Some movie scenes become so legendary that the filming locations where they were shot become renowned tourist attractions. Locations that would usually go unnoticed, such as the steps leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, became overrun with tourists just because Rocky Balboa raced up to them while training to fight Apollo Creed. Of course, the magic of cinema is only on the screen. But a little fraction of that enchantment can be experienced in real life. Fans can visit the locations which their favorite fictitious characters visited in their favorite films. So, here are 10 popular filming locations that have turned into tourist attractions.
Popular filming locations turned into tourist attractions
1. Chippewa Square (Forrest Gump)
The film begins with Forrest Gump sitting on a bench in Chippewa Square, Georgia. He narrates his tale to the people that sit next to him while he waits for his bus. The bench was a prop that is in the Savannah History Museum. Chippewa Square is open to the public at any time.
2. Devils Tower (Close Encounters Of The Third Kind)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, directed by Steven Spielberg, has now become a sci-fi classic. The narrative revolves around Devils Tower, a rock structure in Wyoming. The government falsifies claims of a hazardous nerve gas release to have the region evacuated in time for the alien mothership’s arrival, with Richard Dreyfuss notably recreating the butte with mashed potatoes.
3. Contra Dam (Goldeneye)
James Bond bungee jumps off the Contra Dam on the Verzasca River in the Val Verzasca of Ticino, Switzerland, in the magnificent opening sequence of GoldenEye. GoldenEye’s bungee leap stunt is frequently cited as one of the best stunts in cinema history, and rightfully so. The scene was created without the use of CGI.
4. Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8 (Ghostbusters)
The firehouse in Ghostbusters that functioned as the titular organization’s headquarters was created in 1903. It continued for use long after the film’s debut. On September 11, 2001, Hook & Ladder Company 8 firemen were among the initial responders. The firehouse nearly closed down a few years ago. But it received a $6 million renovation thanks to several sponsorships (including one from actor and former fireman Steve Buscemi).
5. Al-Khazneh (Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade)
The action-packed ending of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, perhaps the finest Raiders of the Lost Ark follow-up, filmed in Al-Khazneh is one of the most intricate temples in Petra, Jordan. Tourists to Petra increased from hundreds to millions when the film was out. It remains a favorite destination for Indiana Jones enthusiasts to this day.
6. Skellig Michael (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Rey flies out to Ahch-To in the final moments of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and discovers a grizzled, self-isolated Luke Skywalker dwelling on an island. Skellig Michael is a twin-pinnacled crag that makes up this island. It is off the coast of County Kerry, Ireland, on the Iveragh Peninsula.
7. Dyersville Baseball Diamond (Field Of Dreams)
In Dubuque County, Iowa, near Dyersville, Kevin Costner created a baseball diamond for a team of ghost ballplayers in Field of Dreams. The field is popular as the “Field of Dreams” in tourist brochures. The film was shown in the stadium in 2006, and Costner performed with his band to commemorate the occasion.
8. Katz’s Delicatessen (When Harry Met Sally)
The scene in When Harry Met Sally in which Meg Ryan fakes an orgasm to showcase how simple it is, with Estelle Reiner delivering the joke, “I’ll have what she’s having,” made Katz’s Delicatessen famous. A sign near the table where Harry and Sally sat in the scene says, “Where Harry met Sally…hope you have what she had!”. Katz’s also received an award for the finest deli in the city by Zagat in 2016. So it’s notable for more than simply being in one of the funniest movie moments ever.
9. Fox Plaza (Die Hard)
When creating Die Hard, an action picture set almost completely in a skyscraper, 20th Century Fox was able to save money by filming at their own high-rise corporate offices, Fox Plaza in Los Angeles. Because it was their roof, the studio could blow it up. They were able to smash several windows since they were their own. It can easily be recognized in the L.A. skyline by eagle-eyed Die Hard fans.
10. The “Rocky Steps” In Philadelphia (Rocky)
More people visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the steps leading up to it than for the museum itself, thanks to Sylvester Stallone’s renowned performance in Rocky. During the first of many training montages, Rocky Balboa famously sprinted up the steps to the museum, and now fans can do the same. At the top of the 72 stairs is a bronze statue of Rocky. The steps have since been famous as the “Rocky Steps” in honor of everyone’s favorite underdog fighter.
