

The location of the Walton's house, barn and mill was filmed on the backlot at The Burbank studios. Visible from certain angles Walton's Mountain could be see through the trees. Drucilla's pond was part of the Jungle set.

Was there a real Ike Godsey? ›

In addition to the Walton characters, other roles, such as the “recipe-making” Baldwin sisters and General Store owner, Ike Godsey were also inspired by real people.

Did The Waltons have a bathroom? ›

“We've also had to make some modern conveniences — the Waltons only had one bathroom,” Johnson said, noting each room in the bed-and-breakfast will have a bathroom. In the Depression-era, wood was the exterior of the Hamner house and the home depicted on “The Waltons.”

Who owns Waltons Mountain now? ›

The new owners, Carole Johnson of Ukiah, California, Ray Castro of New Jersey, and Kirstin DeMaio of Michigan, plan to open it up for tours. The Waltons Hamner House opens Friday and tickets will be available at the Walton Mountain Museum across the street.

How many bedrooms did The Waltons House have? ›

The inn features five bedrooms and five bathrooms. There is the grandparents' room, the parents' room, the writer's room (meaning John Boy's), the boys' room and the girls' room.

Can you visit The Waltons House? ›

The Waltons Hamner House is open seven days a week and guided tours begin every half hour from 10am until 4pm.

What caused The Waltons House fire? ›

Studios that destroyed the farmhouse used in the TV series The Waltons was set by an arsonist, according to Burbank, Calif., fire officials. Burn patterns indicated that a flammable substance was splashed around a chicken coop on the set and inside the house, an arson investigator said Wednesday.

Is the story of The Waltons true? ›

All of the Waltons were based on real people — Hamner's family, his grandfather and grandmother, his father and mother, and his brothers and sisters, of whom there were seven in the show but eight in real life.

Where were the outdoor scenes on The Waltons filmed? ›

On the back lot of the Warner Brothers film studios in Burbank, California, is where the iconic exterior shots were filmed. And, how the house was arranged isn't at all what we would have guessed. Judy Norton, who played Mary Ellen Walton on the show, recently revealed just how the sound stage was set up.

What town did The Waltons live near? ›

The main story is set in Walton's Mountain, a fictional mountain community in the fictitious Jefferson County, Virginia. The real place upon which the stories are based is the community of Schuyler in Nelson County, Virginia.

Did any of The Waltons date each other? ›

The love stories carried over behind the scenes. Ma and Pa Walton — Ralph Waite and Michael Learned — quietly fell on love on set. And remember Jason and Toni, who we just mentioned in the prior paragraph? Well, actors Jon Walmsley and Lisa Harrison tied the knot in real life in 1979!

How much of The Waltons is true? ›

People have been asking for more than four decades if "the family is real" and "is there a 'real' Walton's Mountain?" The answer is yes. Though the names might be different Earl Hamner based the show on his memories of growing up in rural Virginia with his family during the depression.

Who was the fat lady on The Waltons? ›

'There was pressure for me to weigh a certain amount': Mary McDonough reveals she began 'starving' herself and developed 'body image issues' after being told she was fat while starring in The Waltons. She starred in The Waltons for nearly a decade during the 1970s, joining the show when she was just 11.

What did The Waltons say at the end of the show? ›

"Good night, John Boy."

Are The Waltons billionaires? ›

The top 10 richest families in 2022 by estimated wealth are: The Walton family with $224.5 billion.

What did they say at the end of The Waltons? ›

"I hope that you'll remember this house as I do," Earl Hamner narrates in the closing moments of the final episode of The Waltons.

Are The Waltons the richest family in America? ›

For the fourth year in a row, the Waltons top the list of the world's richest families with a net worth of $224.5 billion.

Is Walmart still owned by The Waltons? ›

The Walton family is still the major shareholder of Walmart Inc. The children of Walmart founder Sam Walton own about half of all Walmart shares, according to official company documents.

Where are The Waltons cars now? ›

The original truck is housed in the Walmart Heritage Museum in Bentonville. The museum's director, Alan Dranow, called Walton's truck a “symbol of humility” and frugality.

