The 16 Best Abandoned Movie Locations for Film Fans

Key Points

• Visit Popeye Village in Malta, an abandoned film set now a vibrant tourist attraction with shows and rides.

• Explore the remnants of Tatooine from 'Star Wars' in Tunisia to experience the iconic desert landscape.

• Discover the Hobbiton set from 'The Lord of the Rings' in New Zealand, preserved for immersive tours.
  

Malta has become an increasingly popular destination over the years, with its crystal-blue waters and stunning historical sites. But there's another draw on the Mediterranean island that's one of the most popular among tourists: the abandoned set of the 1980 film 'Popeye.'

Starring Robin Williams, the flick featured the fictional village of Sweethaven, where Popeye arrived in search of his long-lost father. Built on the water's edge of Anchor Bay, the original set took seven months and a crew of 165 to complete. The final product included 20 wooden buildings painted in very bland colors so the actors could pop against them. After the film wrapped, the locals repainted it, making it a colorful scene.

Now called Popeye Village, tourists can visit the leftover pieces of the Hollywood film and even host weddings there. It's open seven days a week and features shows, rides, museums, and children's play areas where kids can meet the main characters from the show—such as Popeye, Olive Oyl, Bluto, and Wimpy. Some of the houses even include props original to the film to impart a true sense of movie magic.

If that piques your interest, you're in luck: there are other vestiges of film sets all over the world you can visit. Some, like District 12 from 'The Hunger Games,' lie in ruins while others, like the signs from M*A*S*H , are preserved. No matter your favorite genre, there's an abandoned set for virtually every type of film. They might not be the easiest to get to (like the one that's underwater) or find, but they're certainly worth a visit for any movie fan. Here are 17 abandoned film sets that you can visit.

'Star Wars': Tatooine in Tozeur, Tunisia

Though a real visit to another planet is out of the question for now, fans of 'Star Wars' can visit the saga's famous fictional desert world, Tatooine, in Tunisia. Travelers are invited to join tours of the well-kept remnants of the filming locations, including Luke Skywalker's childhood home in the nearby Chott el Jerid salt lake. While these buildings were used only for exterior shots, fans can visit Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata (about a three-hour drive away) to see where the interior shots were filmed.

'Pirates of The Caribbean': Port Royale in Wallilabou Anchorage, St. Vincent

Johnny Depp may have left, but the set from the hit 2003 film 'Pirates of the Caribbean' remains on St. Vincent. There are props and buildings still standing, including a small museum with memorabilia and photographs, but features like the dock have fallen into disrepair.

'Hunger Games': District 12 in Henry River Mill Village, North Carolina

This eerie place was already a ghost town before the crew of this post-apocalyptic movie moved in, but it made the perfect setting for the famed dystopia in 'The Hunger Games.' The boom of visitors has since died down, but people can still roam the empty streets and buildings at Henry River Mill Village .

'The Patriot': Old Spanish Mission in Cypress Gardens, South Carolina

The 170-acre preserve just 30 miles from Charleston has been home to several flicks, including 'The Notebook,' but was also the filming location for Mel Gibson's 2000 movie 'The Patriot.' After it wrapped, pieces of a fake church and bridge were left behind for fans to stumble on.

'Field of Dreams': Baseball Field in Dubuque County, Iowa

Originally a farm, the makers of Kevin Costner's 1989 movie 'Field of Dreams' built a baseball field , and it has remained ever since. Visitors can take a spin around the bases, tour or rent out the Kinsella family home, and, on occasion, watch the local "Ghost Players" play some innings.

'Big Fish': Town of Spectre in Montgomery, Alabama

Situated on a private island, what remains of the idyllic town from Tim Burton's 'Big Fish' is just a few buildings and rundown streets. Though it's technically private property, the owners are pretty relaxed when it comes to allowing people to fish, camp, picnic, and explore the scenic natural surroundings. There's just a minor bridge toll of a few dollars—not a bad deal for taking in some Hollywood history.

'M*A*S*H': Signs in Malibu Creek State Park, California

As if you needed another excuse to visit the stunning hiking trails of Malibu. While trekking through the mountains with a picture-perfect ocean view, visitors should keep their eyes peeled for remnants of the long-running TV show 'M*A*S*H,' which was shot here between 1972 and 1983. Pieces of signs and military vehicles were restored in 2007 and now remain on display in Malibu Creek State Park .

Trail Dust Town in Tucson, Arizona

Though it doesn't look abandoned now, this outdoor shopping mall was made out of the leftover set of an unfinished 1951 Glenn Ford western movie. It still retains the original charm, with the added bonuses of activities for both children and adults, including a Ferris wheel, miniature train, carousel, and Wild West-style stunt shows.

'Death Tunnel': Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky

Enter if you dare. This abandoned sanatorium served as a tuberculosis hospital and geriatric center before closing in 1961. The facility's chilling concrete chute (used to transport dead bodies out of the building) provided the ultimate spooky backdrop to the 2004 horror film 'Death Tunnel.' It's since been used on shows like 'Ghost Hunters' and is credited as one of the most haunted hospitals in the United States.

'L'Enfant et la Sirène': Underwater Village in France

A couple of filmmakers in the 1960s were eager to test the waters of filming capabilities by actually shooting scenes for their movie, 'L'Enfant et la Sirène' (The Child and the Mermaid), underwater. They built an entire village almost 100 feet below sea level just off the Cap d'Antibes, where interested parties would need scuba gear to visit today.

'Session 9': Danvers State Hospital in Danvers, Massachusetts

Another abandoned psychiatric hospital makes the list, and this one served as the backdrop for the 2001 horror film 'Session 9.' Many of the buildings were demolished and turned into condos, but parts of the façade are still intact.

'12 Monkeys': Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This prison once housed Al Capone, though after the place closed down, it fell into ruin. When the creators of the Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt flick were looking for a post-apocalyptic setting, they headed to this creepy spot. Fans can still tour the building, now one of the most popular haunted tourist attractions in the U.S. , and listen to an audio tour narrated by Steve Buscemi.

'Girl, Interrupted': Harrisburg State Hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Many of the buildings used in the Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder film have been turned into offices after the hospital officially shut down in 2006. But signs from the film remain on the property, like the one that reads "Administration."

'Lord of the Rings': Hobbit Holes in Matamata, New Zealand

Luckily, this film set is easy to visit if you're already on a New Zealand road trip. Since the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Hobbit' trilogies wrapped production, the locals have maintained the whimsical buildings and backdrops and offer a variety of tours of Hobbiton for fans to enjoy.

'The Fugitive': Bus Scene in Dillsboro, North Carolina

Shot on a stretch of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, the remnants from this iconic Harrison Ford scene in 'The Fugitive' are still visible today. The wrecks of the train and the bus lay near the tracks for fans to visit.

'Schindler's List': Plaszów Camp in Kraków, Poland

The remains of the real Nazi concentration camp were destroyed, so the filmmakers for 'Schindler's List' decided to create a replica. It was the only set built for the movie and still stands in the Krakus Mound Quarry near the original site, which visitors can tour with a guide.

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