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Self Guided One Tree Hill Tour (Wilmington, NC)

Wilmington, NC is a coastline city filled with cute boutiques, small town charm, and landmarks from two favorite teen dramas: Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill. Many of the One Tree Hill locations are still in tact and available to drive by for a picture which is why I’m going to share a Self Guided One Tree Hill Tour for you to do while in Wilmington!

You’ll feel like you stepped into the One Tree Hill filming set as you drive around Wilmington to see all of your favorite spots! Find out where Brooke, Lucas, Peyton, Haley, and Nathan lived or take a stroll down the infamous bridge used in the One Tree Hill opening scene. As a female travel blogger, this was one of my favorite trips because I could reminisce on the fun memories of watching Haley, Nathan, Lucas, and Brooke!

CHECK OUT MY ONE TREE HILL SELF GUIDED TOUR BELOW!

The map below features ALL of the filming locations that are available to the public but I featured my Top 11 below with my personal travel tips.

1. The Bench at the Riverwalk

This is where Haley and Nathan studied and the iconic bracelet was given. It’s located right next to the Visitors Center and easy to find with all of the signatures and quotes around it.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Hines 💖 (@thatprettygirlbec) on Sep 22, 2019 at 2:48pm PDT

2. Brooke’s House –

2314 Tattersalls Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403

This is my favorite house from my OTH tour. It looks completely identical to filming and still has the red door. *insert heart eyes here*. We snuck up to the front porch for a quick picture. The house is absolutely stunning in person and in a beautiful neighborhood.

3. Peyton’s House –

1901 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28405

Anyone else remember the girl fight in front of Peyton’s house? Or scary Derek after Prom … eek. This Red Brick house stands out on the street right away. There is an article of the owner of “Peyton’s Place” who describes what is like living there with fans constantly driving by for pictures!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Steve Wyatt (@stevewyatt723) on May 9, 2015 at 5:17pm PDT

4. Haley’s House –

1811 Chestnut St., Wilmington, NC 28405 (next to Peyton’s House)

This house doesn’t look as recognizable, especially if you haven’t seen the early episodes of the show in a hot minute. However, any Naley fan would recognize it from the scene in Season 1 where they kiss in the rain outside of her house. *Team Naley*

5. Nathan Scott’s House –

1621 Country Club Road

This house was covered by shrubbery and trees. It was hard to make it out from the street. If you stand at the edge of the driveway, you can recognize the basketball hoop near the car port!

6. Lucas and Karen’s House –

1829 Wrightsville Avenue

There were signs on the door indicating “Private Residence” and “Respect our Privacy” and “No Trespassers. You could easily see the door that led to Lucas’ bedroom from the street so we took pictures from our car and continued on our way.

7. The Bridge –

6th Street Bridge, near Hanover Street

This bridge was a little difficult to find – but once you do, there is a spot to pullover and park. The bridge is covered with OTH quotes and pictures. You can hear the theme song in your head as you walk over the bridge!

8. Tree Hill High School –

610 North Front Street

This college was used as the show’s high school lawn and courtyard. It features the exterior of the gym throughout all high school seasons.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tamara (@tamarastravels) on Feb 22, 2020 at 9:45pm PST

9. Keith’s Body Shop –

19 Covil Avenue

This spot still functions as a real body shop! The employees are very used to people stopping for a quick picture or two!

10. The Dixie Grills –

116 Market Street

You’ll recognize this diner from many of the scenes in the later seasons with Sam (Brooke’s foster child). She ate here a lot, as did Brooke, Julian, and Brooke’s mom! The food is really good here so if you’re hungry, definitely a great opportunity for lunch!

11. Clay’s Beach House –

650 New River Inlet Rd, North Topsail Beach, NC 28460 (about an hour away from Wilmington)

This beach house is definitely out of the way but so stunning and looks just like it did in the TV Show. There is a public beach access next to it so you’re able to walk along the beach and get great pictures.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aleesha Ann (@aleesha.ann_) on Oct 20, 2018 at 6:02pm PDT

Places I skipped: River Court (the basketball court is no longer there), Karen’s Café (the now athletic shop looks nothing like the café)

My Favorite Hotels In Wilmington, NC

• Embassy Suites at the Wilmington Riverfront
• Courtyard in Downtown Wilmington
• Graystone Inn

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I love this! My family and I are going to Wilmington this summer and I am definitely checking all of these out!!! TIA <3

My husband and I are going for my birthday and this was so informative and helpful! I wrote it all down!!

This guide is epic!! Thank you so much!

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Husband and wife duo with a passion for travel and documenting the journey along the way!

Most Memorable “One Tree Hill” Locations Every Fan Can Visit

During our road trip south along the East Coast, Kevin and I stopped at what soon became our favorite beach town, Wrightsville Beach.  While here, we spent time with friends, checked out the neighboring coastal towns, and explored downtown Wilmington.  In addition, we also enjoyed a self-made tour of the most memorable One Tree Hill locations that every fan can and should visit.

About One Tree Hill

For those who need a ‘refresher,’ One Tree Hill was an American drama that first aired on September 23, 2003.  This WB series was about two half brothers, Lucas and Nathan Scott, who competed for a spot on the Tree Hill High basketball team.  Though Lucas and Nathan were half brothers, until high school, they led very separate lives and essentially hated each other.  The series continued for nine seasons while showcasing the brother’s rivalry, romances, complex family dynamics, and struggles to figure out where and how they fit into each other’s lives.

Now enough about the show let’s get into the most memorable One Tree Hill locations every fan can visit!

Disclosure: This is post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended.  While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running!  Thank you for your support!

13 Most Memorable "One Tree Hill" Filming Locations

The rivercourt.

USS Battleship Park, 1 Battleship Road, Wilmington, NC 28401

Located in Battleship Park next to Battleship North Carolina is the iconic site of The Rivercourt.  The Rivercourt was where Lucas Scott and his friends Marvin McFadden (Mouth), Antwon Tanner (Skills), Jimmy Edwards, and more frequently hung out and played basketball.  Here Lucas and his friends were able to escape the jocks and other pressures of high school and just enjoy each other’s company!

Though The Rivercourt was dismantled after filming and production of One Tree Hill was completed, the site and the views of Wilmington from that side of the river should still appear very familiar to fans. 

Karen & Lucas Scott's Home

1829 Wrightsville Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403

Not far from downtown Wilmington is Karen and Lucas Scott’s home.  During the first few seasons of One Tree Hill, Karen and Lucas lived here together until she ultimately gave the house to Lucas in season five.

