Did you know North Carolina has been the setting for many popular Hollywood movies? Fom action-packed adventure films, to sentimental romantic stories, North Carolina is the background for many of your favorite movies. So if you fancy yourself as a bit of a film connoisseur, why not take a trip to North Carolina and check out some of these famous spots seen on the big screen.
The Inn at Rodanthe - Rodanthe
Romance junkies and Nicholas Sparks’ fans will remember the four story beach house with bright blue shutters that appeared in the 2008 movie, Nights in Rodanthe. The home, which is located in the small village of Rodanthe in the Outer Banks, was the scene of Richard Gere and Diane Lane’s romance in the film, as they worked together to protect the property from the damage of a storm. In real life, the house had sustained damage from the weather – the steps had been washed away and the septic tank had been exposed. But thanks to a couple from Newton, the home was purchased and fully restored in 2009 and now is one of the most popular rental houses on the Outer Banks.
The Fugitive Train Wreck Site - Sylva
The 1993 film, The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford, was a box office smash and one of the most iconic scenes of the movie took place when Richard Kimble’s transport bus was hit by a freight train in a massive, fiery collision. The scene was filmed in the mountains of North Carolina, on a stretch of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad using a real train and a real bus, and the wreckage from the crash still remains there today. Although not much of the bus remained after the crash, you can still see it, as well as the remains of the train, by visiting the small town of Sylva, NC. But you will have to park on the side of Haywood Road (near the Jackson County Green Energy Park), walk across the street and look down the hill to see it.
The Lake From Dirty Dancing - Lake Lure
Who can forget when Johnny said “Nobody puts Baby in a corner”? Dirty Dancing was one of the most iconic movies from the 1980’s and it was filmed at Lake Lure in NC. Although the buildings that housed the resort staff in the movie have been torn down, you can still wade in the waters where Johnny and Baby did their famous lift. You can also get your total Dirty Dancing fix by going to the annual Dirty Dancing Festival that’s held every year in August and includes plenty of dancing, food, live music and of course, watermelons.
Scenes from The Hunger Games - Cedar Mountain, Hildebran and Charlotte
The movie phenomenon, The Hunger Games, was shot in several North Carolina towns, so there are numerous places for fans to check out. First, you can traipse the same wooded trails as Katniss by visiting the DuPont State Forest. In the small town of Hildebran, about 70 miles outside of Asheville, you’ll find the Henry River Mill Village, which served as “District 12” in the film. And scattered throughout Charlotte are other important spots like the Knight Theater where the tribute interview scene between Katniss and Caesar was filmed, and the Charlotte Convention Center where the underground loading dock served as the backdrop for Katniss becoming the “girl on fire.”
The Track from Talladega Nights - Concord
Will Ferrell fans will get a kick out of visiting the same track that Ricky Bobby raced on and the scene of his famous comeback at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord. You can also catch a glimpse of the dream house Bobby lived in by visiting the shores of Lake Norman, about 30 minutes north of Charlotte.
The Town from A Walk to Remember - Wilmington and Southport
Since famous author Nicholas Sparks lives in North Carolina, you’ll find that many of his books are set in the state and many of the movie adaptations are filmed there as well. Another popular tear-jerker by Sparks that was filmed in NC is A Walk to Remember. Fans of the movie can see Jamie Sullivan’s house in downtown Wilmington, as well as the alley way where they filmed the heart wrenching scene where Jamie reveals her illness to Landon. At Orton Plantation in Winnabow, you’ll find Luola’s Chapel – the scene of Jamie and Landon’s wedding at the end of the film. And in nearby Southport, you can visit the cemetery where the couple went stargazing together. Sparks fans will also recognize Southport from another Sparks movie, Safe Haven, and want to check out the site of the General Store, Ivan’s Fish Shack, Moore St. Market and the house where Josh Duhamel’s character, Alex, lived with his two young children.
