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New owner of ‘Goonies’ house recalls first time he saw iconic film

Goonies house: The new owner of the house used in "The Goonies" movie is enjoying the iconic residence. (Shawn Garrett/KIRO)

ASTORIA, Ore. — The man who bought the Oregon house used for the 1985 movie “The Goonies” said he is enjoying his newfound fame as an owner.

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Behman Zakeri, a Kansas resident who bought the home in January for $1.65 million, said he wants to share the home with the many “Goonies” fans who have made the trek to the two-story Victorian-style residence, KIRO-TV reported.

“(It needs) to be either a museum or Airbnbs or something where the world can come in and enjoy it,” Zakeri told the television station. “That’s the ideal scenario.”

Zakeri spoke about his childhood, when he watched the movie with his best friend and family members. The film starred Sean Astin and Josh Brolin, KPTV reported.

“My mom took me, him, my brother, Ali, and my sister, Sarah, who was a little baby,” Zakeri told KIRO. “The movie just immediately resonated with me.

“We immediately thought we were ‘goonies.’ Just treasure hunting, like kids, you know, when you’re a kid, you roleplay, and you know, you make stuff up. The imagination of a kid is priceless.”

Zakeri said he visited Astoria for the 30th anniversary of the movie in 2015 and met the house’s owner at the time, Sandi Preston, KIRO reported.

“I’m going to buy this house,” Zakeri said he told Preston.

“‘You and a million other goonies,’” she answered.

Preston had been unhappy with foot traffic around the home during the 30th anniversary year and posted signs forbidding tourists from walking up the dirt road to the property, the Willamette Week reported. A blue tarp also appeared on parts of the home, according to The Astorian.

Preston eventually changed her mind and allowed fans to walk up to the home.

“It was just something that I felt I needed to do,” Preston told Willamette Week in August 2022. “I’ll just leave it at that.”

Zakeri said he was outbid by $100,000 on the house by Adam F. Goldberg, creator of “The Goldbergs,” KIRO reported. Preston, however, decided that Zakeri was the right person to buy it.

“Behman is the guy that is going to do the right thing for the house,” Zakeri told the television station, recalling her decision.

When he was growing up, Zakeri said he was not even sure that Astoria was a real place.

“We thought maybe it was one of those fake towns they make in Hollywood,” he told KIRO.

It is the real thing. And Zakeri is eager to share his enthusiasm.

That is why recent visitors to the home were delighted to hear Zakeri bellowing the film’s signature phrase, “Hey, you guys!” from the porch of the 1,935-square-foot home.

Still a Goonie after all of these years.

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