Karen's Cafe & Clothes Over Bros

Corner of Grace St. and N Front St., Wilmington, NC 28401

Located in downtown Wilmington is the site for Karen’s Cafe.  Karen’s Cafe was a popular filming location during the first four seasons of One Tree Hill.  This cafe is where Haley worked part-time, where Haley and Lucas built their rooftop mini-golf course, the home of Haley and Lucas’s time capsule, and where Deb and Karen’s relationship really blossomed.   

In season five, Karen’s Cafe was turned into ‘Clothes over Bros,’ Brooke’s high-end fashion line, until season eight when Brooke and Haley restored the building back to its former glory, Karen’s Cafe.

Much like The Rivercourt, Karen’s Cafe is one of the filming locations that was continuously used throughout the series!  So you won’t want to miss it!

Tric & Red Bedroom Records

1121 South Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 

Now it wouldn’t be a One Tree Hill tour without visiting Tric, would it?  I mean a nightclub that hosted live bands for high school students, how cool was that?

In season two of One Tree Hill, Lucas finds a spacious building where he hosts a party for Nathan and Haley to celebrate their marriage.  Once the party is over Karen sees the potential of the space and decides to open her own nightclub, Tric.  Throughout the series, Tric hosts high-profile talent such as The Wreckers, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World,  Nada Surf, Jack’s Mannequin, and more! 

Though Tric continues to thrive, Lucas, Peyton, Brooke, Haley, and Nathan stop attending the nightclub as often until season five.  In season five, Peyton pursues her dream of owning her own record label when she opens Red Bedroom Records in the back room of Tric!

Haley's Childhood Home

1811 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28405

Located to the left of Peyton Sawyer’s house you will find the James home.  This is where Haley lived with her parents before moving in with Nathan in season two.  Though the outside of this house is rarely seen throughout the series, it is included in the scene where Haley and Nathan share their first kiss!

Naley Table

Along The Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington

Much like The Rivercourt, Naley Table is high up on the most memorable One Tree Hill locations every fan can visit tour!  I mean this is where Haley and Nathan’s relationship started and where Nathan gave Haley the bracelet out of the Cracker Jack box and said “don’t say I never gave you anything.”

When Kevin and I visited, the riverwalk had some serious construction going on but luckily after a few minutes, we finally found it!  And being there was every bit as cool as I thought it would be!

The Scott's House

1621 Country Club Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403

This house is beautiful and honestly, it still looks exactly like it did in 2003 when it made its One Tree Hill debut. 

The Scott’s House is Nathan’s childhood home where he learned to play basketball, Lucas and Peyton kissed for the first time, Nathan and Brooke’s sex tape was released, and so much more!  Though this home is not as memorable as The Rivercourt or Tric it was definitely the setting for some of the show’s most dramatic scenes!

The Dixie Grill

Although The Dixie Grill is not an original One Tree Hill filming location it was still awesome to see it in person.

The Dixie Grill served as the diner where Sam, Brooke’s foster child, hung out with her boyfriend Jack Daniels.  Later in the season, this is also where Sam spent time with Julian Baker, Brookes’s boyfriend turned husband by the end of the series.

For those wanting to experience The Dixie Grill first hand, Kevin and I heard amazing things about their food!

Tree Hill High

610 N. Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401

As I said earlier, One Tree Hill was a WB series about five high school teenagers growing up in Tree Hill, NC.  That being said your One Tree Hill tour has to include Tree Hill High, right!  The filming location for Tree Hill High is located in downtown Wilmington at Cape Fear Community College, specifically the CFCC Joe and Barbara Schwartz Center!

For fans, Tree Hill High holds so many good and bad memories.  Take winning the state championship and the school shooting for example both are scenes that I will always remember!

Johnnie Mercer Fishing Pier, Wrightsville Beach, NC  

Though the beach was not featured on One Tree Hill that much, it was featured nonetheless.  Wrightsville Beach and Johnnie Mercer Fishing Pier were locations used for Brooke and Lucas’s iconic picture kissing on the beach and the beach party in the third season. 

6th Street Bridge, N. 6th St & Hanover St

This was one of our last stops on the most memorable One Tree Hill locations every fan can visit tour and I was very sad to see that it was under construction. 

Prior to pulling up, I was already envisioning my jumping, “I’ve made it to the One Tree Hill bridge” pose that I was planning on taking.  So it was a huge bummer that I couldn’t actually get on it.  That being said I was happy to see that they were repairing it rather than removing it.

For those confused about the importance of the bridge, it is the bridge in the opening credits that Lucas is dribbling his basketball across while Gavin DeGraw sings ‘I don’t wanna be’ in the background!

Brooke Davis's Home

2314 Tattersalls Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403

And this is the reason every girl in the early 2000s wanted to be “the girl behind the red door.”  Located close to Nathan’s home, Brooke Davis grew up in this beautiful two-story white brick home with THE red door.   Though she moved a lot during the series, this home will forever be burned in all of our memories!

Luckily for us enjoying the most memorable One Tree Hill locations every fan can visit tour, the brick is still beautifully white and the front door is still painted that Rosey shade of red!

Peyton Saywer's Home

1901 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28405

Finally to conclude this tour Kevin and I are taking you to Peyton Sawyer’s house!  In my opinion, if you decide not to see any other characters’ home that’s fine, but Peyton’s house is a must!  So many pivotal moments in the series happened in or outside of her home.  For example, this is where Peyton was attacked and held hostage with Brooke on Prom night by Ian, where Peyton and Ellie were able to spend time together before her death, where Brooke and Peyton lived together, and where Peyton and Lucas enjoyed that huge food fight!

Disclosure: We do not own the rights to any of the One Tree Hill photos found in this post.  Photos were found on Google.com and were originally posted by the sites located below each photo. 

What to Bring!

And there you have it!  Those are the most memorable One Tree Hill locations that every fan can visit in Wilmington, NC.  Of course, there are additional locations including Black Cat Shoppe, Edge of Urge, Blue Post Billards, and more but the locations above are spots we believe everyone will remember from the series!

We hope this post got you excited and helped you plan for your own One Tree Hill walking tour! 

As always, Happy & Safe Travels!

Looking for other things to do along the east coast?  Check out our posts on the five most beautiful towns along Maine’s coast , things to do in Atlantic City in the winter , and the greatest spots to eat and drink in the Keys .

