The 2007 Coen Brothers film, “No Country for Old Men,” is set in West Texas in 1980. The movie was filmed in Texas, New Mexico and Mexico, with much of the film shot around Las Vegas, New Mexico (not to be confused with the famed city in Nevada). Early in the film, Anton Chigurh, played by Javier Bardem, becomes agitated at a gas station owner and gambles the man’s life on a coin toss. The building currently sits abandoned and can be found on the outskirts of Las Vegas.
LOCATION: 2619 NM-104, Las Vegas, NM 87701
While it is never seen from this angle in the film, here is a closer look at the gas station exterior.
Most of the scene takes place inside. Here is how the interior looks where Anton Chigurh stood.
On the run with drug money, Llewelyn Moss, played by Josh Brolin, gets a room at the Regal Motel.
LOCATION: 1809 N Grand Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701
Rightfully paranoid he’s being tracked, Llewelyn heads up to the front desk and books a second room.
Llewelyn is seen exiting room 138.
On the hunt for Llewelyn, Anton Chigurh uses a pay phone to call Llewelyn’s mother-in-law. In reality, no pay phone exists where Anton stands, it’s just some parking spaces in front of the Las Vegas Train Station.
LOCATION: 500 Railroad Avenue, Las Vegas, NM 87701
Llewelyn checks into the Historic Plaza Hotel, where he realizes he’s been tracked. The same hotel is seen in the films “Easy Rider” and John Carpenter’s “Vampires.”
LOCATION: 230 Plaza Park, Las Vegas, NM 87701
The lobby of the real hotel appears in a few scenes, most memorably when Anton confronts Carson Wells, played by Woody Harrelson.
As Carson walks up the stairs, Anton approaches him from behind and tells him to proceed to his room. In the film, the room is shown to be room 213. However, we visited room 213 and can confirm it is not the room used in the film. Nothing about the layout matches what is seen in the film, including the hallway outside. What is seen in the film is either a different hotel or a set. The lobby scenes are the real Historic Plaza Hotel, however.
Right next to the stairs is this sign noting the hotel’s appearance in the film.
Here is the area where the hotel clerk’s front desk was located.
Llewelyn pays off the clerk to notify him is anyone else enters the hotel. When he later calls and no one answers, he confirms Anton is in the building.
A gun fight spills into the streets between Llewelyn and Anton. Llewelyn stops a truck to try to escape, but the driver is quickly shot by Anton.
LOCATION: 518 Douglas Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701
Llewelyn flees in the truck and jumps the curb of this intersection before crashing.
LOCATION: 527 Grand Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701
After fending off Anton, Llewelyn crosses the border to Mexico. The border station was built by the production at this intersection.
LOCATION: E University Ave / Grand Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701
Llewelyn walks up E University Ave (also known as NM-104), where he buys a coat off some men passing him. He also tosses the money over the fence, but below is not the grassy area seen in the film, rather some railroad tracks. Carson Wells is seen later at the same location.
LOCATION: E University Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701 (GPS coordinates: 35°35’47.4″N, 105°12’44.2″W, overlooking 700 Railroad Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701)
Wounded and in need of medicine, Anton blows up a car in front of Mike Zoss Pharmacy, in order to distract everyone inside as he takes what he needs.
LOCATION: 610 Douglas Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701
After recovering from his injuries, Llewelyn stays at the Desert Sands Motel in Albuquerque, which has since been demolished. The front street can still be matched up, when Ed Tom Bell, played by Tommy Lee Jones, arrives right after a crime has transpired.
LOCATION: 5000 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 (now demolished)
Ed Tom meets a fellow officer at the morgue, also located in Albuquerque.
LOCATION: 715 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Carla Jean, played by Kelly Macdonald, lives at this home.
LOCATION: 915 Jackson St, Las Vegas, NM 87701
Late in the film, Anton gets into an accident at this intersection. In the film, a traffic light is seen, but in reality there is only a stop sign.
LOCATION: Baca Ave / 6th St, Las Vegas, NM 87701
After some boys approach Anton to check on him, he asks for one of their shirts and then escapes down this sidewalk.
The 1991 Steve Martin comedy “L.A. Story” features multiple locations all over the titular city. At the beginning of the film, four cars yield for one another, before all proceeding simultaneously into a four way collision. The intersection can be found at Kingsland St and Butler Ave in Mar Vista.
LOCATION: Kingsland St / Butler Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Trudi, played by Marilu Henner, lives in this apartment in West Hollywood. Harris, played by Steve Martin, continues a dead-end relationship with Trudi, while looking for a way out.
