Top 10 Movie Sets you Can Still Visit

Top 10 Movie Sets you Can Still Visit

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Come walk in the footsteps of your favourite movie characters. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 movie sets you can still visit. For this list, we’re taking a look at those movie sets that are still accessible or at least visible to the general public. Now, let’s start planning our travel itinerary!  

#10: The Overlook Hotel “The Shining” (1980)

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Looking to escape the pressures of city life? Shake off the monotony and stress of the daily grind? Pack the family in the car and come to the Overlook Hotel for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. Who knows, maybe you’ll finally get around to finishing that novel! What’s the worst that could happen? Well, okay, the Overlook Hotel as written by Stephen King doesn’t actually exist, but you can live out a horror fantasy of your very own at the Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood, Oregon, where they filmed exterior and establishing shots for the film. Giant labyrinth of terror not included - but they might just have a large axe you can play with!

#9: Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters “Ghostbusters” franchise (1984-89)

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Ghostbusters may’ve put this old firehouse on the map, but long before it served as the headquarters of everyone’s favorite paranormal exterminators, it housed the brave firemen of Hook & Ladder Company No. 8. The firehouse opened in 1903, and was nearly decommissioned in 2011, but public outcry kept it up and running. The firehouse, situated on the corner of North Moore and Varick Streets in New York City, was used for all exterior shots in Ghostbusters and its sequel. If you’re in the neighborhood, the firemen are only too happy to show off the giant Ghostbusters sign hanging on the wall of the garage.  

As Deadpool asked, “who wants to visit a place that’s constantly blowing up?” - Well, for diehard X-Men fans it must be worth the risk, because they flock to Hatley Castle in British Columbia, Canada to strike their favorite X-pose. This castle has served as the X-Mansion in all live action adaptions with the exception of “X-Men: First Class” and the original “X-Men” film. Fun fact: it actually got its X-debut in the poorly received 1996 made-for-TV X-men film, “Generation-X.” Hatley Castle is not currently accepting applications from X-men hopefuls, but it is part of Royal Roads University, so technically you can be a student at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters if you are so inclined.

Some movie sets are so awe-inspiring that we simply assume they were fabricated in a film studio using movie magic. And while a temple carved directly into a sandstone cliff may seem unbelievable, it very much exists. Al-Khazneh, which translates to “the treasury”, is one of the most elaborate surviving temples of the Ancient City of Petra, in the Arab kingdom of Jordan. Admittedly, it does not house the Holy Grail. But what it lacks in Christian relics, it more than makes up for in staggering beauty, surreal architecture and the potential for serious fan-boy freakouts. While not explicitly forbidden, re-enacting scenes from the film is frowned upon.

#6: The Field of Dreams Baseball Diamond “Field of Dreams” (1989)

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The United States may be covered in baseball diamonds, but there’s only one Field of Dreams! Located in Dubuque County, Iowa, near Dyersville, it serves as the perfect meeting place for small town America’s historical love of baseball, and the proud American belief in following your ambitions. Thanks to the Lansing family, who own the farm on which the diamond was built, the Field of Dreams remains well maintained, and open to the public. Many events have been hosted there over the years, such as a 2006 Netflix movie night, that included a performance by Kevin Costner’s band and a huge 25th anniversary celebration in 2014.  

The Ohio State Reformatory may not have the same ring to it as Shawshank Prison, but if you’re a fan of one of the greatest films in American history (which you should be), this is a must-visit film set. A walking tour takes you through many of the key shooting locations. The complex is a necessary pilgrimage for movie buffs and even musicians shooting music videos. If you’re a general fan of prison history, the reformatory has a lot criminal history of its own, with a supernatural twist, as tourists claim to hear the ghostly whispers of the 200 inmates who died there while serving sentences. None of whom were Andy Dufresne.  

Come visit beautiful Tatooine! Relive all your favorite moments, such as gazing at the binary suns or going to Tosche Station for some power converters. Okay, maybe those dreams are from a galaxy far, far away, but you can revel in the distinct characteristics of Southern Tunisia, as featured in five of the Star Wars films. You can even sleep in the family home of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru (like peru), which is a functioning hotel. You’ll need to rent a reliable vehicle to navigate the terrain though, as land speeders are completely out of stock. However, if Tunisia’s out of reach, there’s always the Yavin IV Massassi Outpost location in the Mayan city of Tikal, Guatemala.  

#3: The Bates Motel “Psycho” (1960) 

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Sometimes travelling off world just doesn’t fit the budget. But even when times are tough, there are always plenty of affordable accommodation options available for those seeking rest and relaxation without breaking the bank. Might we suggest the Bates Motel? They have rock bottom prices, personable staff and every guest is entitled to a complimentary stabbing. On second thought, maybe stick with a Best Western. But you can see the Bates family home and their motel on the Universal Studios Backlot tour, which lets you see the original set in all its glory. A true horror landmark, the set has been a popular attraction since 1964.  

#2: Harry Potter Studio Tour “Harry Potter” franchise (2001-11)

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If you’re more into magical getaways than rundown motels and murderous mama’s boys, then the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London is probably a better choice. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks in Orlando might win out in terms of immersive wizarding experiences, but for true fans of the films, the London Studio Tour is an absolute must-see. It gives you access to the actual sets, props and shooting locations used in the hugely successful film franchise. Few set tours allow visitors such extensive behind-the-scenes access, taking you through the entire conception and production of the Harry Potter film universe that helped bring the books to life. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. - Nakatomi Plaza “Die Hard” (1988) - District 12 & the Arena “The Hunger Games” franchise (2012-15) - The Town of Spectre “Big Fish” (2003)  - Port Royal “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003) - Frontier Town “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966)   

In the modern age of CGI, the creation of elaborate set pieces is somewhat of a dying art. The bigger the imagination of the filmmaker, the more likely it is that studio execs are going to request that the world be created digitally to keep costs down. But every now and then, a director gets to build something truly incredible, and Peter Jackson ran with such an opportunity. Make the trek to visit Bag End, the home of the Bagginses, as well as the Green Dragon Pub, the mill and the many Hobbit holes that make up Hobbiton. It may have originated in a fantasy series, but in New Zealand, the Shire is very real and remains so, to the delight of tourists and Hobbit fans alike.   Do you agree with our list? What film set would you most like to visit one day? For more larger-than-life top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.