Where do the Walmart Waltons live? ›

About the 5&10

In 1950, the Walton family – Sam and Helen, sons, Rob, John, and Jim, and daughter Alice Walton – moved to Bentonville in northwest Arkansas from the eastern side of the state. According to Sam, the town was small enough to satisfy Helen's need for small-town living.

Is The Waltons homecoming a true story? ›

“The Homecoming” is based on actual happenings in the Hamner household on Christmas Eve 1938, when Earl Jr. was 15. The Depression had forced his father to work at a factory 40 miles from home. Earl Sr.'s worried clan waited and waited--wife Doris, Earl Jr.

Can you tour Waltons Mountain? ›

Open weekends in April thru December: Saturdays 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Sundays 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Group tours other times: Call 434-263-8400 www.oakland-museum.org.

Is Rockfish Virginia a real place? ›

Rockfish is an unincorporated community in Nelson County, Virginia, United States.

How did Elizabeth on The Waltons break her legs? ›

Elizabeth breaks both legs in a fall from a log pile. When she comes home from the hospital, the family must adjust to her injuries and devise ways to help her walk again, something the Doctors aren't sure she'll be able to do.

What illness did the mother on The Waltons have? ›

Olivia is leaving Walton's Mountain, hustled off with tuberculosis to an Arizona sanatorium while her family somehow forges a path between unbearable grief and unbearable stoicism.

Why was John-Boy in the hospital on The Waltons? ›

John leaves Olivia to stay and wait at the hospital and returns back home to the family. He tells them that John-Boy was shot down off the coast of Belgium and was picked up by a fishing trawler. He was at a hospital in England for a few months and it took time to identify him because he had lost his dog tags.

What was The Waltons real name? ›

In the foothills of the lovely old Blue Ridge Mountains… … Lies the small town of Schulyer, Virginia, home of the Hamner family – the real-life family on which the Waltons were based. The mountain town of Schuyler is home to about 400 residents, and there the two-story Hamner family home still stands.

Did John Boy Walton Get married? ›

He meets Janet Gilchrist who is an editor for Harper's magazine. The two are married on Walton's Mountain.

Did the grandmother on The Waltons have a stroke in real life? ›

Ellen Corby died in 1999, but she is remembered as Grandma Walton on the hit television show, The Waltons. Her work on the show earned her three Emmy awards. Yet her career almost ended in 1976 after a stroke that left her with aphasia.

Was any of the Waltons filmed in Virginia? ›

While filmed on location in California, the fictional Walton family would have been at home in the tiny town of about 300 residents 40 minutes southwest of Charlottesville, Va., in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Was the Waltons filmed on a set? ›

Interiors for The Waltons were filmed on Stage 26 and Stage 20 of The Warner Bros. Studio which was known during the original series as The Burbank Studios.

Where do the Waltons live in Colorado? ›

It has been reported that she and her husband, Greg Penner, will run the Broncos day-to-day operations. The pair live in Atherton, California, but also have a home in Aspen.

What mountain is Walton's Mountain? ›

Walton Mountains is an isolated chain of three predominantly snow-covered mountain masses, rising to about 1,450 m at Mount McArthur, extending south from Schubert Inlet for 25 miles (40 km) in central Alexander Island, Antarctica.

Did Mary Ellen get divorced on The Waltons? ›

Then Curt was killed at Pearl Harbor in the 1978 season, and Mary Ellen found new love with Arlington Wescott "Jonesy" Jones (Richard Gililand) while taking premed courses. The romance was threatened when Curt was discovered not to have died after all, but the two decided their marriage had ended and divorced.

Did Erin get divorced on The Waltons? ›

During the end voice over , John boy states that Erin's marriage is as strong today as it was when they got married , but in A Walton Thanksgiving reunion , she is divorced and states that it was because she found out Paul was cheating on her .

Is Olivia from The Waltons still alive? ›

Michael Learned (born April 9, 1939) is an American actress, known for her role as Olivia Walton in the long-running CBS drama series The Waltons (1972–1981).
...
Michael Learned
Learned in a publicity photo as Olivia Walton, 1972
BornApril 9, 1939 Washington, D.C., U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1961–present
2 more rows

Where is Jim Bob Walton now? ›

Harper, who first found fame as Jim Bob Walton, now works as an art dealer in Los Angeles. He was cast as a child actor but have up acting after his success in the Waltons, and subsequent jobs have included driving for co-star Eric Scott's transport company.