LOCATION: 884 Palm Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
The famous freeway sign from the film is not actually located on a freeway. Instead it was filmed on Burbank Blvd in Encino. The sign was of course a prop built by the production. The area where the sign could be found is just past Hayvenhurst Ave. We’ve listed the GPS coordinates below, however, we do not recommend visiting this location. Burbank Blvd has moderate to heavy traffic and there is no sidewalk or parking on the shoulder. It becomes narrow in some places and puts you dangerously close to traffic at times. At best, simply driving past it is likely a safer option to anyone interested in seeking it out.
LOCATION: Just past the intersection of Hayvenhurst Ave / Burbank Blvd, Encino, CA 91436 (GPS coordinates: 34.167274, -118.489291)
Matte paintings were used to depict a city skyline in the distance.
Harris has to submit financial records to the Fourth Reich Bank of Hamburg to get restaurant reservations at an exclusive restaurant. The bank scenes were filmed at the A.G. Bartlett Building in downtown Los Angeles. The building is currently used for a variety of businesses and lofts. The property has been seen in countless other films, including “Seven,” “They Live” “The Mask,” “The Wedding Singer,” “13 Going On 30,” “The Prestige,” “Ghost,” “Bridesmaids” and many more. This area cannot normally be accessed by pedestrians. However, portions are visible from the street in a couple areas through the windows.
LOCATION: 650 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
The restaurant where Harris meets Sara, played by Victoria Tennant, was a composite of two locations. The exterior was actually not a restaurant at all, rather an entrance to an apartment complex, which still exists today.
LOCATION: 426 S Norton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
After Harris and Trudi finish eating, Harris initially forgets Trudi on the street curb and starts to drive away. This is the same general spot as the restaurant entrance.
The dining patio, however, was part of the Ambassador Hotel, which was demolished in 2006. The hotel was a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “The Graduate,” “Forrest Gump,” “Seven,” “Bobby,” “True Lies,” “True Romance,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Mask” and dozens more. Only this post and statue from the original building remain at the location.
LOCATION: 3400 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (now demolished)
Harris’ house can be found in West Hollywood.
LOCATION: 1206 N Orange Grove Ave ,West Hollywood, CA 90046
Sara lives at this apartment in, also located in West Hollywood. The same building has been featured in the films “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey,” “The Limey,” “Rush Hour” and more.
LOCATION: 1400 N Hayworth Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Harris’ friend Ariel, played by Susan Forristal, lives just a few doors up from Harris. The location of the apartment complex has since been completely remodeled and no longer bears any resemblance to how it appeared in the film.
LOCATION: 1220 N Orange Grove Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Harris goes skating inside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The portion of the museum seen in the exterior establishing shot has since been torn down for remodeling. The same area was seen in the 1988 film “Miracle Mile.”
LOCATION: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
The Now! clothing store where SanDeE, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, works is currently a pharmacy.
LOCATION: 8491 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Sara’s ex-husband Roland tries to win her back as they stand at the Tail O’ The Pup hot dog stand. It is also seen at the beginning of the film, hanging from a helicopter as it travels across the city. The hot dog shaped site was originally located on La Cienega Blvd. At risk for demolition, it was relocated to San Vicente Blvd in the mid-80s. The business then closed in 2005 and the stand was put in storage until 2022, when it finally reopened in West Hollywood. The iconic stand has appeared in countless films, such as “Body Double,” “Annie Hall,” “Ruthless People,” “My Girl 2,” “Heartbreaker” and more.
LOCATION: 8512 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (previously located at 329 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048, originally located at 311 La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211)
SanDeE’s apartment can be found in Venice Beach.
LOCATION: 25 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291
A false doorway was added on the side of the building, making it appear SanDeE lives within the mural.
The Colonic Institute can also be found in Venice Beach. The same building can be seen in the film “Point Of No Return.”
LOCATION: 523 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Harris and Sara attend an art museum fundraiser at this house in Rancho Palos Verdes. Only a small portion of the home can be seen from the street.
LOCATION: 3456 Vía Campesina, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
The El Pollo del Mar resort where Harris and Sara unexpectedly run into one another can be found in Long Beach. The front entrance to the property is gated off, but the back side of it, also seen in the film, is visible from the beach.
The 1992 film “White Men Can’t Jump” remains one of the more iconic Los Angeles based films. While it shot at various locations around the city, many of which were not destination-based spots for tourists, it is arguably best remembered for its basketball scenes on Venice Beach. During the opening credits, Billy Hoyle, played by Woody Harrelson, parks his car on Windward Ave in Venice Beach, as he searches for a basketball court.
