What’s Hiding In the House Next Door? The Villisca Axe Murder House (ft. Jerry Wanek)

Dark House

This week, Hadley shares the tale of the Villisca Axe Murder House in Villisca, Iowa, and unpacks the true crime event that turned the domestic symbol of the American dream into a nightmare. A quaint farmhouse built in 1868, the home is forever marked by tragedy after a family of six and their two young house guests were murdered on a June night in 1912. After reviewing the details of the unsolved case, the co-hosts discuss the current state of the home and the reports of strange occurrences from visitors and current owners. Spooked by the familiarity of this story’s setting, Alyssa and Hadley bring on production designer Jerry Wanek, who brought the sets to life on The CW’s Supernatural, to learn more about how once-friendly houses like the Villisca Axe Murder House have influenced television shows and films (41:27). Wanek shares anecdotes from the Supernatural set, including the inspiration behind the show’s quirky motel rooms (51:53) and where his team sourced the best vintage props (55:11), as well as a spooky encounter he had while staying in a Los Angeles apartment previously inhabited by Elvis (59:48).

TW: Sexual assault

CONTRIBUTORS

Host/Producer: Alyssa Fiorentino

Host/Producer: Hadley Mendelsohn

Producer: May Tsehay

Sound Engineer: Josh Caldwell

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