Are the Baldwin sisters from The Waltons still alive? ›

They reprised their roles as the Baldwin sisters for TV movies A Walton Wedding (1995) and A Walton Easter (1997). Helen Kleeb passed away just shy of her 97th birthday in late December, 2003. Two years later, Mary Jackson died shortly after her 95th birthday in December of 2005.

Did the parents on The Waltons fall in love? ›

She told Fox News at one point the actors who played Ma and Pa Walton actually developed strong romantic feelings for one another. "We had a deep love for each other that we would have ruined if we had taken that extra step, and we didn't," Learned said. "We never did.

How is Corabeth A Walton? ›

“She was larger than life and so whip-smart and funny.” Edwards joined “The Waltons” in 1974 as high-strung Corabeth Walton, cousin to John Walton Sr. (Ralph Waite). She married Ike (Joe Conley) and proved a formidable and snooty force.

Who was the little black boy on The Waltons? ›

Todd Bridges played a similar role in the The Wisdom of Solomon (1977) that aired earlier in 1977. This episode was another commentary on race relations of the time. Bridges played the son of poor, black Mississippi sharecroppers. He wants to go to school and get an education, but his parents are against it.

Who was the Nightwalker on The Waltons? ›

Lorin Hadley is a character played by actor Gary Tomlinon on The Waltons.
...
Lorin Hadley
StatusAlive
4 more rows

Is Walton's Mountain Real? ›

The main story is set in Walton's Mountain, a fictional mountain community in the fictitious Jefferson County, Virginia. The real place upon which the stories are based is the community of Schuyler in Nelson County, Virginia.

Where is the Baldwin house from The Waltons? ›

1/2 a mile to the north the the main Warner Bros Studio facility in the Warner Bros. Ranch where the Baldwin sisters home is located and whichin also the current location of the Walton Farm house after is was relocated from the main lot in 1995.

Do The Waltons still own Walmart? ›

The Walton family is still the major shareholder of Walmart Inc. The children of Walmart founder Sam Walton own about half of all Walmart shares, according to official company documents.

Where does Jim Walton currently live? ›

Walton (born September 1983), and James M. Walton (born August 1987). The family resides in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Why did The Waltons get Cancelled? ›

The announcement shocked fans, but the network's decision came after The Waltons had spent years on a gradual descent from the top of the TV ratings. The show had dipped from No. 2 in its second season, down to the nation's No. 42 show by its ninth.

How much of the Waltons is true? ›

People have been asking for more than four decades if "the family is real" and "is there a 'real' Walton's Mountain?" The answer is yes. Though the names might be different Earl Hamner based the show on his memories of growing up in rural Virginia with his family during the depression.

Is the Baldwin house still standing? ›

The oldest house still standing on the island of Maui, Baldwin Home is a recognizable landmark in the heart of historic Lahaina.

Who is the richest Walmart heir? ›

In September 2016, she owned over US$11 billion in Walmart shares. As of October 2022, Walton has a net worth of $59 billion, making her the 19th-richest person, and the second richest woman in the world according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Newport, Arkansas, U.S.

Is Lowe's owned by Walmart? ›

Are Walmart and Lowe's Affiliated? Walmart doesn't have any affiliations with Lowe's. The two companies are entirely separate, and they don't have any ownership stake in each other. However, both companies are large retailers.

How much does a Walmart store make per day? ›

The average U.S. Walmart store makes approximately $1.1 billion per year. That's $3 million in sales every single day.

Who is the richest family in the world The Waltons? ›

At $224.5 billion, the Waltons are the richest family in the world thanks to their massive stake in Walmart, the world's largest company by revenue. The fourth generation of the Mars family, the second-richest clan after the Waltons, currently runs the eponymously named Mars candy company.

Where does Lukas Walton live? ›

Personal life. As of 2021, Lukas Walton is ranked 127th in the Forbes annual list of the world's billionaires. He lives in Jackson, Wyoming and Chicago.

How old is Alice Walton? ›

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