PA Roadside Attractions

Exploring “The Silence of the Lambs” House in Fayette County

Spending the night at the Silence of the Lambs house near Perryopolis Pennsylvania.

Did you know you can spend the night in the house made famous by the 1991 psychological thriller “The Silence of the Lambs”?!

The foyer of Buffalo Bill's House in Perryopolis Pennsylvania. — The foyer of Buffalo Bill’s House near Perryopolis.

Made famous, of course, as the lair of fictional serial killer Buffalo Bill in the Academy Award-winning film.

A painted portrait of Buffalo Bill on display at the Silence of the Lambs house in Fayette County Pennsylvania. — A painted portrait of Buffalo Bill hanging inside the house.

Thanks to Chris Rowan, an film industry Art Director & Prop Stylist who purchased the Fayette County house in 2020, it is now a one-of-a-kind vacation rental.

Chris Rowan purchased the house featured in Silence of the Lambs in 2020. — Chris Rowan, who purchased the house featured in “The Silence of the Lambs” in 2020.

As a big fan of horror films myself, the chance to spend the night in the house where the dramatic conclusion of “The Silence of the Lambs” was filmed was one opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

A book of Silence of the Lambs film locations then and now. — A booklet featuring “The Silence of the Lambs” film locations then and now.

So follow along as I show you room-by-room what you can expect to see and experience if you spend the night at “Buffalo Bill’s House”, roughly 30 miles south of Pittsburgh.

Buffalo Bill's workshop in the basement of the Silence of the Lambs house near Perryopolis Pennsylvania. — Buffalo Bill’s “workshop” in the basement.

The First Floor

The front porch of the home looks very much like it did in the movie, when FBI Agent Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster) first meets Buffalo Bill (played by Ted Levine).

The front porch of the Silence of the Lambs house. — The front porch, where Agent Starling first meets Buffalo Bill.

For diehard fans of the film, standing there is a dream come true!

Buffalo Bill answering the front door at the Silence of the Lambs house. — “Buffalo Bill” (actor Ted Levine) answering the front door.

The foyer is beautiful, decorated with numerous bits of “The Silence of the Lambs” memorabilia.

View of the foyer at the Silence of the Lambs house vacation rental. — View of the foyer from the staircase.

The living room is a great place to relax.

The living room at the Silence of the Lambs house near Perryopolis.

Although it didn’t play a big part in the movie, it’s a terrific spot to WATCH the movie while spending the night!

Watching Silence of the Lambs in the house where portions of the movie were filmed. — Watching “The Silence of the Lambs” in the house where portions of the movie were filmed.

Or maybe you’d prefer to read the novel the film was based on – copies of the book and the film are provided for your enjoyment while staying there.

The Silence of the Lambs is a psychological horror novel by Thomas Harris., first published in 1988 — “The Silence of the Lambs” is a psychological horror novel by Thomas Harris., first published in 1988.

The parlor is decorated with additional “The Silence of the Lambs”-themed artwork.

The parlor in the Silence of the Lambs house. — The parlor in “The Silence of the Lambs” house.

Death’s-head moths are a recurrent theme throughout the house, a macabre calling card used by Buffalo Bill in the film.

A print of a Death's-head moth, a tribute to the role these moths play in the Silence of the Lambs movie. — A print of a Death’s-head moth, a tribute to the role these moths play in the Silence of the Lambs movie.

The dining room, which was prominently featured in the film, is decorated in stunning Victorian fashion.

The Victorian dining room at the Silence of the Lambs house. — The Victorian dining room.

Using the “then and now” film scenes book provided for guests of Buffalo Bill’s House, you can visualize exactly where the actors stood during filming.

The dining room as it appeared in Silence of the Lambs movie and how it appears today.

“Having friends for dinner” takes on new meaning here!

A clever nod to Hannibal Lecter in the dining room of the Silence of the Lambs vacation rental house. — A clever nod to Hannibal Lecter in the dining room of “The Silence of the Lambs” vacation rental house.

And not only is the kitchen functional (and available for guests to use, like any other vacation rental), but it’s also where the door to the basement and Buffalo Bill’s “workshop” is located (the door on the far left).

The kitchen in the Silence of the Lambs house. — The kitchen and the door to the basement made famous by the “Silence of the Lambs” film.

The Basement

If you go into the basement expecting to see the well where Buffalo Bill kept his victims, you won’t find the original – that scene was filmed on a soundstage in a Pittsburgh warehouse.

Buffalo Bill's basement well in "The Silence of the Lambs". — Buffalo Bill’s basement well in “The Silence of the Lambs”.

But you will find a cool replica of it, perfect for photo-ops!

While not the actual well used in the movie, there is a replica in the basement of Buffalo Bill's House. — While not the actual well used in the movie, there is a replica in the basement of Buffalo Bill’s House.

There’s also a great reproduction of Bill’s “sewing room”, where he also dances in one scene while the Q Lazzarus song “Goodbye Horses” plays in the background.

A recreation of Buffalo Bill's basement from the film The Silence of the Lambs. — A reproduction of Buffalo Bill’s basement from the famous dancing scene in “The Silence of the Lambs”.

The Second Floor

Although it isn’t featured in the movie, the second floor is where you’ll find four bedrooms and one bathroom, each with its own “The Silence of the Lambs”-themed décor.

The Hannibal-themed bedroom at the Silence of the Lambs house vacation rental in Perryopolis Pennsylvania. — The Hannibal-themed bedroom.

The Hannibal room (above) and the Clarice room (below) are two of your options.

The Clarice-themed bedroom at the Silence of the Lambs house near Perryopolis Pennsylvania. — The Clarice-themed bedroom.

