After the final episode of Little House on the Prairie, the show’s creator, Michael Landon, did something that was not expected of him — he had the set demolished so it would not be utilized for other productions that were not in line with the show’s values.
Most of the houses were destroyed, but the little house and church were left standing. Although it was not destroyed, it appeared to vanish once the show ended, leaving viewers wondering where it went. Not being seen in public has only generated speculation regarding its fate.
Where is the ‘Little House on The Prairie’ in real life?
Crew member John Carter took it apart bit by bit with the hope that he would be able to reconstruct it in a way that would allow Little House on the Prairie fans to experience a part of the hit show firsthand. He envisioned making it a historical landmark where individuals could tour the building that had been home to the fictional Ingalls family.
Sadly, those plans never materialized as the dismantled parts have remained in storage for decades. In a 2020 interview, Melissa Gilbert confirmed that Carter continues to own the house. The house is believed to be in rural Los Angeles County.
Why is the ‘Little House on The Prairie’ not placed in any cultural institution?
Efforts to give the building to a cultural center have been unsuccessful. Outstanding rights issues have likely caused problems, said Trip Friendly, son of Little House co-creator Ed Friendly. There was a genuine effort to relocate the house to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, but that did not work out.
The ambiguous ownership of the house has also hindered its failure to gain a permanent location. NBC reportedly maintained authority over the fate of the house such that an individual could not own it. This was concerning to Gilbert who mentioned that there have been various unsuccessful attempts to donate the house to institutions like the Smithsonian.