7 Movie Sets You Can Visit in the South
From Texas to Kentucky, step onto the set of films past at these seven spots. Here are some noteworthy abandoned movie sets you can visit on your next vacation!
You know what’s really surreal? Setting foot onto the spaces where an iconic movie was shot — one you’ve seen repeatedly — and snapping a few photos for yourself! These seven sites around the South still contain pieces of their theatrical past, and they’re open to the public for viewing. Keep these in mind for your next road trip route!
Spectre from Big Fish
This fictional town in Alabama was the setting of director Tim Burton’s 2003 film starring Ewan McGregor. The set is located on Jackson Lake Island in Millbrook, a little over an hour south of Birmingham.
Some of Spectre’s buildings — primarily exterior-only facades crafted specifically for filming — remain standing today. Though visitors can’t enter any of the structures, you’re welcome to explore the various spots, learn about their film significance by reading posted plaques, and take all the photos and videos you want. The island also offers fishing and camping — and be sure to keep your eye out for the herd of free-range goats that roam the area.
District 12 from the Hunger Games movies
Though it’s widely known as the set of District 12 in the Hunger Games films, Henry River Mill Village was also featured on the Science Channel’s Mysteries of the Abandoned. But the site is an important piece of North Carolina’s past all on its own. The 72-acre textile village in Hickory played a crucial role in The Old North State’s textile industry, and visitors are welcome Friday through Monday with a general admission ticket.
You can also rent a room to stay on the property for a night or two while reenacting all your favorite Katniss scenes, or you can book the space for a private event. Whatever you decide, may the odds be ever in your favor.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium from Death Tunnel
This former tuberculosis sanatorium is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and served as the set for the 2004 horror flick Death Tunnel. More than 50,000 people are believed to have died there, and it is known for being one of the most haunted places in the United States — making it an interesting destination in its own right.
Guests can visit this Louisville sanatorium for both historic and paranormal tours, screenings of Haunted Discoveries — on which it was featured — as well as overnight visits. If you dare to stop by, check out the actual “death tunnel” — a 537-foot chute used to dispose of bodies.
Juliette from Fried Green Tomatoes
Known as Whistle Stop in Fried Green Tomatoes, the Georgia town of Juliette is located about an hour south of Atlanta, and it boasts as much charm today as it did when the flick was filmed more than 30 years ago. Visitors can walk some of the same roads that Kathy Bates did while playing Evelyn Couch, then stop at Whistle Stop Cafe — the same restaurant featured in the movie — for some fried green tomatoes.
Fans of the film will remember when one of the characters loses his arm in a train accident, and they hold a funeral for the limb. The gravesite — carved with the words “Here lies Buddy’s arm” — remains intact along McCracken Street.
Alamo Village from The Alamo
Made for John Wayne’s 1960 western, The Alamo, this site in Bracketville was built to accurately recreate the Texas battle site. The set cost $1.5 million to construct in 1958 and covered 400 acres of a 19,000-acre ranch. The compound features fortified gates and adobe brick walls, which artisans from Mexico assembled to ensure the film’s Alamo was as close to the real thing as possible. Though this iconic movie set is now closed to the public, the real Alamo offers tours through acres of Texas history.
Train Wreck from The Fugitive
Shot before CGI effects became standard, the freight train scene from 1993’s The Fugitive — featuring Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford — featured a real train and a real bus. Though it was filmed over three decades ago, neither transit vehicle ever left the film site. After the full-sized bus was put in the path of the oncoming freight train, the bus was almost torn in half while the train derailed.
Today, visitors can purchase tickets for the Tuckasegee River train ride excursion from Bryson City to Dillsboro to view what remains of the iconic scene.
Contrabando from Lone Star
Set within Big Bend Ranch State Park near Lajitas, Texas, an abandoned movie site was initially constructed for a 1985 film dubbed Uphill All the Way. Over the years, the area was featured in nine movies, including Dead Man’s Walk and Streets of Laredo, which were part of the Lonesome Dove miniseries. Most notably used for the filming of the 1996 border town murder mystery Lone Star, Contrabando was made to look like an Old West village tucked along the Rio Grande. Though only one building from the old ghost town remains standing, visitors have gushed about the surrounding area as being beautiful and fun to explore.
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Lennie Omalza
Originally from Hawaii, Lennie Omalza is a Louisville-based freelance writer of over 18 years. Lennie is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can and enjoys writing about food, homes, and weddings. You can find more of Lennie's work at Eater, Hawaii Home & Remodeling, and The Louisville Courier-Journal.