The Precious room (named after Buffalo Bill’s dog) is perfect for kids.

The Precious bedroom at the Silence of the Lambs house. — The Precious-themed bedroom.

The Buffalo Bill Suite is (naturally) the largest of the bedrooms, and where I spent the night.

The Buffalo Bill Suite at the Silence of the Lambs house vacation rental. — The Buffalo Bill Suite.

The bathroom features a clawfoot tub/shower and an appropriate custom shower curtain.

The bathroom and custom shower curtain at the Silence of the Lambs house. — The bathroom and custom shower curtain at Buffalo Bill’s House.

The Attic

The attic, dubbed Buffalo Bill’s Playhouse, is a retro-inspired game room complete with a pool table, vintage arcade games, a big screen TV, and hundreds of movies.

Buffalo Bill's Playhouse on the third floor of the Silence of the Lambs house. — Buffalo Bill’s Playhouse in the attic of “The Silence of the Lambs” house.

Rating the Experience

Spending the night in “The Silence of the Lambs” house was a fabulous experience!

The Silence of the Lambs house near Perryopolis Pennsylvania. — “The Silence of the Lambs” house near Perryopolis in Fayette County.

Not only is it an exquisite old house in its own right, but the attention to detail and all the subtle (and not-so-subtle) tributes to the plot of the film make the experience all the more memorable.

Movie promo material in the foyer of the Silence of the Lambs house. — Movie promo material in the foyer.

An added attraction (if you like trains, like I do) is the railroad tracks that pass directly in front of the house.

Train passing the front of the Silence of the Lambs House. — Train passing the front of “The Silence of the Lambs” house in Layton, Pennsylvania.

A beautiful attached gazebo is the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee.

Gazebo attached to the Silence of the Lambs house in Layton Pennsylvania. — The attached gazebo off back side of the house.

If YOU want to book a stay at Buffalo Bill’s House, you can do so HERE.

A view of the Silence of the Lambs House near Perryopolis Pennsylvania. — Dusk at the Silence of the Lambs house near Perryopolis, Pennsylvania.

For those that simply want to tour the house, you’ll find information on how to do that HERE.

Walking through Buffalo Bill's House recreating scenes from Silence of the Lambs. — Walking through Buffalo Bill’s House, recreating scenes from “The Silence of the Lambs.”

In either event, you’ll be standing on the spot where movie history was made.

A newspaper clipping from the time The Silence of the Lambs was filming near Perryopolis. — A newspaper clipping from 1992.

“The Silence of the Lambs” was a box office hit and a critically-acclaimed film, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 1992 Academy Awards.

A note from Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme thanking the home owners for letting them shoot part of the film there. — A note from director Jonathan Demme, thanking the home owners for letting him shoot part of the film there.

Spending the night in “The Silence of the Lambs” house makes you a small part of that history as well!

Touring Buffalo Bill's House. — Experience Buffalo Bill’s House near Perryopolis, PA.

The Evans City Cemetery in Butler County holds a special place in horror movie history as the iconic location for the opening scenes of George Romero’s groundbreaking film, “Night of the Living Dead.”

A collage of four photos showcasing the Evans City Cemetery in Butler County, Pennsylvania, known for its role in the 1967 movie "Night of the Living Dead." The top left image shows the entrance sign for the cemetery, engraved with its name and incorporation date. The top right image captures a still from the film with two characters kneeling near a gravestone. The bottom left photo features a historical marker in downtown Evans City, commemorating the town's significance as the filming location for "Night of the Living Dead." The bottom right image presents a modern recreation of a scene from the movie, with a visitor posing near the Blair gravestone, replicating the film's iconic moment. This collage highlights the cemetery's enduring legacy as a landmark in horror cinema history.

The Living Dead Museum in Monroeville pays tribute to Pittsburgh filmmaker George Romero and the series of zombie movies he created, starting with the horror classic “Night of the Living Dead” in 1967.

Scenes from the Living Dead Museum near Pittsburgh.

Nearby Attractions

The “haunted Quaker Church” just outside of Perryopolis is famous for what allegedly happened there long ago.

Cemetery gates at the historic (and supposedly haunted) Quaker Church in Fayette County, PA.

During the “Satanic Panic” of the 1980s, rumors surfaced that a local witch had been secretly tried and executed in the former Quaker meeting house, and that (predictably) the ghost of the witch now haunted the current chapel and cemetery.

A view of the interior of the "haunted Quaker Church" in Fayette County, PA. — A view of the interior of the “haunted Quaker Church” in Fayette County, PA.

Gene and Boots Candies in Perryopolis is a third generation family business and a western PA tradition!

The factory where Gene and Boots chocolates are made. — The Perryopolis factory where Gene and Boots chocolates are made.

Gene and Boots specializes in homemade chocolates, and also offers 20 different varieties of their own homemade hard ice-cream.

Inside the Gene and Boots Perryopolis location.

The Layton Bridge and Tunnel are a pair of historic structures in Fayette County, originally constructed for the Washington Run Railroad in the late 1890s.

The one-lane Layton Tunnel in Fayette County Pennsylvania. — The one-lane Layton Tunnel in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

In 1933 the bridge and tunnel were converted to single-lane automobile use, and they are still used for that purpose to this day.

Layton Bridge features an unusual design in that the road deck runs through the middle of the truss web rather than along the bottom.

20 Must-See Attractions in Fayette County is your guide to even more great destinations nearby.

Collage of four seasonal outdoor scenes in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, showcasing a hiker photographing the autumn foliage, Fallingwater house surrounded by winter snow, a photographer capturing a frozen waterfall, and a person jogging on a wooden bridge amidst vibrant fall colors. — Fall foliage at Ohiopyle Falls in Fayette County.

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