Thanks for all the awesome info! I’ll be doing the road trip to visit those places. I was wondering If you had a list of the locations in order from near to far so I’m not driving back and fourth from place to place. I’d like to go in order Not sure if that made sense.

Unfortunately, I don’t. But I recommend putting the locations into Google Maps and saving them as a new list altogether. That way you can see all of the spots on the map at one time and you can plan your tour according to that so your not driving back and forth! Have a wonderful trip!

That made LOTS of sense…I am doing the same thing and I want to be able to schedule everything in order!!! Lol

My daughter and I go every year for the past 5-6 years. The furthest point on this site would be the beach which is about 20-25 min from town. All the others are with 10 min of each other. The most iconic spots we found on our very first trip were 2 spots…1- the bridge where Nathan and Haley wrecked and 2- where Peyton broke down and Lucas had to tow her. That one was hard to find but we did! Iconic! And a good drive (about 50 min away)

Is it a walk-able tour aside from the beach or better to drive to each spot?

Hey Elena, It is better to drive to each spot since some of the locations are pretty far apart! Have fun!

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21 places in wilmington every 'one tree hill' fan should visit, "don't say i never gave you anything.".

My best friend and I recently took a trip to Wilmington, North Carolina, where our favorite TV show "One Tree Hill" was filmed! I highly recommend taking a self-guided tour of this beautiful city if you are as obsessed with One Tree Hill as we are! From seeing all of our favorite characters' houses to shopping in the specialty gift shops, we had the best time in Tree Hill!

1. Brooke Davis's House

2314 Tattersalls Drive. Everyone dreams of living in a house like Brooke's. This one was just as beautiful in person as it was on TV! Anna and Felix's house is right beside Brooke's house, as well!

2. Peyton Sawyer's House

1901 Chestnut Street. Many scenes took place at Peyton's red brick house, so it was really cool to be able to stand in her front yard.

3. Lucas and Karen's House

1829 Wrightsville Avenue. Our first stop was Lucas and Karen's house. Even though people live in this house and it is currently for sale, there are so many messages from One Tree Hill fans written on the outside of Lucas's famous bedroom door and on the floorboards of the porch. This house was our personal favorite house, but that could be because it was the first place that we visited!

4. Haley James's House

1811 Chestnut Street. Haley didn't live here for long, but a few important scenes took place here, including the scene when Nathan and Haley had their first kiss and when Nathan asked Haley's parents for permission to marry her. This house is surprisingly located to the left of Peyton's house!

5. Nathan Scott's House

1621 Country Club Road. The Scott Mansion was an impressive home. There was still a basketball hoop outside, which we thought was adorable!

6. Nathan and Haley's Apartment

4395 Birchwood Park Drive. Nathan and Haley's apartment was number 4355. We loved seeing the spot that our favorite couple started out!

7. Quinn and Clay's Beach House

650 New River Inlet Road, North Topsail. This was another favorite spot! There is a public beach access ramp beside this beach house, so we were able to camp on the beach right in front. This house is also for sale!

8. The Naley Bench

Along the Riverwalk sits the Naley bench. This is where Nathan said the famous line, "Don't say I never gave you anything." The exact bench is hard to miss, as it is covered in messages from One Tree Hill fans!

9. The Rivercourt

USS North Carolina Battleship. Unfortunately, the Rivercourt was torn down years ago, but it is still well worth your while to visit where it once stood. There is a pavilion, located right behind the parking lot, that is covered in messages and quotes. We, of course, left our own messages! This was our favorite stop of the whole trip!

10. The Bridge

N 6th Street. Every One Tree Hill fan knows the bridge from the opening credits. The bridge is in a very sketchy area, but if you're willing to brave the risks, then it's definitely something you should go see!

11. Tree Hill High School

411 North Front Street. All of the exterior high school scenes were filmed at Cape Fear Community College. We pretended to be Tree Hill High School students for the afternoon!

12. Keith Scott's Body Shop

19 Covil Avenue. This location is still a body shop, and when we asked to take a photo, one of the mechaWe nics said, "Of course! Everyone does it."

1121 South Front Street. Although the steps up to the door pictured on the show are no longer there, there are messages from fans all over the bricks.

14. Nathan and Haley's Wedding Spot

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. Have we mentioned that Naley is our favorite couple?! Seeing where they got married and started their lives together was a highlight of the trip.

15. Brooke and Julian's Wedding Spot

Grace United Methodist Church. We actually attended a Sunday morning church service here. The people were so friendly! Fun fact: Lucas and Lindsey also were almost married here!

16. Lucas and Peyton's Wedding Spot

East Shore Lake Drive. If you're willing to brave the alligator warnings, this is also another fun outdoor scenic place to see!

17. Dan Scott Motors

821 South College Road. It may now be technically called Stevenson Honda Acura, but for One Tree Hill fans, it will always be Dan Scott Motors!

18. The Car Accident Bridge

Unknown. This bridge was impossible to find, but we eventually came across it! Many of the car accident scenes happened here!

19. Whitey Durham's Field House

Cape Fear Community College. Also filmed at the community college was Whitey Durham's Field House!

20. The Dixie Grill

116 Market Street. Brooke's foster child Sam was often seen eating here, and Brooke and Julian even shared a few meals here together! The inside of the diner still looks exactly the same. We ate here twice because the food was delicious!

21. Specialty Gift Shops

Krazy Mike'z ( 1 North Front Street ), The Black Cat Shoppe ( 8 Market Street ), and Poodle's Island Wear ( 18 South Water Street Suite 3 ) all have so many One Tree Hill T-shirts, keychains, and other souvenirs!

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25 beatles lyrics: your go-to guide for every situation, the best lines from the fab four.

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The End- Abbey Road, 1969

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Dear Prudence- The White Album, 1968

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

Because- Abbey Road, 1969

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

All You Need Is Love, 1967

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

We Can Work It Out- Rubber Soul, 1965

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Come Together- Abbey Road, 1969

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

I Wanna Hold Your Hand- Meet The Beatles!, 1964

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-1967

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Strawberry Fields Forever- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Rain- Paperback Writer "B" side, 1966

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

Here Comes The Sun- Abbey Road, 1969

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

Saw Her Standing There- Please Please Me, 1963

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

Michelle- Rubber Soul, 1965

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

Revolution- The Beatles, 1968

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Eleanor Rigby- Revolver, 1966

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

With A Little Help From My Friends- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Hey Jude, 1968

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

Yesterday- Help!, 1965

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

Let It Be- Let It Be, 1970

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all i got to give if you say you'll love me too. i may not have a lot to give but what i got i'll give to you. i don't care too much for money. money can't buy me love.

