Have you ever watched a movie and wondered what happens to the sets after the cameras stop rolling?
Some of the coolest places from your favorite films are still standing—waiting for curious travelers to explore!
From old Western saloons to entire ghost towns, many abandoned movie sets are scattered across the U.S., offering a real-life glimpse into Hollywood magic.
These forgotten spots are perfect for fans who want to step into the scenes of iconic films, all while enjoying a little adventure.
Let’s take a tour of the abandoned sets you can still visit today!
1. Field of Dreams – Dyersville, Iowa
Movie: Field of Dreams (1989)
The Field of Dreams in Dyersville is the real-life baseball field featured in the iconic movie ‘Field of Dreams’.
In the film, Kevin Costner’s character builds a baseball field in his cornfield, and it’s where the famous line, “If you build it, he will come” comes to life.
Today, you can still visit the field, which looks almost exactly like it did in the movie, surrounded by cornfields and all.
It’s free to walk around, play catch and even sit on the bleachers where key scenes were filmed.
The field has become a popular tourist spot, and every summer they host special events and games, including MLB matches.
2. Eastern State Penitentiary – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Movie: 12 Monkeys (1995)
Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia was used as a key filming location for the sci-fi movie ‘12 Monkeys’, starring Bruce Willis.
The prison’s crumbling, gothic-style halls provided the perfect eerie setting for the dystopian future scenes in the film.
Opened in 1829, the penitentiary was once one of the most famous and expensive prisons in the world, but it’s been abandoned since 1971.
Today, you can visit it as a historic site and explore the creepy, decaying cell blocks that were featured in the movie.
They even offer guided tours and spooky events like haunted house attractions during Halloween.
3. Pioneertown – Yucca Valley, California
Series: The Cisco Kid (1950)
Pioneertown in Yucca Valley was originally built in the 1940s as a live-in Old West movie set for Westerns, and it was featured in ‘The Cisco Kid’ TV series as well as numerous other movies.
This unique town was designed to look like an authentic 1800s Western settlement, with real buildings that actors could ride horses through and shoot scenes in.
In ‘The Cisco Kid’, Pioneertown served as the backdrop for dusty street showdowns, saloon scenes and cowboy action.
Today, Pioneertown is still standing and open to visitors, with many of the original buildings intact, including the famous Pappy & Harriet’s, a live music venue and restaurant.
You can stroll through the old movie set, shop and even catch a reenactment of a Wild West shootout.
4. Henry River Mill Village – Hildebran, North Carolina
Movie: The Hunger Games (2012)
Henry River Mill Village in Hildebran was used as the filming location for District 12 in ‘The Hunger Games’.
This abandoned textile mill village, with its crumbling houses and overgrown streets, perfectly captured the harsh, poverty-stricken look of Katniss Everdeen’s hometown.
Many key scenes, like when Katniss and Gale walk through the village, were shot here.
Although the village has been abandoned since the 1970s, today you can visit and explore the old homes and mill buildings that are still standing.
Guided tours are available, giving fans a chance to walk in Katniss’s footsteps and see where the movie’s most iconic scenes took place.
5. Jackson Lake Island – Millbrook, Alabama
Movie: Big Fish (2003)
Jackson Lake Island in Millbrook was the filming location for the quirky town of Spectre in ‘Big Fish’, directed by Tim Burton.
The film’s whimsical, abandoned town set was left standing after production, and you can still visit it today.
The remaining buildings, though weathered and overgrown, create an eerie yet magical atmosphere, just like in the movie.
You can walk through the decaying streets, see the old church and even spot shoes hanging from the “Spectre” town sign, just like in the film.
The island itself is a peaceful spot, with plenty of open space, picnic areas and even a chance to see friendly goats roaming around.
6. Old Tucson Studios – Tucson, Arizona
Movie: “Tombstone” (1993)
Old Tucson Studios in Tucson is a famous Western movie set where ‘Tombstone’, starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, was filmed.
This iconic location has been used in countless Westerns because of its authentic Old West look, with saloons, jails and dusty streets that transport you right back to the 1800s.
In ‘Tombstone’, scenes like Earps’ arrival at the train station were shot here, making it a key spot for fans of the movie.
Today, Old Tucson Studios operates as a theme park and movie set, where you can tour the sets, watch live stunt shows and even enjoy reenactments of famous Western shootouts.
It’s a fun, immersive experience for anyone looking to explore the Wild West!
7. Waverly Hills Sanatorium – Louisville, Kentucky
Movie: Death Tunnel (2005)
Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville is an abandoned hospital known for its eerie history and was used as the main filming location for the horror movie ‘Death Tunnel’.
