Camilla Jessen
From haunted forests to cursed family homes, these spots set the stage for horror history.
Horror films fascinate us like few other genres. They tap into our primal fears, keep us on edge, and give us that unique rush of adrenaline we can’t quite get enough of.
But beyond jump scares and chilling soundtracks, the right setting is just as crucial—often becoming a character in its own right.
In the United States, a number of now-iconic filming locations have become synonymous with some of the greatest horror stories ever told.
Whether it’s a cabin in the woods, a haunted farmhouse, or a fog-filled lake, these places continue to draw film lovers year after year.
If you’re a horror fan, these legendary spots are a must-see. Here’s where the fear was made.
1. The Blair Witch Project
Location: Seneca State Park, Maryland
This low-budget indie changed the horror game in 1999 with its now-iconic found-footage style.
Much of its impact comes from the dense, claustrophobic forests of Montgomery County’s Seneca State Park, where the film was shot.
The woods’ eerie silence and natural darkness were a perfect stand-in for the fictional Black Hills Forest, helping to blur the line between reality and legend.
To this day, the park draws horror fans hoping to feel the same creeping dread.
2. Friday the 13th
Location: Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco, New Jersey
Few films made summer camp seem as terrifying as this 1980 slasher classic.
Set at the infamous Camp Crystal Lake, the movie introduced Jason Voorhees, one of horror’s most enduring icons.
What many don’t know is that it was shot at a real location: Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Hardwick Township, New Jersey.
Still an operational Boy Scout camp, it’s off-limits to the public most of the year—but occasionally opens its gates for guided horror tours.
3. The Conjuring
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Inspired by the true experiences of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring was set in 1970s Rhode Island but filmed primarily in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The production used a real farmhouse for many of the interior and exterior shots, adding a touch of authenticity that’s hard to fake.
Fans can even stay at a nearby campground if they’re brave enough to test their luck with the supernatural.
4. Scream
Location: Santa Rosa and Healdsburg, California
When Wes Craven revived the slasher genre with Scream in 1996, he anchored it in a convincingly ordinary setting.
The fictional town of Woodsboro was pieced together from several Northern California locations, with Santa Rosa providing many of the key exteriors. But it’s the farmhouse in Healdsburg—where the unforgettable opening scene unfolds—that remains a must-see for die-hard fans.
Even after all these years, Ghostface’s shadow still looms over the region.
5. The Amityville Horror
Location: Salem, Wisconsin
Based on the alleged haunting of a real home in Amityville, New York, this chilling story became a horror staple.
When the original house couldn’t be used for filming, a replica was constructed in Salem, Wisconsin, capturing the unsettling vibe of the original.
According to the story, the family that moved into the Amityville house fled just 28 days later, tormented by unexplainable phenomena.
Whether fact or fiction, the setting has become a symbol of American haunted house lore.