Can't Buy Me Love- A Hard Day's Night, 1964

All you need is love, love is all you need

All You Need Is Love- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird- The White Album, 1968

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

In My Life- Rubber Soul, 1965

While these are my 25 favorites, there are quite literally 1000s that could have been included. The Beatles' body of work is massive and there is something for everyone. If you have been living under a rock and haven't discovered the Fab Four, you have to get musically educated. Stream them on Spotify, find them on iTunes or even buy a CD or record (Yes, those still exist!). I would suggest starting with 1, which is a collection of most of their #1 songs, or the 1968 White Album. Give them chance and you'll never look back.

14 Invisible Activities: Unleash Your Inner Ghost!

Obviously the best superpower..

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

1. "Haunt" your friends.

Follow them into their house and cause a ruckus.

2. Sneak into movie theaters.

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Free movies...what else to I have to say?

3. Sneak into the pantry and grab a snack without judgment.

Late night snacks all you want? Duh.

4. Reenact "Hollow Man" and play Kevin Bacon.

America's favorite son? And feel what it's like to be in a MTV Movie Award nominated film? Sign me up.

5. Wear a mask and pretend to be a floating head.

Just another way to spook your friends in case you wanted to.

6. Hold objects so they'll "float."

"Oh no! A floating jar of peanut butter."

7. Win every game of hide-and-seek.

Just stand out in the open and you'll win.

8. Eat some food as people will watch it disappear.

Even everyday activities can be funny.

9. Go around pantsing your friends.

Even pranks can be done; not everything can be good.

10. Not have perfect attendance.

You'll say here, but they won't see you...

11. Avoid anyone you don't want to see.

Whether it's an ex or someone you hate, just use your invisibility to slip out of the situation.

12. Avoid responsibilities.

Chores? Invisible. People asking about social life? Invisible. Family being rude? Boom, invisible.

13. Be an expert on ding-dong-ditch.

Never get caught and have the adrenaline rush? I'm down.

14. Brag about being invisible.

Be the envy of the town.

But don't, I repeat, don't go in a locker room. Don't be a pervert with your power. No one likes a Peeping Tom.

Good luck, folks.

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned..

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

1. The importance of traditions.

Sometimes traditions seem like a silly thing, but the fact of it is that it's part of who you are. You grew up this way and, more than likely, so did your parents. It is something that is part of your family history and that is more important than anything.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

No matter how many times they get on your nerves or make you mad, they are the ones who will always be there and you should never take that for granted.

3. How to give back.

When tragedy strikes in a small town, everyone feels obligated to help out because, whether directly or indirectly, it affects you too. It is easy in a bigger city to be able to disconnect from certain problems. But in a small town those problems affect everyone.

4. What the word "community" really means.

Along the same lines as #3, everyone is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when you need one in a small town and to me that is the true meaning of community. It's working together to build a better atmosphere, being there to raise each other up, build each other up, and pick each other up when someone is in need. A small town community is full of endless support whether it be after a tragedy or at a hometown sports game. Everyone shows up to show their support.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

People say this to others all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning in a small town. It is true that life is about the journey, but when you're from a small town, you know it's about the journey because the journey probably takes longer than you spend at the destination. Everything is so far away that it is totally normal to spend a couple hours in the car on your way to some form of entertainment. And most of the time, you're gonna have as many, if not more, memories and laughs on the journey than at the destination.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

Word travels fast in a small town, so don't think you're gonna get away with anything. In fact, your parents probably know what you did before you even have a chance to get home and tell them. And forget about being scared of what your teacher, principle, or other authority figure is going to do, you're more afraid of what your parents are gonna do when you get home.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

Everyone deserves a chance. Most people don't have ill-intentions and you can't live your life guarding against every one else just because a few people in your life have betrayed your trust.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

While small towns are not always extremely diverse, they do contain people with a lot of different stories, struggle, and backgrounds. In a small town, it is pretty hard to exclude anyone because of who they are or what they come from because there aren't many people to choose from. A small town teaches you that just because someone isn't the same as you, doesn't mean you can't be great friends.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

In a small town, you learn that it's okay to be who you are and do your own thing. You learn that confidence isn't how beautiful you are or how much money you have, it's who you are on the inside.

10. How to work for what I want.

Nothing comes easy in life. They always say "gardens don't grow overnight" and if you're from a small town you know this both figuratively and literally. You certainly know gardens don't grow overnight because you've worked in a garden or two. But you also know that to get to the place you want to be in life it takes work and effort. It doesn't just happen because you want it to.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

If you're from a small town, you know that you will probably only meet a handful of people in your life who ACTUALLY know where your town is. And forget about the people who accidentally enter into your town because of google maps. You've gotten really good at giving them directions right back to the interstate.

12. How to be humble.

My small town has definitely taught me how to be humble. It isn't always about you, and anyone who grows up in a small town knows that. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, and since there's so few of us, we're probably best friends with everyone so we are as excited when they get their moment of fame as we are when we get ours.

13. To be well-rounded.

Going to a small town high school definitely made me well-rounded. There isn't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams individually so be ready to be a part of them all.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

In a small town, good luck holding a grudge. In a bigger city you can just avoid a person you don't like or who you've had problems with. But not in a small town. You better resolve the issue fast because you're bound to see them at least 5 times a week.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

One of my favorite things about growing up in a rural area was being able to go outside and go exploring and not have to worry about being in danger. There is nothing more exciting then finding a new place somewhere in town or in the woods and just spending time there enjoying the natural beauty around you.

16. To be prepared for anything.

You never know what may happen. If you get a flat tire, you better know how to change it yourself because you never know if you will be able to get ahold of someone else to come fix it. Mechanics might be too busy , or more than likely you won't even have enough cell service to call one.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

It's okay to ask for help. One thing I realized when I moved away from my town for college, was how much my town has taught me that I could ask for help is I needed it. I got into a couple situations outside of my town where I couldn't find anyone to help me and found myself thinking, if I was in my town there would be tons of people ready to help me. And even though I couldn't find anyone to help, you better believe I wasn't afraid to ask.