LOCATION: 25 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Just on the opposite side of the street, there is this mural for the film.
LOCATION: 66 Windward Ave Venice, CA 90291
Here is where the men sing a song over the opening credits. This same area was featured in the film “Monkey Trouble.”
LOCATION: Dudley Ave / Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Billy approaches the singing men and asks where to find the basketball court.
LOCATION: 401 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
The court where Billy hustles Sidney Deane, played by Wesley Snipes, was not a real court at all. It was and still is a parking lot for beach visitors at the end of Rose Ave, stretching down to Dudley Ave. The production liked the location and converted it into a basketball court for filming. There is a famous court next to the Muscle Beach gym area, often mistaken as being the court from this film and featured in such films as “American History X.” However, the real location is the Rose Ave parking lot, as the buildings and surrounding areas still align with what is seen in the background of the film.
LOCATION: 1 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Here is the court where Sidney and Billy run their first hustle together. Their target does not react kindly to the hustle and goes to his car to get a gun.
LOCATION: 601 E 23rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (court is behind the church on the corner of Trinity St / E 22nd St)
Billy and Gloria, played by Rosie Perez, drop Sidney off at his apartment in Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 4808 August St, Los Angeles, CA 90008
The first motel where Billy stays was formerly located at 1733 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401. It has since been demolished and a new building stands in its place. After some men seeking to collect a debt from Billy track him down at that motel, Billy and Gloria flee to this motel for much of the film.
LOCATION: 5274 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
Sidney gets a tour as a prospective buyer of this home, which may be beyond his price range.
LOCATION: 2352 W 30th St, Los Angeles, CA 90018
Gloria appears on the game show “Jeopardy!,” which was filmed at the show’s stage on the Sony Pictures studio lot. The set can be visited as part of their studio tour.
LOCATION: 10202 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
After Gloria does well on “Jeopardy!,” she and Billy celebrate by upgrading to this hotel in Santa Monica.
The 2012 Martin McDonagh ensemble film “Seven Psychopaths” was filmed around Southern California. The opening scenes were filmed at the Mullholland Dam in Hollywood. The dam is accessible to the public, however, it does require a minor walk to reach it. You have to drive up Weidlake Drive and the nearest parking is at the Hollywood Reservoir Trailhead. From there it’s just a short distance on foot. The same location was featured in the film “The Little Things.”
LOCATION: Mulholland Dam, Los Angeles, CA 90068 (nearest parking area is the Hollywood Reservoir Trailhead at 6381-6399 Weidlake Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068)
Billy, played by Sam Rockwell, lives at a house perched on a hillside in Angelino Heights in East L.A. The same house was seen in the films “Under The Silver Lake” and “Crazy/Beautiful” and located just around the corner from Jake Gyllenhaal’s apartment in the film “Nightcrawler.” The home has since been demolished.
LOCATION: 1016 White Knoll Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (now demolished)
Billy runs an operation stealing dogs for reward money at the La Brea Tar Pits.
LOCATION: 5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
He stands here overlooking operations with a pair of binoculars.
Marty, played by Colin Farrell, visits this market in Pearblossom, California.
LOCATION: 13012 Pearblossom Hwy, Pearblossom, CA 93553
He exits here with Hans, played by Christopher Walken, where the two spot a newspaper.
In the 1991 film “Doc Hollywood,” Michael J. Fox plays a soon-to-be big city surgeon named Ben Stone, who suddenly finds himself stranded in the town of Grady, South Carolina. However, most of the film was actually shot in Central Florida in the town of Micanopy.
Ben crashes into the fence in front of the house of Judge Evans, who sentences him to community service at the local hospital. The house of the Judge is not an easy location to find. You won’t see much via google street view. We couldn’t even find an address for the house itself. Located in the unincorporated community of Evinston (considered part of Micanopy on most maps), the house is located on a dirt road, just off SE 182 Ave. The easiest way to find it is to locate Evinston United Methodist Church, Micanopy, FL 32667. The dirt road across from the church is the one that will lead you to the house. The exact GPS coordinates are posted below.
LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 29.488394, -82.229219, just off SE 182 Ave, Micanopy, FL 32667
Here is a better view of the house.
The Main Street of Grady, where most of the locations in the film are found, is NE Cholokka Blvd. It is a little strip consisting mostly of antique stores. This view, when the Mayor shows Ben the town, is near the intersection of NE 3 Ave and NE Cholokka Blvd
LOCATION: NE Cholokka Blvd & NE 3 Ave, Micanopy, FL 32667 (Note: In the actual town, the street signs refer to NE 3 Ave as NE Magnolia Ave)
Looking left at nearly the exact same spot would have been the cafe, which was a set built for the film and has long since been demolished. Just beside it though is the mechanic shop where Ben gets his car repaired. This is a real building and still stands. It is not a mechanic shop, however. It is an antique store called the Micanopy Trading Outpost.