The movie, which centers on a group trapped in a haunted sanatorium, took full advantage of Waverly Hills’ creepy, decaying halls and ghostly atmosphere.
Once a tuberculosis hospital in the early 1900s, Waverly Hills is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in the U.S., adding extra chills to the movie’s setting.
Today, you can visit the sanatorium for guided tours, paranormal investigations and even special events like haunted houses during Halloween.
It’s a must-visit for horror fans to explore a real-life haunted location featured in the movies!
8. Dillsboro – Dillsboro, North Carolina
Movie: The Fugitive (1993)
Dillsboro was a key filming location for ‘The Fugitive’, starring Harrison Ford.
One of the movie’s most famous scenes, where a train crashes into a prison bus, was filmed on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad just outside this small town.
The actual wreckage from the scene, including the derailed train and smashed bus, was left behind and can still be seen today.
Dillsboro itself is a charming mountain town, known for its quaint shops and scenic views, making it a great stop for both movie fans and travelers.
You can also take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, reliving a piece of cinematic history.
9. Contrabando Movie Set – Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas
Movies: Lone Star (1996)
The Contrabando Movie Set, located in Big Bend Ranch State Park, was used for the movie ‘Lone Star’, directed by John Sayles.
This small, rustic set was built to resemble an old border town and appeared in several Westerns and films set along the Texas-Mexico border.
In ‘Lone Star’, the dusty streets and simple adobe buildings of the Contrabando set perfectly captured the film’s themes of history and mystery.
Although much of the set was damaged by flooding and later demolished, a few structures still stand today.
Visitors to Big Bend Ranch State Park can explore the remains of this historic film site while enjoying the stunning desert landscape of the park.
10. Juliette – Juliette, Georgia
Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Juliette is the charming small town where ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ was filmed, bringing the fictional town of Whistle Stop to life.
The town’s iconic Whistle Stop Cafe, where much of the movie’s heartwarming story unfolds, is a real restaurant that still operates today.
You can stop by to enjoy a meal, including—you guessed it—fried green tomatoes!
The film transformed Juliette into a beloved tourist destination, with many of the movie’s original buildings and locations still intact.
Walking through the town feels like stepping onto the set, with its quaint Southern charm and nostalgic atmosphere.
11. Rhyolite Ghost Town – Near Beatty, Nevada
Movie: The Island (2005)
Rhyolite Ghost Town, located near Beatty, was used as a filming location for ‘The Island’, starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson.
In the movie, this eerie, abandoned town was the backdrop for several key scenes as the characters escape their futuristic compound.
Once a booming gold rush town in the early 1900s, Rhyolite is now a ghost town with crumbling buildings, including an old bank, train depot and a house made of bottles.
Today, you can explore the ruins, giving you a feel for both history and Hollywood.
Rhyolite’s haunting, desolate landscape is very unique, making it a fascinating stop.
12. Danvers State Hospital – Danvers, Massachusetts
Movie: Session 9 (2001)
Danvers State Hospital is an old, creepy asylum that was the main filming location for the horror movie ‘Session 9’.
The movie, about a cleaning crew working in the abandoned hospital, used the real-life eerie setting to add to its terrifying atmosphere.
The hospital was known for its gothic architecture and long history, but it was mostly abandoned by the time the movie was filmed.
Sadly, most of the building was demolished in 2007, but parts of the original structure, like the administration building, still stand.
Today, you can visit the site, though much of it has been turned into apartments.
13. Pearl Champagne Lounge – Miami, Florida
Movie: 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
The Pearl Champagne Lounge in Miami was featured in ‘2 Fast 2 Furious’ during one of the film’s high-energy party scenes.
This trendy, upscale lounge fit perfectly with the movie’s fast cars and flashy lifestyle.
In the scene, you can spot the sleek decor and glowing lights that made it a hot spot for the characters to hang out.
Though Pearl Champagne Lounge has since closed, the location was part of Nikki Beach, a popular beachfront club in Miami.
Today, you can still visit Nikki Beach, which has a similar vibe with its lively music and fun beach parties.
14. Bonanza Creek Ranch – Santa Fe, New Mexico
Movies: “3:10 to Yuma” (2007)
Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe is a well-known movie location that was used in ‘3:10 to Yuma’, starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.
This working ranch has been transformed into an old Western town for many films, with its dusty streets, wooden saloons and rustic buildings providing an authentic Old West feel.
In ‘3:10 to Yuma’, the ranch was used for several intense shootouts and dramatic scenes set in the rugged landscape.
Today, the ranch still stands as it did in the film, however recently, they’ve stopped offering tours to the public (it’s worth checking their website in case they’ve started them again!).
It’s still a popular spot for filming movies and is regularly used so you may catch a glimpse of ongoing film projects if you manage to visit.
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