18. How to be creative.

When you're at least an hour away from normal forms of entertainment such as movie theaters and malls, you learn to get real creative in entertaining yourself. Whether it be a night looking at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck or having a movie marathon in a blanket fort at home, you know how to make your own good time.

19. To brush off gossip.

It's all about knowing the person you are and not letting others influence your opinion of yourself. In small towns, there is plenty of gossip. But as long as you know who you really are, it will always blow over.

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

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How I Spent 13 Hours In (One) Tree Hill

Alexa, play Gavin DeGraw.

Twenty years ago in 2003, I got to experience the world of Tree Hill for the first time by watching One Tree Hill debut on cable TV. I was 10 years old when I fell in love with Lucas Scott, dreamed about being as cool and confident as Brooke Davis, and wondered what the hell Nathan and Haley were doing getting married at 17. So, when I recently got to spend a weekend visiting the One Tree Hill filming locations in the real-life Tree Hill, aka Wilmington, North Carolina, I was ready to cue the nostalgia — and queue up some Gavin DeGraw, of course.

Wilmington, or “ Wilmywood ,” is kind of like a mini Hollywood in the South. It’s home to the iconic Screen Gems Studios, where major blockbusters like Iron Man 3 were filmed, as well as countless series including The Summer I Turned Pretty and Dawson’s Creek. Wilmington is basically the backdrop to the entire nine seasons of One Tree Hill , and the idyllic beach town has become a popular tourist destination for fans who want to scope out the Naley Bench, Tric, the bar where Lucas and Brooke had their first date (and where Lucas met Nicki), and so much more. Here’s everything I did on my One Tree Hill -themed itinerary.

May 3, 2023

6 p.m.: I arrived in Wilmington from North Bern, North Carolina. Of course, the first thing I did was visit the iconic One Tree Hill opening credits bridge. I mean, the mere thought of the bridge instantly takes me back to a nostalgic early-aughts time when Lucas Scott was number one in my heart. You have to pose with a basketball if you’re going to snap photos here, and you also have to play Gavin DeGraw as you do it. I don’t make the rules.

7 p.m.: After the emotional experience of seeing the bridge, I checked into the Dreamer’s by DW hotel, which is super convenient from downtown Wilmington because everything is walkable from the B&B. I freshened up before heading out to my favorite One Tree Hill filming location: the bar where Lucas and Brooke have their first date.

9:30-11 p.m.: I had zero chill about how excited I was to see Blue Post Billiards . I had just rewatched the series and could picture Brooke and Lucas flashing their fake IDs to the bartenders here. I recognized the bar from the scenes instantly, due to the exposed brick walls and twinkle lights. I had to play some pool to channel my inner Brooke, and I even stopped to hang out in the hallway between the main bar and the back pool hall room where Brooke and Lucas had their first makeout. This is also the bar where Lucas met Jake’s troublemaker ex-girlfriend Nicki, and it played host to so many other scenes during the series. Being there, I felt like I was a part of the show. But after a few tequila sodas, it was time to head back to the B&B.

May 4, 2023

9 a.m.: I grabbed the complimentary breakfast at my hotel, and then stopped at Dram Yard , which is attached to the Arrive Hotel , for a quick coffee. I was meeting a filming locations walking tour guide after this, so I had to get energized before seeing the park where Peyton and Lucas got married, the cemetery from the “dare night” episode where Felix and Brooke jumped into an empty grave, and the Naley bench.

I had signed up to go on a walking tour with Haunted Wilmington , which lets you choose between a ghost tour and the TV/movie-themed option that I did. It included more filming locations than just OTH ones, but you can also download your own self-guided OTH walking tour on the Wilmington tourism website.

10 a.m.: Some of the iconic filming locations I saw on the walking tour included both the exterior and interior of Karen’s Cafe. When I stopped by the building used for the exterior shots of Karen’s Cafe, I instantly recognized it. It was also the same exterior shots used for Clothes Over Bros, after Brooke took over the location in One Tree Hill Season 5. I would definitely tout this as a must-see for fans, since you can definitely recognize so many scenes from this spot. This spot is currently home to a store called Outdoor Equipped, and it’s located at 272 N. Front Street, the main bustling area of downtown Wilmington.

10:30 a.m.: The interior of Karen’s Cafe is a bit more difficult to recognize, as it’s completely revamped into Port City Java , a coffee shop. Plus, the look of Karen’s Cafe was built into the space and then removed once filming was over. I stopped by anyway because hey, when in Wilmington, but this is definitely something you can skip if you’re in a hurry since it doesn’t look like the show anymore. Pick up a coffee or pastry here and continue on your tour.

11 a.m. : If you’re like me, you have a personal vendetta against Season 2, episode 2 titled “The Lonesome Road, ” where they make it seem like Nathan is going to hook up with Haley’s sister Taylor. That’s the ultimate sister code that can never be broken. I stopped by the bar where this episode was filmed. It’s called the Swinging Donkey in the show, but IRL, it’s a bar called Hell’s Kitchen that’s pretty much your typical dive bar. I walked in during the day so it was kind of empty, though it seems like a great spot to unwind if you’re looking for another chill bar option.

11:30 a.m.: I was so excited to visit the Naley Bench , since it’s so iconic and is home to one of the first scenes where Nathan and Haley began to fall in love. I may or may not have recruited a guy to play the part of Nathan while I was Haley for these photos. Please note the bracelet I used as a prop. “Don’t say I never gave you anything!”

12 p.m.: After the experience that was seeing the Naley Bench, I stopped to have lunch at Elijah’s . It has a delicious seafood-inspired menu (I ordered the fried shrimp) and stunning views of the river on the back patio, which is where I chose to sit to soak in the sun. Fun fact: Elijah’s was where One Tree Hill had its series wrap party, so Chad Michael Murray has definitely walked these halls *Swoon.*

1 p.m.-1:30 p.m. : I had spent a lot of time on TikTok checking out where to buy the best One Tree Hill merch, so I had some places in mind for a merch haul. Black Cat Shoppe had the iconic Keith Scott Body Shop hoodie (apparently with the original print that was used in the show) and a few T-shirt options. However, I found Krazy Mike’ s to have a slightly better T-shirt selection, and I picked up a Scott jersey T-shirt.

May 5, 2023:

11:30 a.m.: Before catching my flight back to NYC, I led my friends to a seemingly abandoned brick building warehouse space in Wilmington that I recognized instantly as the iconic nightclub Tric . You can plan your visit online to get tickets to tour the space, but we didn’t plan that far ahead. Instead, we hovered around taking photos outside before deciding to knock. This is a photo of me laughing because my friends seriously had no clue what we were doing.