LOCATION: 205 NE Cholokka Blvd, Micanopy, FL 32667
The speaker box through which Ben speaks to the mechanic can still be found in the window.
The interior was also used in the film. Here is where the mechanic’s office area was located.
Ben is seen running down this sidewalk towards the butcher shop, afraid his pig has been slaughtered.
LOCATION: 214 NE Cholokka Blvd, Micanopy, FL 32667
Just beside it is the butcher’s shop.
LOCATION: 302 NE Cholokka Blvd, Micanopy, FL 32667
Across the street from the butcher’s shop is the hospital from the film. We could not find an exact address number, but the sign out front says Hirsch Antiques. We’ve also provided the GPS coordinates below.
LOCATION: House of Hirsch Too Antiques, Micanopy, FL 32667, GPS coordinates: 29°30’19.9″N 82°16’45.1″W
Ben stands to the right on the porch and watches Lou, played by Julie Warner, in a parade.
The 2013 sequel “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” was primarily filmed in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Celebrating their victory, Katniss, played by Jennifer Lawrence, and Peeta, played by Josh Hutcherson, are invited to a party at the estate of President Snow, played by Donald Sutherland. This was filmed at the Swan House, located on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center. This is the back side of the estate. The same building appears again in the sequel, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2,” as well as the 1980 film “Little Darlings.”
LOCATION: 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
The victors’ living quarters was filmed at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, where Johanna Mason, played by Jena Malone, strips nude in one of the elevators. The same location was featured in the TV series “Loki.”
LOCATION: 265 Peachtree Center Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
In all “The Hunger Games” films, this SJ-7 Peacekeeper Transport was featured. Serving as armored ground vehicles for the Peacekeepers, they were entirely custom bodied for the productions. The vehicle could be found on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, which ran an exhibit entitled “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles Of Science Fiction and Fantasy” from May 2019 through May 2020.
LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Oliver Stone’s 1994 film “Natural Born Killers” was shot in quite a few different locations, including Arizona, New Mexico, Illinois and Indiana, as the story depicts two killers on a cross-country mass murder spree. In the opening scenes of the film, Micky and Mallory, played by Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis respectively, visit a restaurant on a desert road known as the “5 To 2 Cafe.” After some unwanted advances and rude remarks from some locals, things quickly turn violent.
The building still stands all these years later, although it is long since boarded up and closed down. The former diner can be found on AZ-99, along an isolated stretch on the outskirts of Winslow, Arizona. To visit in person, it feels quite remote. However, in reality, it’s only a few miles from Interstate 40, between the highway and the town of Leupp. The exact location of the building is 35°06’54.8″N, 110°52’20.3″W.
LOCATION: AZ-99, Winslow, AZ 86047 (between Interstate 40 and Indian Rte 15, Leupp) (GPS coordinates: 35°06’54.8″N, 110°52’20.3″W)
The property is fenced off from the sides and there is a residence next door, so be careful not to trespass or disturb the tenants.
These distinct circular windows can still be seen on the sides of the building. The windows are seen in the film behind Juliette Lewis, as she dances in front of the jukebox.
The overheating truck pulls up in front.
For those wondering, the “5 To 2 Cafe” sign out front near the road is long since gone.
Micky and Mallory get married at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in El Prado, New Mexico. The bridge is far removed from most tourist destinations, requiring hours of driving through mountains and winding terrain to reach it. Once you’re there, however, it’s instantly recognizable.
LOCATION: Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, US-64, El Prado, NM 87529
The same bridge appeared in the films “Twins,” “She’s Having A Baby,” “Wild Hogs,” “Vacation,” “Paul,” “Terminator: Salvation,” “The Signal,” “Catchfire” and “White Sands.”
Here is where the doll falls at the beginning of the scene and where Micky and Mallory cut their hands, hold them together and drop their blood into the river below.
Here is where the loud truck passengers drive by and momentarily irritate Micky and Mallory.
The gorge is a very sheer drop, so the surrounding land is mostly fenced off, preventing you from getting too close to the edges. Here is about as close as you can get, with this view taken through the wire fencing.
Here is a view standing on the middle of the bridge looking out at the road. It gets extremely windy on this bridge, so much so, you can feel the vibration on the bridge as you stand on it.
This side of the gorge isn’t seen in the film, but here is the view from the opposite side of the bridge.
