The 1990 comedy, Ernest Goes to Jail, starring Jim Varney, was filmed in Nashville, Tennessee. The prison seen in the film is the Tennessee State Prison. Closed in 1992, the prison has appeared in numerous other films, such as “The Green Mile,” “Nashville,” “The Last Castle” and “Walk the Line.” No longer an active prison, it remains closed to the public most of the time, with the exception of occasional local events. A tornado in 2020 also caused damage to the building. However, it can still be seen at a distance from public areas.
The 1999 Frank Darabont film “The Green Mile,” starring Tom Hanks, was shot in Tennessee, North Carolina and Los Angeles, California. The early scenes at the retirement home were filmed at The Cone Manor, 6570 Blue Rdg Pkwy, Blowing Rock, NC 28605.
The exterior of the prison was filmed at Tennessee State Prison in Nashville, Tennessee. Closed in 1992, the prison has appeared in numerous other films, such as “Nashville,” “Ernest Goes To Jail,” “The Last Castle” and “Walk the Line.” While no longer an active prison, it remains closed to the public most of the time, with the exception of occasional local events. A tornado in 2020 also caused damage to the building. However, it can still be seen at a distance from public areas. The interior of the prison was a studio set built in West Hollywood, California (7200 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046).
The farmhouse were Klaus Detterick, played by William Sadler, lives with his wife and two daughters, can be found in the town of Columbia, about an hour south of Nashville. The home is long since vacant and not in good condition. It is not visible from the street. The barn to the right is still there, but difficult to see behind the grass and trees. The large tree seen in the film is no longer there.
Here is another view of the home, which was in dilapidated condition and swarming with insects.
This side of the home is where Klaus Detterick is seen running outside with a gun. The filmmakers built a facade onto this portion of the home to feature a large porch area. The facade portion is no longer there.
Klaus Detterick sees John Coffey, played by Michael Clarke Duncan, holding his daughters at Caney Fork River Bridge in Lancaster, Tennessee, about an hour east of Nashville. There are no roads to access this railway bridge. A freeway ramp to a nearby rest stop (Interstate 40 Mile Marker 267, Lancaster, TN 38569) exists, but there is no shoulder to park on. There is also no sidewalk and steep banks, so reaching this area is a bit of a challenge. The close-up shot of John Coffey holding the girls was actually filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California (4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505).
The home of Warden Hal Moores, played by James Cromwell, can be found in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Much like the Detterick farmhouse, a facade was added by the filmmakers onto the right portion of the house. It was removed at the completion of filming.
LOCATION: 1810 TN-82, Shelbyville, TN 37160
To see our “The Green Mile” location page, click here.
The 1997 Harmony Korine film “Gummo,” while set in the town of Xenia, Ohio, was actually shot in Nashville, Tennessee, where Korine spent part of his youth. The majority of the filming locations are in close proximity to one another.
The film opens with Bunny Boy, played by Jacob Sewell, sitting on an overpass above the I-40 freeway. It is still there today, although the fencing has been changed.
LOCATION: Near Newton Ave, Nashville, TN 37209 (GPS coordinates: 36°09’03.8″N, 86°51’47.9″W)
Tummler and Solomon, played by Nick Sutton and Jacob Reynolds, ride their bikes down Kentucky Ave. Most of the homes on this street have since been demolished. You can still find most of them on old Google street views. Only a couple properties seen in the film are still standing. The building at the top of the hill on the left is seen in the background of a couple shots.
LOCATION: Near 4636 Kentucky Ave, Nashville, TN 37209
While most of the houses have changed, the mountains in the background still line up with what is seen in the film.
The house to the right is one of the last remaining that was seen in the film.
The house of Dot (Chloë Sevigny) and her sisters was located on the same street, but has since been demolished. The houses to the left are where Dot’s house stood, while the house to the right stands in place of the home where Solomon stops Tummler from shooting Dot’s cat.
The grocery store scenes were filmed at 5404 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209.
The ice cream stand where Tummler and Solomon get milkshakes remains a popular spot.
LOCATION: 5301 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209
The back of the same location was also used for the interview with the albino woman.
The junkyard scenes were filmed at 670 James Ave, Nashville, TN, 37209, but it has since been razed and a residential development has been built in its place.
The tennis court scenes were filmed at Richland Park Tennis Court.
LOCATION: Richland Park Tennis Court, 4600-4698 Park Ave, Nashville, TN 37209
Helen (Carisa Glucksman) and Dot stand in this area.
Helen and Dot are seen walking down Charlotte Pike. Some of the buildings in the background have changed, while others still match up.
LOCATION: 5517 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209
Jarrod sets up cat trap on the side of this building, which is right across the street from the ice cream stand.
LOCATION: 407 53rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209
Tummler and Solomon ride their bikes past this building as they spot a cat trap. The same building can be seen in the background when Tummler confronts Jarrod.
They continue in front of this electrical grid, where Tummler finds a cat trap.
The house where Tummler confronts Jarrod was located right across the street. The swimming pool from the end of the film was also located on the same property, with the electrical grid visible in the background of some shots. It has since been demolished, with new homes standing in its place. Here is what the area looks like now.
LOCATION: Near 6218 Morrow Rd, Nashville, TN 37209 (GPS coordinates: 36°09’54.57″N, 86°51’54.65″W, now demolished)
Dot and her sisters get a ride from a man who takes them to this parking lot.
LOCATION: 405 American Rd, Nashville, TN 37209
After the man makes unwanted sexual advances toward the girls, they hit him and get out of the car. He drives away shouting “Nothing new for trash like you.”
If you find yourself in Nashville and care to check out the filming locations, these can all be visited in a relatively short amount of time.
Film Oblivion 