12 p.m.: Finally, an employee opened the door and agreed to let us come in for a quick, unscheduled tour. We paid $10 each to get in, which will go to the restoration of turning Tric into a real nightclub in the future. Right now, it’s just a space for fans with tons of photo ops and iconic set recreations. Here’s a photo of me holding hands with Lucas Scott. Just ignore the fact that his arm is ripped from its socket. It’s fine, he loves me.

I regretted picking up merch the day before because Tric surprisingly had the best selection overall. I picked up a few magnets since I already bought a T-shirt, but the shirt and hoodie selection here was seriously top-tier.

1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.: After Tric, we had time for one last meal before catching flights out of North Carolina. We stopped by Anne Bonny’s bar and grill, which is located right on the river — yep, that river court river . Sadly, the river court is no longer there, but I pretended I could see Lucas and Nathan shooting hoops off into the distance as I enjoyed my frozen cocktail.

This article was originally published on 07.25.23

God's Beauty in My Mess

One Tree Hill Filming Locations Self-Guided Tour

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Shortly before Russ deployed to Afghanistan (the second time), I decided that I wanted to find a TV show that had multiple seasons to watch while he was deployed. I had found during his first deployment that having “my show” ( Stargate SG1 ) to watch really helped pass the time and keep my mind of of things. I got really involved in the characters and enjoyed watching the storyline evolve. While I love Stargate I didn’t really feel like I wanted to watch all ten seasons a third time. So I got online and googled “girly TV shows.” I figured that I should move away from scifi and onto something that Russ wouldn’t enjoy and I wouldn’t be as free to watch when he was home. One Tree Hil l popped up on a few sites so I thought I would check it out!

I was immediately drawn into the storyline. There were definitely some frustrations that I had content-wise with the show, but there was just something that kept me watching. I’ll be honest in saying that One Tree Hill is definitely not the most wholesome show on the air…Russ doesn’t call it my “stupid teenage drama show” for no reason! The early seasons are full of love triangles and high-school drama.

I was drawn to One Tree Hill because it was relate-able…even though it wasn’t. As I mentioned in my Recovering Perfectionist post, I grew up in a conservative Christian home and church, an environment that many people would label as “sheltered.” I don’t regret this at all. My parents did an amazing job raising me and, while my journey over the past few years has been one of learning that that environment and those standards is NOT where my worth comes from, I am still grateful for that “baseline” that I was able to start from.

On the flip side, watching a show like One Tree Hill has given me the ability to look from the outside-in into what the life of a “normal” American teenager is like (albiet Hollywood-style), and perhaps live vicariously a little bit through the characters in this TV show (in much the same way that I traveled to all those other planets and engaged in battle with aliens while watching Stargate). It’s not reality–but it’s fun to imagine what it’s like to have a high-school sweetheart or best-friend, go to basketball games, and attend prom. The later seasons of the show were much more relate-able to me as the characters were out of highschool and beginning their families. I got to watch the characters grow from immature teenagers, rise above the highschool drama, and gain depth in their relationships and friendships.

The biggest “redeeming factor” to me as a conservative Christian view of One Tree Hill was Haley’s character. The good “tudor girl” who fell for the bad-boy basketball star…yet still holds to her standards and maintains virginity until they get married. She goes on to be a mother to a beautiful son and daughter, and maintain a faithful, loving relationship with her husband–throughout the trials of family deaths, marriage-wrecking temptations, separations due to her husband’s employment, and a plethora of other family trials. Sure, it’s Hollywood, but their marriage was one where you got the feeling that nothing could ever tear them apart. That’s the main reason I watched the show.

For that, and for the music. Haley just so happened to also be an aspiring musician and songwriter, both in real life and on the show. Then characters Chris ( Tyler Hilton ) and Mia ( Kate Voegle )–more famous musicians as regular characters on the show, along with guest appearances by Gavin DeGraw , the Wreckers , and others…there’s LOTS of music on One Tree Hill!!!

One Tree Hill is a beautiful show to watch…for the drama, the strong relationships, the music, and it’s beautiful filming location, Wilmington, North Carolina, home to both riverfront and oceanfront beaches! So, when I had the opportunity to visit Wilmington with a few free hours to myself, I decided to visit some of the locations used in the filming of the show. I used this complete list I found online to map out the places I wanted to see the most. Armed with my GPS on my iphone and a camera, I started on my self-guided tour.

I started at the cemetery, for the simple reason that it was the closest location to where I had dropped off my husband. I felt very awkward standing in a random cemetery taking pictures… I snapped a few and then left, not bothering to look for specific landmarks.

A few blocks over was Haley’s and Peyton’s houses (from the earlier seasons). Haley’s house didn’t even look that familiar to me (until I came home and found shots from it online!) but Peyton’s house was very recognizable. Yet again I felt very awkward walking down the street taking pictures of other people’s houses…kept looking over my shoulder hoping no one was around to think I was crazy!

(Since then, I found this article written by the owner of “Peyton’s Place” describing that this happens on practically a daily basis, and that he’s quite used to it. It’s a fascinating description of how he and his young family were affected by the filming that took place both in and outside his home! Definitely worth reading if you are a One Tree Hill fan!)

Here’s Haley’s house, scene of one Nathan and Haley’s epic “in the rain” kisses… I love how the cherub is still there!

Peyton’s House:

Karen and Lucas’ house was close by as well. As I pulled up a few houses away, a red car pulled up behind me. I waited for them to get out and go into their house because, again, I didn’t want people to think I was crazy. Out of the car came two girls, probably close to age 20, with cameras, who looked over their shoulder and walked over to Lucas’ house. I smiled and laughed. So I guess I’m not the only crazy fool out here! They actually caught the owner of the house and asked her if they could take pictures on the porch and the porch swing. I offered to take pictures for them if they would take some for me!

This swing was not there during the filming, but it was still neat to sit on the porch!

Here’s a view of the house from the side, showing the door that Lucas painted red for Brooke:

Brooke’s house was definitely my favorite! It was such a massively beautiful home!

And yes the door is still red:

And here’s a random too-close self photo that I thought turned out rather artistic:

Next was the Dan, Deb, and Nathan Scott house from the early seasons. There was still a basketball hoop in the driveway!! Maybe it’s just all the flashbacks to the show, but there was something slightly ominous about it.