Here are some landmarks and signs for the bridge. You can see some of the fencing in the background, which is taller than it may appear here.
While it is permissible to fly drones at the bridge, the area is so windy, you’ll almost certainly lose your drone immediately if you attempt to fly one. We don’t recommend trying it. There is a parking lot available on one side of the bridge and a rest area on the other side, making it easy to access on foot. The drive to get there is the hardest part.
Later in the film, Micky and Mallory are finally captured at the “Drug Zone” after being bitten by rattlesnakes and in need of medicine. The building is currently a crafts store and can be found in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Aside from the sign and some changes to the front entrance, the building otherwise still resembles how it appeared in the film.
A standoff between Micky and the cops ensues out front and after surrendering, Micky is then beaten by the police, as they try to prevent a film crew from capturing it.
Here’s a look from inside the store, in the general area where Micky exits and surrenders.
The house from “Zombieland” where Billy Murray, in a memorable cameo, lives can be found in Atlanta, Georgia. The house sits back from the road and the front of the property along the street has since become a bit obscured by trees and plants. However, it’s still possible to manage a view from some angles.
LOCATION: 490 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
“Blaine’s Grocery” market was a vacant building at the time of filming. The property was unfortunately remodeled in 2018 and no longer resembles how it appeared in the film. It can be found at 4431 Brownsville Rd, Powder Springs, GA 30127.
The challenge in capturing the filming locations for a TV series such as “True Detective” is that the list become so voluminous, the pursuit can become staggering. We did our best to capture as many of the most well-known spots as we could, but it remains an ongoing progress. This only covers the first season. We’ve split the locations up by episode as well, but some of course appear over numerous episodes.
Season one, starring Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Marty Hart, is set against the green, empty landscapes and the industrial detritus of the Southern Louisiana bayou. The story immerses us in the lives of two detectives over a span of seventeen years, as they try to solve a murder investigation.
The series shot all over Southern Louisiana, mostly in the small towns surrounding New Orleans. Many of the locations chosen are impressive, as some are so far off the beaten path, they’re certainly not your run of the mill places for a big budget production to film. Some spots are actually quite a challenge to access and others aren’t the safest of places. We’ll attempt to break it all down.
Episode One – “The Long Bright Dark”
The detectives are introduced to the case in 1995, when they discover the body of Dora Lang under a tree. The tree in question is found at the Oak Alley Plantation. Many productions have shot there, including “Interview With The Vampire,” “Primary Colors” and more. While the plantation is open to tours, the tree is not included on their tours. Most plantations in Louisiana run several miles deep, full of sugarcane or other crops. This tree is located back in the farming area of the property. You can in fact drive on a bit of the plantation’s dirt roads, but you’ll not likely access the tree from the main entrance of Oak Alley along LA-18, as the roads to most of the crops are usually gated off. The tree is much closer to LA-3127 on the back side of the plantation, near the intersection of LA-3127 and Oak Alley Dr (the latter being an unmarked dirt road). We’ve provided exact GPS coordinates below.
LOCATION: 3645 LA-18, Vacherie, LA 70090 (GPS coordinates: 29°58’16.71″N, 90°46’9.32″W)
Marty and Rust work at the Criminal Investigative Unit, which can be found in New Orleans. This building is actually tucked back a bit from the road, past a couple other parking lots, so you may not immediately spot it upon first approach.
LOCATION: 155 Brookhollow Esplanade, New Orleans, LA 70123
Later in the series, Marty and Rust get into altercation in the parking lot out front.
Episode Two – “Seeing Things”
In the second episode, the detectives discover a second body at a burned out church. That church was a set constructed by the production, but the location it was built at can still be visited. Locating it is not the easiest of tasks, however. It can be found near the Bonnet Carre Spillway in LaPlace. From CC Rd, you must take a slight left up an unmarked embankment, just before you reach the railroad tracks. If you pass the tracks, you’ve gone too far. If you follow the dirt road a short distance to the GPS coordinates listed below, you’ll arrive at the correct spot. While it is not private property, depending on the weather conditions, you might not want attempt it. The dirt roads flood very easily and depending on the time of year, the place can be swarming with insects as well.
LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 30° 1’8.83″N, 90°26’19.35″W, down an unmarked dirt road, just off of CC Rd, LaPlace, LA 70068
Episode Three – “The Locked Room”
Marty lives at this house in the town of Marrero. The home is seen several times in the series, such as when Rust comes and mows Marty’s lawn, much to his anger.
