01 Dec 2025 Conway’s Home Alone Home starring Tim and Angie Howard

Posted at 8:55 PMh in Features by

By Rita Halter Thomas

Take a trip down Bay Hill Drive in Conway this holiday season and you might just do a double-take as you pass a stately Georgian colonial-style house that bears more than a little resemblance to the McCallister home featured in the beloved 1990s Christmas movie, “Home Alone.” From the twinkling lights to wreaths in the windows, from hand-crafted characters and yard art to film projections and online trivia, homeowners Tim and Angela “Angie” Howard have created a work of art in an interactive over-the-top holiday wonderland that pays homage to the movie. And this season, they hope to spark a spirit of giving in their efforts to spread Christmas joy.

Photos by Makenzie Evans

“We’ve always loved it. It’s such a fun family movie,” Angie said of their inspiration. And living in a home with such a striking resemblance to the one in the film, why not? Even before the Howards bought the house, they referred to it as the “Home Alone” house. Once they purchased it in 2021, choosing a theme for Christmas was a no-brainer. However, it wasn’t until the following year that their vision came to life both inside and outside the home.

Tim and Angie Howard purchased a Georgian colonial-style house in 2021 that bears more than a little resemblance to the house featured in the beloved 1990s Christmas movie “Home Alone.” They understand the unending activity and holiday chaos that is the centerpiece of the famous movie because they have eight children of their own.

Angie has always enjoyed painting and creating. She used to build custom-ordered miniature replicas of homes before life demanded more of her time. So, when finding “Home Alone” decorations to purchase proved to be a challenge for her, she improvised. “My degree is in mass communications, but I’ve always had an artistic side. That’s how I decompress. I had the idea of using foam insulation to make cutouts,” Angie said. The first year, she crafted Harry and Marv’s van, full of details, including crowbar marks on Marv’s forehead, Harry’s fire-singed crown, and the movie quote, “Crowbars up!”

“Crowbars up!” is the movie detail that Angie Howard incorporated into her “Home Alone” art, like this original prop of Harry and Marv’s van. It conjures nostalgia and brings the joy and laughter of the movie to the Howards’ front lawn each Christmas.

Initially, she wondered if others might think their “Home Alone” Christmas décor was super silly but went for it anyway. They did not expect it to become a local holiday phenomenon but were so encouraged by the number of visitors who stopped and took pictures that they added several new props the following year. Angie spends about fifteen hours on each cutout and Tim spends three to five hours securing them with lumber. Setup takes an entire day. 

They add more fun each year, including an interactive trivia game, accessible via a QR code posted on site, and projections of movie scenes created and deployed by Tim, who is an IT professional. Visitors may easily spot obvious things, like Kevin on the balcony, Fuller in his suspenders with a Pepsi, or the Little Nero’s Pizza delivery car. However, visitors are encouraged to look for more obscure “Easter eggs” throughout the display for a free, fun family outing.

Last year, unbeknownst to Tim and Angie, a neighbor posted a video of their house on TikTok, and it went viral. Before long, the Howards’ home was the focus of three local television stations and the 2024 winner of the Light Up Conway contest sponsored by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce. 

“We never expected any of this, but we love to see families enjoying it,” Angie said. “And we always try to get out there and hand out candy canes. The kids love doing that,” she said. “It’s so humbling to see so many enjoying it.” 

The Howards understand the unending activity and holiday chaos inside the McCallister’s home, as they have eight children of their own: Barrett, 22; Anderson, 18; Lydia, 16; Grant, 13; Giuliana, 11; Clara 7; AnaLia, 5; and Merebella, almost 3. “I am an only child,” Angie said, “and Tim has one brother. We have a big family, but neither of us came from big families.” The Howards, who have been married 25 years, feel the blessings of a full house. “We can certainly relate to the movie, but we’ve never left one,” Angie said, then paused and added, “at least, not yet!”

The exterior of the Howards’ home isn’t the only thing like the movie. While not available to the public, part of the family’s living space feels like walking onto the movie set year-round. Just like the McCallister’s house, the staircase is just beyond the foyer, with a dining room on one side and a living space on the other. Upstairs and down a short hallway is an apartment decked in more than boughs of holly. From red and green wall paint to paisley wallpaper; from the dining table and chairs to the lace tablecloth; from the television and round-backed chair to a replica of the sundae and a bag of Crunch Tators; from the laundry chute, BB gun and Army figures to paint cans hanging from the ceiling; a Michael Jordan cutout, Little Nero’s Pizza boxes, and yes, a live tarantula (Barry), it’s clear the Howards love the nostalgia of the movie. Even the apartment’s bathroom is decked with a familiar-looking wallpaper, green towels, a green bottle of Brute aftershave, and a mirror with Kevin’s iconic face screaming, “Ahhhh.”

Remaining tasteful and as true as possible, the quest for “Home Alone” décor is ongoing for the Howards. They keep an eye out for new props to purchase or things to make. Once, they found the perfect red and green 1980s-1990s-era picture at a rummage sale, which benefited Compass Academy of Conway, a school serving special needs children and young adults.

Multiple inquiries last year regarding donations sparked an idea. Partnering with Community Connections, which also serves special needs children, the Howards offered for auction one Good Night “Home Alone” experience for six. The winning bid? $600. And for visitors who enjoy their decorations, a QR code will be posted on site so visitors can donate directly to Compass Academy.

The “Angels with Filthy Souls” movie was created by the producers of “Home Alone” as a show with a tough guy and machine gun fire that inspired Kevin when he defended his home. Angie Howard purchased the fake VHS movie sleeve from Etsy. It is played on a projector outside their home. Tim looped the clip. They muted a word to be sure that their display is completely family-friendly.

What’s new? No spoilers, but this year look for a new cutout for photo ops, and a video of window dancers who might look familiar, if you know the Howards.

Decor goes up the weekend after Thanksgiving and everything comes down the day after Christmas. Weather affects the display, so Angie encourages visitors to follow their Facebook page (Home Alone House on Bay Hill) to check the hours the lights will be on. To reduce traffic congestion, the family encourages evening visitors to stay in their cars and drive, but photos can be taken during the day. “We have fantastic neighbors, and we are so grateful to them. So, we want to be understanding and mindful of them,” she said. 

So, if you are looking for an inexpensive, fun evening out, load the family, grab a pizza, pack the cooler with Pepsi, and take a drive to 4835 Bay Hill Drive, Conway.

And “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!”