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REXBURG, Idaho -- You've heard all the horror stories about the housing situation over the past several years, with falling prices and foreclosures. But here's different kind of housing horror story that's also very creepy.
A house on the market near Rexburg, Idaho, was built in 1920, boasts five bedrooms and was remodeled about five years ago. But the new owners will also have to deal with some unwelcome houseguests: snakes.
The home's two previous owners have quite the tale to tell.
A few years ago, Neal and Denise Ard bought the home and soon discovered they weren't the only residents. They had hundreds, perhaps a few thousand snakes living with them -- in the walls, under the floors, in the yard and everywhere in between.
"It's really hard to rest assured at night to not think you've got a snake in your bed with you or going to step on one when you get up," Neal said.
The Ards moved into the home in January of 2006, while the snakes were still hibernating. In the spring, the slithering creatures woke up and invaded. True, they were just harmless garter snakes, but who wants to live in a house full of them?
It's really hard to rest assured at night to not think you've got a snake in your bed with you or that you're going to step on one when you get up.
–Neal Ard
Denise Ard said, "I called my mom and said, ‘Mom there's snakes in our house!'"
The Ards eventually moved but contacted KPVI-TV in nearby Idaho Falls to document their story, because who would believe them?
The house sat vacant for about three years, but in August of 2009, Ben and Amber Sessions bought the place. Their realtor told them about the snake rumors, but the creatures stayed hidden at first.
But the snakes made their triumphant return in the fall -- infesting every corner and even contaminating the drinking water.
"Andrew (son) came to us and said, ‘The water tastes disgusting,'" Ben said. "I tasted it and I had dealt and smelled enough snakes by then that the water tasted just like the snakes taste."
At the time, Ben figured the snakes had gotten into the well out in the yard. "Here we were, showering in it and we had a newborn coming to us in a few months so we just had to get out of there," he said.
The Sessions turned to the Internet for solutions and eventually came across the original TV news story featuring the Ard family. They suddenly realized they were in the very same house.
After they too, had moved out, Amber Sessions looked back on the experience. "Until you've lived in a place that is infested with snakes, it's just a crazy eerie, gross feeling," she said.
It's only fitting that the home is located in an area in Idaho called the Upper Snake River Valley. The bank that foreclosed on the house is working with contractors to seal the foundation to prevent snakes from getting back inside. Snakes that return will be trapped and moved.
As for the house itself, it will soon go up for sale again.
Email: kmccord@ksl.com