LOCATION: 2541 Fawnwood Rd, Marrero, LA 70072
Rust visits the Light of the Way Christian Academy where (*spoilers*) he unknowingly speaks to the killer, Errol Childress, who is mowing the lawn. Marty calls Rust away none the wiser as they follow a lead on Reggie LeDoux. The building itself is the Old Kenner High School in Kenner, which was subject to a fire by arson in 2018. This is what’s left of the building in the wake of the fire, the remnants of which, in all likelihood, will eventually be demolished.
LOCATION: 1601 Reverend Richard Wilson Dr, Kenner, LA 70062
Episode Four – “Who Goes There”
Rust meets Marty’s wife Maggie, played by Michelle Monaghan, at this diner and donut shop, where he informs her that Marty wants to see the kids while they are separated.
LOCATION: 7271 Jefferson Hwy, Harahan, LA 70123
Things take a darker turn when Rust goes undercover as “Crash” to reconnect with a biker gang known as the Iron Crusaders, in an attempt to find Reggie LeDoux. Rust heads to this biker bar, where he meets up with Ginger, a member of the gang. Marty arrives soon after looking for Rust, but he is quickly kicked out by the bikers. The building can be slightly tricky to find, as it sits behind a truck stop.
LOCATION: 65583 Pump Slough Rd, Pearl River, LA 70452
A view of the back of the property, where Rust makes a deal to help Ginger with a robbery, in exchange for a drug connection. Marty spots them boarding a boat just before he’s thrown out.
One of the most memorable sequences of the series is the six minute long, single take of Cohle and the Iron Crusaders robbing a drug house. Recreating the shot is no easy task. While set in Beaumont, Texas, the scene was actually filmed in Woodland Acres, a low-income housing unit located in Westwego, Louisiana. While nowhere near as extreme as what’s depicted on the show, it is nevertheless a tough neighborhood where tourism is certainly not common. There are only a few streets and all of them loop back together, meaning there is one way in and one way out (bad spot for a robbery, as the characters in the show quickly discover). Many of the residents like to sit outside and, due to the very self-contained layout, you will undoubtedly attract attention if you visit. Walking around photographing their properties, the reaction can be unpredictable. Sound judgment should be used as to how much you choose to impose. Another challenge is simply figuring out where all the shots take place. Even with plenty of research and preparation, it still takes a bit of time to figure out your bearings once you’re there. Other than one or two minor shots, which we voluntarily refrained from as not to be too disruptive to the tenants, we were more or less able to capture what we wanted unimpeded. However, prospective visitors should be aware your experiences may differ from ours, so use caution.
The Iron Crusaders pose as police officers with a shotgun held on one of the drug dealers, as they force their way into this drug house.
LOCATION: 212 Jackson St, Westwego, LA 70094
As the robbery proceeds, an angry crowd gathers outside and their control of the situation unravels after one of the robbers opens fire. Bullets flying, Cohle, no longer concerned with his cover, immediately turns on the Crusaders and takes Ginger hostage, as he still needs the information on LeDoux. Cohle and Ginger spill out the back door of the same apartment.
The camera pans up to see a police helicopter arriving above. Rust kicks in the back door of this adjacent unit with Ginger in tow, as he makes a call to Marty to pick them up at a nearby street.
LOCATION: 205 Lake St, Westwego, LA 70094
They make their way out the front door of the same building when Cohle is struck in the back with a baseball bat by one of the gang members. He fights off the assailants and pistol whips them in this front yard.
Rust and Ginger hide behind a bush as gang members and cops both head down Alaska Street to the scene of the robbery.
LOCATION: Alaska St, next to 202 Lake St, Westwego, LA 70094
Rust and Ginger run over to this unit, where they hide right behind the divider wall, as armed gang members spill out from the unit right behind them, looking to defend their turf.
LOCATION: 710 Texas St, Westwego, LA 70094
They then hurry over to this fence on the same property and climb it.
They cross through the grassy area on the right, where Marty picks them up to narrowly escape the chaotic scene.
Rust takes Ginger to Sportsman’s bar, where Ginger reluctantly introduces him to Dewall LeDoux, Reggie’s cousin and cook partner. In reality, this is a composite of two locations. The exterior is actually a sporting goods and bait shop, while the interior is the Spillway Bar (15641 US-61, Norco, LA 70079), located just a short distance away.
LOCATION: 15611 US-61, Norco, LA 70079
The compound of Reggie LeDoux, where more violence occurs and LeDoux gives his “time is a flat circle” speech, was in fact a set built by the production. The set was built off of Florissant Hwy in the town of St Bernard.
