U.S. Hotels Where Your Favorite Movies and TV Shows Were Filmed
Updated: Feb. 27, 2023
From Twin Peaks to The Shining, some of your favorite movies and TV shows were filmed in hotels.
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Hotels on the small and big screen
If these hotels look familiar, there’s a very good reason. Many of the most famous movies and TV shows were filmed at hotels. Read on to learn all about the real-life hotels which served as stand-ins for some of Hollywood’s finest creations. Find out 65 iconic movie sets you can visit in real life.
The Bellagio
If you’ve seen Ocean’s Eleven or The Hangover you’re probably familiar with The Bellagio in Las Vegas. Between the two movies, you’ll catch sight of the stunning Chihuly glass sculptures in the lobby, the famous fountains and other highlights of the hotel.
The Bellagio is one of many must-see Las Vegas attractions like these. Millions of people flock there every year to take in the water show, botanical gardens, restaurants, nightclubs, gambling, and swimming pools. Rooms at The Bellagio are large, luxurious and rich with color.
The Salish Lodge and Spa
The Salish Lodge and Spa is instantly recognizable as The Great Northern Hotel from Twin Peaks. The show achieved cult status. Fans were devastated when the show was canceled and rejoiced when Showtime renewed it as a limited series 25 years later. Perched on top of the breathtaking Snoqualmie Falls, the hotel was featured prominently in the opening credits and Agent Dale Cooper roomed there throughout the course of the series.
In real life, the Salish Lodge and Spa is located a half-hour from Seattle in Snoqualmie, Washington. The rooms are spacious and gorgeously appointed with gas fireplaces, large bathrooms, luxurious linens, and gorgeous views. Its dining room is famous for showcasing local, seasonal ingredients. They even offer a Twin Peaks package!
The Fontainebleau
The Fontainebleau in Miami has a long relationship with Hollywood. Scarface, The Bodyguard, The Bellboy, and the James Bond movie, Goldfinger, are just a few of the movies filmed there. The hotel prides itself on offering something for everybody with more than ten restaurants and nightclubs to suit your mood. Guests can pick between views of downtown Miami, the Atlantic Ocean, or Biscayne Bay and sunbathers can enjoy one of several swimming pools or the beach. Ready to go to the beach? Try one of these best Florida beaches locals want to keep a secret.
The Timberline Lodge
There is arguably no fictional hotel more famous than the Overlook Hotel from Stephen King’s The Shining. In real life, Stanley Kubrick filmed the famous snowy exterior shots at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon. The film is widely regarded as one of the scariest movies of all time.
At the time, The Timberline Lodge worried that no guests would be willing to stay in room 217, which was depicted as haunted in the book, so they asked Kubrick to change the room number in the movie. A non-existent room, number 237, was used instead. Ironically, 217 is the most requested room in the hotel. In addition to the connection with The Shining, guests love coming to The Timberline Lodge to enjoy gourmet food and activities like hiking, mountain climbing, and year-round skiing.
The Plaza Hotel
The first movie filmed inside New York City’s Plaza Hotel was Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest. Since then, the hotel has welcomed many more movie crews: Home Alone 2, The Way We Were, and The Great Gatsby were filmed there, in addition to many other movies. First opened in 1907, The Plaza Hotel is adored for its history and fantastic location across from Central Park, one of the most famous landmarks in New York City. Rooms are decorated in an elegant, timeless style while the bathrooms include touches like 24-karat gold fixtures and solid marble vanities.
Sentinel
In the movie, My Own Private Idaho, Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix squatted in the abandoned Governor Hotel in Portland, Oregon. Today that hotel is called Sentinel and it’s been restored to its former glory as a luxury property. Located in the heart of downtown Portland near many of the city’s major attractions, Sentinel boasts an extensive art collection and offers luxury perks like complimentary wine tasting, fresh fruit at the front desk, and a pillow menu so you can be sure to get a good night’s sleep. These are 13 other hotel amenities that are worth traveling for.
