Bethesda WOW House: 'Exorcist' Author's Home For Sale For $3.195M

BETHESDA, MD — The family of the late author William Peter Blatty — a Bethesda native whose best-selling novel "The Exorcist" was made into the Oscar-winning movie of the same name that terrified millions with its tale of demonic possession of a girl — has put the sumptuous house on the market. The Colonial-style home built in 1988 boasts a fourth-floor playroom, indoor pool and sauna, and could be yours for $3.195 million, according to Realtor.com.

Blatty died in January at age 89 at a hospital in his hometown of Bethesda from multiple myeloma, his wife, Julie Alicia Blatty, told The Associated Press. His novel was on The New York Times fiction best-seller list for more than a year and sold more than 13 million copies. Blatty said in interviews over the years that he became interested in the topic of demonic possession as a student at Georgetown University.

Blatty's novel published in 1971 was loosely based on actual events inspired by a reported 1949 exorcism of a boy that took place in Cottage City in Prince George’s County. According to Wikipedia, the boy was known only by the pseudonym “Roland Doe” or “Robbie Mannheim.” The youth was the alleged victim of demonic possession, and the events were recorded by a priest, Raymond Bishop.

In 2001, Blatty and his wife, Julie, decided to move from California to Maryland so their son could attend the Heights School in Potomac. “This was not our style,” Julie Blatty told The Washington Post of the Bethesdas house. “But my husband said we can Blatty-ize it. We grew to love its beauty.”

• Address: 7018 Longwood Dr, Bethesda, Maryland
• Price: $3,195,000
• Square Feet: 6085
• Bedrooms: 6
• Bathrooms: 5 Full and 2 Half Baths
• Built: 1988
• Features: This house is uniquely beautiful, constructed w/ the finest quality materials. Everything about it is custom. Grand & gracious in nature, it must be seen to appreciate. Enormous indoor pool encased in glass with sauna, sumptuous spa & 2nd master, back staircase, enormous master up w/ his & her baths, 4th fl w/ fabulous play room, bedroom & full bath, 2, 2-car attached garages, & so much more!!

This listing originally appeared on realtor.com. For more information and photos, click here.