Then I drove on to Tric, which was simply the back of a huge brick warehouse. Everything had been taken down but you can still see where the fake door used to be.

Then I went downtown. First stop was the location of Karen’s Cafe and Clothes Over Bro’s and Karen’s Cafe (again). The storefront space is still empty!

I cut through some quaint little shops, bought some new shoes (since my flip-flops were driving me nuts), and walked down the the riverfront, which was lovely! (I think that this boat behind David’s head is the same one in the distance in the photo on the right).

I couldn’t find great screenshots from the show, but the riverfront was used on many many occasions for filming, including the filming of the Burning Boat Festival and Haley playing guitar in the park.

The photos on the right show the Rivercourt (or where it should have been) from across the river. I knew that it was supposed to be there, but a quick Google search revealed that the court was torn down after filming. I wanted to go across the river and at least see the court where it used to be, but at this point Russ was texting me saying that he was done and needed picked up already. I was frustrated because there were more places that I wanted to visit and the Rivercourt was the one I had wanted to see the most.

I started walking back to my car, at which point it started raining (oh great) and I still had several blocks to go and was now in a hurry because Russ was waiting on me. But as I was walking down the street I saw this in the window of a shop.

(You can purchase this on Amazon)

While I don’t like to be an impulsive buyer, it’s not every day that you see a sweatshirt from one of your favorite shows in the town that it was filmed in. So I went into the store and pulled it off the shelf, and then found another rack with MORE shirts from the show. I couldn’t resist buying a Clothes Over Bro’s shirt either! I decided to go BACK to the location of the store to take a picture with the shirt on. I ducked into an entry way to put the shirt on over the one I was already wearing and took this picture:

(You can also purchase this on Amazon)

I also got this one…a peak into the still-empty storefront with the reflection of the shirt in the window. I didn’t plan it that way, but it turned out pretty neat:

By this point, most of my frustration had dissipated. Yes, there was more I wanted to see and not enough time, but all in all, I was pleased with what I HAD seen. I picked up Russ at the gun range and we started back toward the beach house, but as we were heading out of town I realized that we were going to drive right by the entrance to Battleship Park, the location of the Rivercourt! And, since I was driving………. So, we got to see what’s left of the Rivercourt–a few trees, a picnic pavilion, and a lonely old rusty grill. Russ had fun playing air basketball on the invisible court:

It was such a perfect way to end the “tour” and it was neat to be able to share it with Russ as he had watched season 1 and part of season 2 with me, so had seen some of the scenes filmed there as well.

Honestly, I feel kind of embarrassed posting this, and I know that probably only a handful of people will actually read it. It fact, I feel a little embarrassed even admitting that I watch One Tree Hill! But that’s okay. The best part of this day was doing something for ME…and only me. Something that *I* enjoyed, having the freedom to do it BY MYSELF, even if I felt silly and embarrassed most of the time. People tell me that I’m too hard on myself, don’t do enough for myself, try too hard to be perfect. But, in the interest of “being real,” here you have it. I watch “stupid-teenage-drama-shows” and act like a silly teenager going around taking pictures of filming locations! And I enjoyed it completely.

MORE INCREDIBLE ONE TREE HILL PRODUCTS!

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78 comments.

I am in wilmington now and i wanted to know what the store was called where you find the Keith body shop sweatshirt or where it was

Black Cat Shoppe 8 Market Street 910-251-6693

Thanks so much!

Sara@RunningInPinkProject

I am going to Wilmington this weekend and am planning to check out a couple of these spots. Glad Im not alone in my love for OTH 🙂

Ooh have fun!

My husband and I went back in summer 2008. We did the exact same things. I loved it. I’ve been there twice since and am going back this summer. I was fortunate enough to get to meet and take pictures with Hilarie Burton and Lee Norris.

That’s awesome Angie!

Allan K. Rosen

I wish I had gone while the show was being filmed. And yes the show even appeals to middle aged men like me

Ed Nicolette

My wife and I were very much into it. We watched it from the first show came on TV to the last one when they were all meeting on the street to go watch Jamie play his basketball game. And we were 55 when the show ended.

Aww that’s so awesome!!! I still miss watching it! It was such a great show!

I plan on visiting soon but extremely sad the river court is gone :(.. I hope tomat least find the bridge and naleys first date..

I saw this post under your “top posts” and omg I LOVED this show!! This was really cool…I’m planning a trip to London in May and I totally have Harry Potter stuff on my list of places to visit.

I loved the show and touring the spots was so much fun. Have fun in London!

Lindsey Eileen

Ahh! This was such an inspiration for me. I think the part of this entire blog that really moved me the most was how you talked about doing something for “you”. I am a mother and my daughter is very young still, so I’ve had it in my mind for awhile that “doing things for me” wasn’t really an option for at least the next few years. But this inspired me. I think I could afford a weekend visiting the filming locations of my favorite show. Even if it is just by myself. This show really influenced my life. I watched it from the very beginning, and since I was the same age range of the characters, it was especially easy to relate to. I own every season on DVD, and have watched every episode multiple times. I always sucker my friends into watching the entire series with me, and they get annoyed when I can basically speak the character’s lines word for word. Point is, I LOVED this show. And I know most shows/movies are filmed on a sound stage, and I always end up disappointed when I find out that a lot of the “locations” places are filmed in, are actually sets built by the production team. So to see that a lot of these places were actually real places, it makes my one tree hill world feel real. And I feel like seeing them up close and in person would just confirm that. I don’t know when this will happen, but I now know it’s something I need to do. Thank you for your inspiring post.

Aw this post really made me smile today! Yes – taking the time to do something for YOU is often the best gift you can give your child (read through my motherhood archives when you get a chance – it’s something I talk about a lot!)

I always try to have one or two “girly shows” that are “my shows” that only I watch. It helps me feel sane – and like I have my own identity apart from my husband and son!

If you do take the time to go, I’d love to hear about it!

Hi there – OTH has been discovered by high school kids through netflix- I’m thinking of taking my daughter on this tour this summer ,2014, . Wondering if all this is still there? Thanks

I would assume that all of the houses are still there. I went in 2012.

Do you mind telling all the other places you were going to look at also? My mom is taking me this June and I would love to go and make sure we dont miss any! I’m such a huge fan of the show! I was so excited when I came across this post! Thank you for sharing!