Episode Six – “Haunted Houses”
Marty stops for a drink at what was formerly Fox & Hound. There he meets Beth by chance, a former teenage prostitute who he once helped out, and the two have a conversation over drinks. The building has since been remodeled a bit and is currently a discount shop. It can be found in the Elmwood Shopping Center in New Orleans.
LOCATION: 1200 S Clearview Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70123
Marty and Beth meet up for more drinks, before heading back to Beth’s place. In the show, the bar is depicted as “The Keg,” but it’s actually the Rickshaw Lounge in Harahan.
LOCATION: 378A Hickory Ave, Harahan, LA 70123
Episode Seven – “After You’ve Gone”
Rust follows a lead and meets a transvestite prostitute at the Dragon’s Den in New Orleans, located not far from the famous French Quarter. The same location was seen in the film “The Lovebirds.”
LOCATION: 435 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
Rust breaks into the home of Billy Lee Tuttle, where he obtains incriminating photos and videos.
LOCATION: 4717 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
Seventeen years after the murder of Dora Lang, Hart and Cohle resume their investigation at Marty’s private investigation business, Hart Investigative Solutions.
LOCATION: 5703 Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127
In 2012, an older, alcoholic Cohle now works as a bartender at this bar, known as Fisherman’s Wharf.
LOCATION: 4381 Bayou Gauche Rd, Des Allemands, LA 70030
Rust lives in this small house, which is located directly behind the Fisherman’s Wharf bar location.
LOCATION: 4381 Bayou Gauche Rd, Des Allemands, LA 70030 (behind the Fisherman’s Wharf building)
Gilbough and Papania, the two detectives interviewing Rust and Marty throughout the series, encounter the killer, Errol Childress and much like Cohle, are unaware of his true identity. Errol is mowing the Fleming Cemetery in Jean Lafitte. It is located very close to the filming location for Errol’s house.
LOCATION: Fleming Cemetery, Jean Lafitte, LA 70067 (GPS coordinates: 29°44’39.12″N, 90° 8’4.91″ W)
Episode Eight – “Form And Void”
In the final episode, Errol is seen on a ladder painting a school where children are playing. The building can be found at the Buddy Lawson Playground in the town of Kenner.
LOCATION: 1800 Short St, Kenner, LA 70062
Another view of the building.
As the series reaches it’s climax, Marty and Rust finally make it to the home of the killer, Errol Childress. The house has been renovated a bit from how it appeared in the show, with a staircase notably being added. Otherwise, it appears more or less the same. This portion of the house is unfortunately not visible from the road and sits on private property.
LOCATION: 2258 Jean Lafitte Blvd, Jean Lafitte, LA 70067
Errol flees into the tunnels of Carcosa, which is actually the ruins of Fort Macomb State Historic Site in New Orleans. Unlike the layout depicted in the show, the ruins are quite a distance away from Errol’s house. Built in 1822 by the United States, the fort was intended to defend the port of New Orleans from potential invading forces. The fort was decommissioned in 1871. Since then, there have been some attempts to open it up for public tourism, but due to the condition of the ruins, it has unfortunately been deemed unsafe for tourism at this time. Today, the area is surrounded by barbed wire fencing and is not open to the public. However, we’ve also seen the gates open and completely accessible. The ruins have appeared in a few other productions as well, including “NCIS: New Orleans” and Beyonce’s music video “Lemonade.”
You can actually see the perimeter of the ruins along the water on public property, but not the inner tunnels seen in the show. A tip for anyone considering visiting this general area, since the grounds are not currently maintained, they can become overgrown and the presence of insects is significant, especially in the summer months. Winter is a bit more suitable.
LOCATION: Fort Macomb State Historic Site, New Orleans, LA 70129 (GPS coordinates: 30° 3’53.30″N, 89°48’15.16″W)
In the final scenes, Marty visits Rust at the “Lafayette General Hospital.” This is actually the St. Bernard Parish Hospital in Chalmette, located nowhere near Lafayette. The pair discuss light versus dark and each offers their perspective on which is winning.
LOCATION: 8000 W Judge Perez Dr, Chalmette, LA 70043
For as many places from the show as we captured, there remain just as many we didn’t. Visiting these spots can be both enjoyable and very challenging. Some places, we recommend only for the most avid of fans. Other spots, we suggest plenty of research and preparation before visiting. It is a unique way to explore the Southern Louisiana bayou and you can take the odyssey as far as you want to go with it. For us, it served as one of the most extensive location searches we’ve ever done.
The 1996 Farrelly Brothers comedy “Kingpin” was shot mostly around Pennsylvania, but like many Farrelly Bothers films, it becomes something of a road trip movie, reaching Reno, Nevada by the film’s climax. In the opening scene of the film, a young Roy Munson practices bowling with his father at the Munson Service Center. The scene is supposedly set in Ocelot, Iowa. It was actually filmed in Mars, Pennsylvania.
