Television and movies bring to life settings that we can never forget, immortalizing hotels, motels and lodges within our memories for years to come. Here we explore five of the film locations of all time.
The Bates Motel
Pretty girls checked in, but they didn’t check out as actress Janet Leigh showed us during the iconic shower scene in one of the best horror films of all time, “Psycho”. The motel was filmed on the set at Universal Studios in Hollywood, CA, and is still a part of the studios’ back-lot tour.
The movie was adapted from the Robert Bloch novel with the same name. Bloch based his story on Ed Gein from Wisconsin, who was a grave robber and a murderer. Gein lived just 40 miles from the author. The set of the Bates Motel was inspired by a painting from artist Edward Hopper named “The House by The Railroad.”
Fawlty Towers
This fictional hotel was set on the English Riviera in Torquay, although the show was never filmed in that part of the country. The owner, Basil Fawlty, is unconventional and grumpy as he oversees his hotel. The actual building used for the exterior shots was the Wooburn Grange Country Club located in Buckinghamshire. Unfortunately, this famous place was destroyed by a fire in 1991.
Kellerman’s Resort
The film “Dirty Dancing” was set at a summer resort in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. The actual location was Mountain Lake Hotel in Pembroke, Virginia, which is set back in the New River Valley of the Appalachian Mountains. The resort plays homage to the movie by offering guests dance lessons, a film tour and karaoke. Guests of the resort can stay in cottages like the Housemans did in the movie.
Hotel Splendide
James Bond fans will recognise this hotel from the movie “Casino Royale” where Bond actor Daniel Craig stumbled out of the entrance after he was poisoned. The hotel Splendide was set in Montenegro, but the actual location used in the movie was the Grandhotel Pupp, a 228-room lavish hotel in Carlsbad of the Czech Republic. The hotel was also used for a restaurant set (Scene?) and a poker tournament.
The Overlook Hotel
Actor Jack Nicholson played caretaker Jack Torrance of the Overlook Hotel from the movie “The Shining” based on the Stephen King novel. The Timberline Lodge resort located in Oregon played the Overlook Hotel, at least for the exterior shots. Author Stephen King based his story on the Stanley Hotel, which is in Colorado and was used for a TV mini-series version of “The Shining.” Supposedly, the Stanley Hotel runs the Jack Nicholson version continuously on channel 42 for guests of their hotel. Fans can stay at either film location to experience the creepy factor first hand.
So, whether you’re fascinated by the summer resort where Baby and Johnny danced, the luxury setting for a Bond flick, a fun quirky inn or the spooky factor of the Bates and Overlook Hotels, you’ll have fun remembering the movies and shows that were created in these locations.
About the author
Guest post written by travel blogger Roxanne Bridger who works for the UK’s leading flights comparison site. CheapFlights.co.uk. Take a look at their new inspirational page of 100 Romantic Places to Stay in Europe
By Olivia GrilHey Folks! I'm Olivia from California, United States. I'm a blogger, travel lover, I can travel anywhere, whether it's a new place or already visited. I love meeting new people, clicking photos of every movement, and documenting my adventure. I also, write about travel, travel movies, the best places to visit, etc. Read my stories.
