If you’re looking to get into the Halloween spirit then haunted hayrides, corn mazes, and graveyards are probably already on your agenda for October. But if you’re really looking for the true spooky season experience, why not visit the locations of some horror movie classics that will be sure to send chills down your spine? We gathered up a list of scary movie locations you can actually visit because there’s no better Halloween scare than an authentic one.
Halloween (2018) — Charleston, SC
You can spot many glimpses of Charleston throughout this continuation of a classic franchise. You can even follow the path that Michael Myers took in the most recent installment of the famous slasher saga. While you’re there, be sure to visit local favorite restaurants Burton’s Grill and Bon Bahn Mi. The local Military Magnet High School also features those infamous checkered floors.
Check out our homes in Charleston that provide the perfect home base while you retrace the steps for Michael Myers.
Evil Dead — Morristown, TN
Evil Dead tells a classic 80s-style horror story of five college students whose remote vacation takes a nasty turn. The eerie charred remains of the 1981 film’s cabin still exist in the woods of the Smoky Mountains, left over from a fire a few years ago.
We have tons of Smoky Mountain homes perfect for a rusticly spooky escape. Some — like Duval and Smoky Cove Lane 2 — even have private indoor pools so you can take a midnight dip no matter the season.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre — Austin, TX
This influential horror film intrigued the minds of many to travel to its Austin-area sites. You can even visit the gas station in the movie—it’s now a barbecue restaurant called Texas Gas Station! If you wonder whether the restaurant has nods to the film, it does! You can buy horror merchandise inside, and the outside has a “We Slaughter Barbecue” sign.
Our Austin retreats are ready to help you celebrate the fall season. For something dramatic and moody to match the Halloween atmosphere, Barton is a top choice.
Scream — Sonoma, CA
Come to Sonoma if you want a glimpse of the town that produced the meta-slasher saga starring Ghostface. Fun fact: The school they wanted to shoot the film in didn’t allow them to do so, so in the final credits of the movie, the production team put a “No Thanks Whatsoever To” category in, thus resulting in the essential blacklisting of Sonoma County for the film industry.
Nothing says “Blockbuster thriller” like a massive house on a hill. Need plenty of rooms, hallways, and open space to explore and sneak through? Belleza or any of our Sonoma homes you covered.
I Know What You Did Last Summer — Sonoma, CA
Although the 1997 film is set in North Carolina, the scenic views of Sonoma County can be seen in the film’s opening scenes. Starring Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Freddy Prinze, Jr., it was based on a novel of the same name and is considered to have revitalized the slasher genre for a new generation.
Relive your own last summer at one of our Sonoma retreats. Many of these homes have outdoor pools so you can watch the colors change around you on balmier autumn days!
Cape Fear — Fort Lauderdale, FL
Starring Robert DeNiro and Jessica Lange, Martin Scorcese’s remake of the 1962 film turns Broward College into the film’s “New Essex High School.” Many of the water scenes, too, were shot in Everglades National Park.
Our Fort Lauderdale collection puts you scary close to the beach. From homes like Sea Breeze and Casa Bermuda, a quick walk across the street will land you on the shore.
A Quiet Place — Hudson Valley, NY
Parts of John Krasinski’s screenwriting debut, as well as the sequel, were filmed throughout Hudson Valley. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the film’s minimal dialogue meant viewers had to pay all the more attention to the natural visuals and scenery. The movie was mostly filmed in Pawling and New Paltz, two towns in Hudson Valley, so it should be no surprise that the film’s primary house is located in Pawling. The film’s first tragic moments even take place on Springtown Truss Bridge!
For a classic spooky atmosphere bolstered by natural beauty, Hudson Valley homes like Clove and River House deliver secluded estate vibes and unbeatable privacy.
Whether you’re West Coast or East Coast, you’ll be able to get your Halloween on this year at one of many AvantStay vacation homes nationwide.