LOCATION: 255 Mars Valencia Rd, Mars, PA 16046
Roy bowls with his father at the side of the building, using a homemade lane and bowling pins.
Roy’s father sees him off at P.J.’s Soft Serve. The building was in poor condition when the filmmakers first found it. It is shown in this state when Roy, played by Woody Harrelson, returns to his home town later in the film. The production then fixed it up for the early scenes. The building has since been completely demolished, with a different one now standing in its place, but the surrounding areas still match up. This is located one mile from the Munson Service Center, on the same road.
LOCATION: 441 Mars Valencia Rd, Valencia, PA 16059 (now demolished)
After winning a bowling tournament, Roy takes his car to a mechanic, who tells him someone put sugar in his gas tank. This scene was filmed just a few buildings down from the Munson Service Center and is easily within walking distance.
LOCATION: 229 Mars Valencia Rd, Mars, PA 16046
Only a small part of the building is seen in the film. However, this house across the street is also seen in the background of the scene, confirming the location.
“Big Ern” McCracken, played by Bill Murray, hustles some local bowlers and Roy finds himself in over his head. As they exit the bowling alley, they are confronted by the guys they’ve hustled. Big Ern lets Roy take the fall, as he speeds off and abandons him at the Beaver Valley Bowl in Rochester, with Roy losing his hand in the process. This same location was used in the Michael Douglas film “Wonder Boys” and the TV series “I Am Not Okay With This.”
LOCATION: 25 New York Ave, Rochester, PA 15074
The home of Roy Munson is supposedly located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The real building is actually located in the town of Trafford. Roy’s neighbors sit outside and complain about life, while his landlady lives next door as well. The building has been slightly updated, but is still very recognizable from how it appeared in the film.
LOCATION: 533 5th Street Ext, Trafford, PA 15085
Later in the film, Roy stages a purse snatching on his landlady, in which he rescues her in hopes she’ll cut him a break on his late rent.
Right around the corner from Roy’s apartment was another scene from the film. Roy helps a mother get her stroller up on the sidewalk and then steals the baby’s milk for his coffee.
LOCATION: 5th St / 5th Street Ext, Trafford, PA 15085
Roy first meets Amish bowler Ishmael, played by Randy Quaid, at the Lancaster Bowl. This scene was actually filmed at Mars Lanes, located right across the street from the Munson Service Center.
LOCATION: 262 Mars Valencia Rd, Mars, PA 16046
Ishmael lives at this farm, where Roy tries to persuade him to become business partners. Ishmael’s farm can be found in Fombell. The long path leading down to the farm is located at the intersection of Harvest Ln / PA-288.
When Roy first approaches Ishmael, who is riding his bicycle on the left side of the road, the barn on the right can be seen in the background. This is the same location as above, facing toward PA-288 (also known as Zelienople Rd).
After Ishmael loses a bowling match to a club player, Roy nearly decides to abandon their partnership. They stop on PA-528 (also known as Prospect Rd), where Roy quickly changes his mind and tells Ishmael he was just testing him.
LOCATION: PA-528, Slippery Rock, PA 16057 (near the 528 Boat Ramp, GPS coordinates: 40°57’03.3″N 80°02’34.9″W)
Depending on the map you use, this area may be listed as Slippery Rock, Prospect or Lake Arthur. It is located near the Frank W. Preston Conservation Area.
Roy and Ishmael unsuccessfully attempt to run the same hustle that cost Roy his hand at the former McKnight Lanes in Pittsburgh. The bowling alley has long since closed.
LOCATION: 7507 McKnight Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (since remodeled)
Roy and Claudia, played by Vanessa Angel, get into an argument the Jolly Jumper Motel, prompting Ishmael to run away. These scenes were filmed at 100 Blue Spruce Way, Murrysville, PA 15668, but the building has since been demolished.
Roy and Claudia go in search of him at Uncle Willees Reptile Farm, where a rattlesnake bites the owner in the face. The real building is a restaurant known as Willees Tavern and has operated for more than 80 years. The filmmakers clearly gave a nod to the real establishent when naming their fictional reptile farm. It is not far from the early locations seen in the film, such as the Munson Service Center and P.J.’s Soft Serve.
LOCATION: 11150 Babcock Blvd, Valencia, PA 16059
For the film’s climax, Roy and Big Ern square off at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada. The lanes are not open to public use, but there is a bowling museum inside that is open to the public, for those interested.
Film Oblivion 