26/10/2023
The Infamous “Snake House” of Rexburg, Idaho: A Nightmare Home You Won’t Believe
True story.
Once upon a time in the tranquil countryside of Rexburg, Idaho, stood a seemingly picture-perfect five-bedroom rural home. Priced at just over $100,000, it appeared to be an incredible deal for anyone looking to settle in this serene corner of the United States. However, the locals knew it as the “snake house,” and the reality was far from idyllic.
This unusual home had a dark history of owners fleeing in haste, and it was currently under the ownership of Chase Bank. The house briefly hit the market in January but was quickly withdrawn. Its chilling tale began back in September 2009 when it attracted the attention of the Sessions family – Ben and Amber Sessions – as they were in search of a new home for their growing family.
The Sessions acquired the property for what seemed like a bargain, paying less than $180,000. Yet, their dream home soon turned into a nightmare when they discovered it was infested with non-poisonous garter snakes. These snakes made themselves at home, slithering in the walls, and even affecting the home’s water quality, giving it a foul odor and taste.
Amber Sessions vividly recalls the ordeal: “After we moved in, it was really horrible. There were snakes in the walls. We could hear them, and then our water tasted like how they smell.” The Sessionses trusted their real estate agent, who assured them that the snake issue was a fabricated story from the previous owners to escape their mortgage.
Despite the Sessions family signing documents acknowledging the snake stories were false, their living conditions deteriorated rapidly. Amber saw eight snakes in one day and, with a newborn on the way, was constantly on edge. She described their home as “Satan’s lair.” Fearing for their safety, the Sessionses fled the house in December 2009, only three months after moving in and a day after their daughter was born. Unfortunately, they felt compelled to file for bankruptcy due to the signed paperwork.
The previous owners, Neal and Denise Ard, had also experienced the snake-infested nightmare. In 2006, they invited a news crew to document the piles of snakes found in their house, which now has over 2.5 million hits on YouTube. Their lawsuit against the real estate agent was ultimately dismissed.
The stress took a severe toll on the Sessions family, with Ben Sessions even diagnosed with snake-related post-traumatic stress disorder. As the snake problem escalated, Ben and his sons were often found battling these unwelcome houseguests.
Rob Cavallaro, a wildlife biologist, suggested that the house may have been built on a snake den where the creatures gathered in large numbers to hibernate during winter. This revelation left the Sessions family grappling with a horrifying reality.
The Sessions’ story serves as a cautionary tale for potential homebuyers, emphasizing the importance of thorough due diligence when searching for a dream home. As one New York City broker aptly put it, “This is a buyer beware nation. You have to do your research because if you don’t do your research, you end up with a house full of snakes.”
The “snake house” saga continued as the property briefly reappeared on the market. Currently owned by JP Morgan Chase, it was listed at $114,900 in December 2010, reduced to $109,200 in early January 2011, well below its estimated value. However, the Discovery Channel’s “Animal Planet” featured the Sessions’ ordeal in its “Infested” series, prompting the removal of the listing.
As of now, the fate of the infamous snake house remains uncertain, with JP Morgan Chase reportedly considering its options. Ben Sessions and his wife continue to have nightmares, both financially and emotionally scarred by their horrifying ordeal.
The snake-infested property appears to have been built atop a snake sanctuary, used by the creatures as a den or hibernaculum for winter. Sadly, such conflicts between human development and wildlife habitats are not uncommon.
While the Sessions family’s story may have ended, the legend of the “snake house” in Rexburg, Idaho, lives on as a cautionary tale, shared among the locals to ensure that no one else falls victim to the horrors that lurk within its walls.
