13 Abandoned Film Locations That Feel Like Walking Into a Scene
Some movie sets get torn down before the credits roll, but there are some that are so iconic that they just sit there, waiting to be rediscovered. These abandoned film locations are scattered across deserts, forests, and small towns. Visiting these places could instantly bring back the memories of those memorable movies that didn’t fail to leave a mark.
Time may have aged some of these film locations, but the magic clings to every rusted prop. Let’s revisit these real-life locations that do not require any green screen for the effect.
Hobbiton in Matamata, New Zealand
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What began as farmland for sheep became one of the most recognizable fantasy villages in film history. This set was built for The Lord of the Rings and later rebuilt for The Hobbit. The paths, gardens, and hobbit holes are all carefully maintained.
Spectre from Big Fish, Alabama
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Spectre was built just for the movie Big Fish. It’s not a real town, but the set was left standing on private land in Alabama. Over time, the buildings started to fall apart, but many are still there. You can visit by paying a small fee to cross the bridge. It’s quiet, overgrown in places, but recognizable from the film, and still a popular stop for fans.
Port Royal from Pirates of the Caribbean, St. Vincent
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Parts of the original Pirates of the Caribbean set are still sitting near the shore in Wallilabou Bay. There are wooden façades, props, and even a small museum with items from the movie. Though nature and time have weathered the area, it still draws fans eager to walk where Captain Jack once stood.
District 12 from The Hunger Games, North Carolina
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Before Jennifer Lawrence stepped into Katniss Everdeen’s boots, the production team found a ready-made ghost town. Henry River Mill Village became District 12 with a few additions, and after the cameras left, it stayed eerily quiet. Some of the buildings are still standing, and you can walk around the area.
Popeye Village, Malta
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This colorful village was built along the coast of Malta for the live-action Popeye movie with Robin Williams. Instead of tearing it down after filming, the set was turned into a small theme park. It’s now called Popeye Village, and it’s a mix of cartoon-style buildings and shows. Families visit for the entertainment, but movie fans also stop by to see how much of the original set still stands.
Field of Dreams Baseball Field, Iowa
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The baseball field from Field of Dreams was built right in the middle of an Iowa cornfield. And after filming, it stayed there. People still run the bases, sit in the bleachers, and take in the same view seen in the movie. The cornfields surround the diamond, just like in the film, and the site is free to explore most of the year.
Tatooine from Star Wars, Tunisia
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Several scenes set on Luke Skywalker’s home planet were filmed in the Tunisian desert near the town of Tozeur. The crew built domed houses and narrow streets to create the look of Tatooine. Many of those structures still exist. They’ve been worn down by sand and wind, but you can still recognize them from the films.
The Town from The Patriot, South Carolina
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A few structures built for The Patriot, including a small church and a stone bridge, were left behind in Cypress Gardens. The set was designed to blend into the swampy landscape around it. The site is a part of a nature preserve. Visitors can spot these buildings while walking through the gardens.
The Fugitive’s Train Wreck, North Carolina
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The train crash in The Fugitive wasn’t a special effect. It was a real train wreck filmed in one take. After shooting, the production left the wreckage in place near the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. The remains are still on display along the tracks. It has become a small roadside attraction and a favorite stop for fans of the film.
The Gas Station from The Hills Have Eyes, Morocco
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To film this horror remake, the crew built a fake American-style gas station out in the Moroccan desert. Interestingly, the set is still mostly intact, even though it’s been years since the movie was made. The station, signs, and props were never removed, and they’ve held up surprisingly well.
The Village from Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Germany
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For this fantasy-action film, a full village was built just outside Babelsberg Studio in Germany. The set includes wooden homes, twisted fences, and moss-covered details that gave the movie its dark fairytale look. The village is no longer used for filming, but parts of it are still accessible through studio tours. It has a worn-down theme park feel now, but much of the original design is still there.
Eastern State Penitentiary from 12 Monkeys, Pennsylvania
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This old prison in Philadelphia was already known for its eerie atmosphere long before it was used in 12 Monkeys. The film took advantage of its decaying cell blocks and echoing hallways. Since closing, it’s become a preserved ruin open to visitors. Its isolation and decaying cells still carry the weight of its past—and lend it the mood that made it perfect for the film’s bleak future.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium from Death Tunnel, Kentucky
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Waverly Hills was already known as one of the most haunted places in the U.S. before it was used as a filming location for the horror movie Death Tunnel. The movie made use of the building’s long hallways and underground tunnel system. The site is now open for tours, both historical and paranormal.
Trail Dust Town, Arizona
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Trail Dust Town near Tucson was originally built as a film set for a Western, but it was never completed. Instead of letting it go to waste, the area was turned into a shopping and entertainment district. The buildings are original to the set, and they’ve been fixed up over the years. You’ll find stunt shows and rides all built around the original movie-style backdrop.
The Underwater Set from L’Enfant et la Sirène, France
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In the 1960s, a French film crew built a small village underwater near Cap d’Antibes for an experimental film called L’Enfant et la Sirène. Though the film faded into obscurity, the submerged structures remain. Divers with the right gear can explore this forgotten piece of cinema, assuming they can find it first.