Oak Alley Plantation Restaurant and Inn
The movie, Interview with a Vampire, famously featured Tom Cruise as the vampire Lestat and Brad Pitt as Louis, a former plantation-owner turned vampire who becomes increasingly conflicted about his new lifestyle. Fans of the movie will immediately recognize Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana as Louis’s plantation.
Oak Alley Plantation Restaurant and Inn has a storied history even outside its brush with movie stardom. It’s a designated National Historic Landmark and the grounds include a sobering exhibit dedicated to the plantation’s history of slavery, a blacksmith shop, a civil war tent, and a formal garden. Guests can spend the night in one of the plantation’s cottages. The property also opens a restaurant, bar, and cafe. These are the classic movies everyone lies about watching.
The Fairmont San Francisco
In the eighties, nighttime soap operas were all the rage and one of the most popular was the television series Hotel starring James Brolin. The show centered around the lives of guests and staff of the fictional St. Gregory Hotel. Shots of San Francisco’s glamorous Fairmont Hotel were used to represent the St. Gregory. The Fairmont San Francisco’s location on top of Nob Hill treats guests to stunning views of the city and bay. The hotel boasts two restaurants and has famously served afternoon tea every weekend since 1907. The hotel prides itself on elegant decor and comfortable appointments like luxury linens and pillow-top beds.
Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan was immortalized in the time-traveling love story, Somewhere in Time, starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve. Nearly half the movie was filmed at the Grand Hotel and avid fans of the movie consider the setting as important to the film as the actors themselves.
Built at the end of the 19th century, the Grand Hotel is steeped in history. It’s a seasonal hotel, typically open from the beginning of May through the end of October. Mackinac Island is a destination like no other, cars are not permitted and horse carriages and bicycles are the primary method of transportation. The Grand Hotel offers a Somewhere In Time package and holds a Somewhere In Time weekend every October. Discover the most historical hotel in your state.
Mountain Lake Lodge
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey had the time of their lives in Dirty Dancing. The movie took place in the fictional Kellerman’s Resort, which was supposed to be located in the Catskill Mountains in New York, but it was actually filmed in Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia. The Mountain Lake Lodge is nestled into a 2,600-acre nature preserve in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lodging options include cabins, cottages or rooms in the main building. The lodge is famous for its farm to table food and holding periodic Dirty Dancing weekends complete with dance lessons.
The Moorings Village
The television show Bloodline starred Kyle Chandler and Sissy Spacek and centered around the secrets of the Rayburn family in the Florida Keys. In real life, The Moorings Village in Islamorada, Florida stood in for Rayburn House, the families’ luxurious home and hotel. Located between Miami and Key West, The Moorings Village is even more beautiful in person than it was on the show boasting over 800 palm trees, a swimming pool, tennis courts and of course, stunning water views and over 1,100 feet of natural white sand beach. Don’t miss the best beach in every state.
Royal Hawaiian Hotel
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki in Honolulu has a long-standing relationship with the entertainment industry. Scenes from the Charlie Chaplin movie The Black Camel were filmed there. Other movies filmed there include Gidget Goes Hawaiian, Goin’ Coconuts, and Punch-Drunk Love. TV shows such as Charlie’s Angels and Mad Men also filmed episodes there. Known for its pink stucco exterior, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel opened in 1927. Amenities include sweeping views of the ocean, a private beach, a luxurious spa, swimming pools, and a variety of restaurants. The hotel is particularly famous for its traditional Hawaiian feasts. Here’s everything you need to know about planning a Hawaii vacation.
Hotel Del Coronado
Some Like It Hot is one of the most famous comedies of all time, starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and the one and only Marilyn Monroe. Director Billy Wilder hand-picked the Hotel Del Coronado as one of the filming locations. Originally opened in 1888, the Hotel Del Coronado is located minutes from downtown San Diego. It’s renowned for sandy beaches, oceanfront views, swimming pools, and luxurious accommodations. The hotel offers seven restaurants and five lounges. Famous for its grand Victorian architecture, the hotel is one of the most iconic and recognizable in the state of California. Now, don’t miss these iconic movies set in every state.
Originally Published: November 25, 2019