I really wanted to get to the high school and find the bridge they use so much in filming. If you follow that link within the post I believe there’s a complete list of locations.

Thanks so much for sharing this with us. My two teenage daughters and I just wrapped up watching all 9 seasons of OTH on Netflix. It was a fun “girls” thing for us and my husband picked on us constantly saying it was such a dumb show. It was even worse when we’d sit down to watch “just one episode” and end up saying, “ok one more”…drove him nuts, and we’d just laugh! So since we can’t get our minds off the show, we decided that the three of us may need to make a road trip this summer to visit Wilmington, just for fun! Your post and pics helped us realize we aren’t the only crazy ones out there. Thanks again!

Ohh.. :):) Why wouldn’t you go around taking pictures..I would too if I had the chance 🙂 I read your story with pleasure 🙂 Go on with your trips.. you can visit the O.C now 😉

Hi! I absolutely loved your post, I am going next week and would love to visit all of these places! Thank you so much for the post, but it says your complete list link has expired, is there anyway you could post all the location addresses? Thank you so much

No, I’m sorry, I don’t. I would say Google it and see what you can come up with. If you do find a list (or even a partial list), please make sure to come back here and post it because this post gets a lot of traffic and I want to make sure that people can get the information if they need it!

Tanya: Here’s one link with addresses… http://onetreehillweb.net/show-filming.html

I’m going too wilmington in sep, is everything easy accessible and do you know of any accommodation to sta near by.

No unfortunately I don’t. We were staying on Oak Island with family at the time.

Devan Carroll

who’s permission do you have to get in order to take pictures on the property?

Honestly, I didn’t even think about this aspect. I know at one of the houses, the owners showed up and didn’t seem phased by it at all. Several times I took pictures from the curb, rather than being ON the property.

Louise Waldeck

I am from South Africa and have just finished watching all 9 seasons and just could not get enough. It must be awesome to go and see the places from the series – maybe one day I will make it across the Atlantic – it is on my bucket list!!!

So cool! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

straightfrommyeyes

I am in Wilmington for the 5th time. All of the houses are there minus the season 4 finale house . If you did not visit the filming locations yet I am sorry. Tric is now closed as well. The river court is torn down but there are post on the gazebo that fans sign. To go over, take the boat from market street ($6) and enjoy an afternoon looking over to downtown Wilmington. When I get back from vacation I will post all the places my best friend and I have visited. Oth truly feels like home. 🙂

Is the river court really torn down? I was planning on visiting Wilmington and that was actually the only place I was really looking forward too see! That is so sad 🙁

Unfortunately, yes. Sadness.

Misty @ Joy in the Journey

LOVE THIS POST!!! I love how you collages scenes from the show with your photos . The one of Dan holding Sawyer still creeps me out. I feel like he redeemed himself by the end of the series, BUT that shot in that season he wasn’t there yet.

Anyway, I’m one of your handful of people 🙂 loved it, loved the show (until Lucas and Peyton left, I still watched till the series ended though), and prob would’ve psycho stalked the sets too!

Yeah, it wasn’t the same after they left, but still gave me all. The. Feels… Down to the very last episode!

Did you find the high school that they went too? or Nathans beach house? This is soo cool I can’t believe how many places you found and love that you sat on lucas’s steps and swing!

No. The high school was next on my list, but I ran out of time that day.

We used your post to find many places this week while we visited the area. We went to find the high school which was filmed at the Schwartz Center building of Cape Fear Community College. We wandered around a bit and there was some construction going on at the building. A construction worker asked if he could help us. We told him what we were looking for and he took us behind the construction fence to show us that part of the building which was being torn up to add to the building. We could see the white square arches but they were completely filled in with building. We were so disappointed.

I never made it to the high school because I ran out of time! I’m sorry!

So glad I ran across this!! I’m watching the seasons again with my teenage daughter and son and they are hooked! I’m planning on making a trip back to Wilmington to show them all the places we can find from the show. 🙂

not to worry your not the only one that watched this show. i watched it faithfully during the early years of being a single mom and then after i met my husband, he was hooked on the show too. both of my girls are named after this show.. brooklyn and hailey. i am planning my first trip to NC and cant wait to see some of these landmarks. i think pictures of them in my girls room will be awesome and help them see where i named them from. thanks for sharing all your fun and pictures.

Those are very pretty names! I hope that your trip to Wilmington is everything you hope it will be!

Jordan Frazier

Your pictures are not showing up!? I really wanna see them and for some reason their not working.

Yes I know. I recently switched my site to a new host and transferring the media library was a beast. I’m having to reinsert photos post-by-post (and I have over 600 blog posts!) I’ll try to work on that tonight and get the images back up for you. I’ll make sure to come back here and comment when I do!

You should be able to view the photos now!!

Thanks for fixing the pictures! I enjoyed seeing them. This is one of my all time favorite shows so it was nice to see these places now after filming.

Thank you for sharing your visit to the OTH filming sites. There’s no need to ever feel embarrassed about liking this show. You are not alone. I plan on visiting these places soon.

Thanks for sharing, I discovered OTH series on Netflix and I’m currently into the 6th season. My daughter who is a senior in high school started watching it with me and I was the one hooked. I’m addicted to this show maybe due to the part I can relate to living in a small southern town, my daughters attend a small high school where they both cheer and there is always some kind of drama going on. I plan on visiting and seeing some of the filming locations.

Glad to hear other parents like this show! There’s so much life lived here!

This is amazing!! I’m planning to visit North Carolina this May – would it be possible for you to share the exact addresses of these locations? I’m a reaaaally big fan of the show and would really appreciate it! 😀

I found the exact addresses in a forum post online. I’ve linked to it in the post but I just tried to click on it and it led me to some malware site. I’m sorry I can’t help you more. I didn’t record the addresses other than using that post.

i so wish i had seen this a year ago! I also was a big fan and then my girls started watching, so last summer we took them down to see all the places you went to. If we couldn’t find a place, my husband drove around until he found it 🙂

Hi, I got on your site randomly through Pinterest and reading about what used to be one of my favorite shows was quite a good feeling! I instantly went back to those amazing years where I loved to watch Peyton and Brooke fight over Lucas (even though I’m more Brucas than Leyton ;)), Haley and Nathan and their amazing love stories or all those great TV drama! This show was about so many different things and it delivered such a positive message that it quite marked my life forever. Even though it wasn’t always perfect (I hated those seasons without Lucas), it still had a special spot in my heart and I was really sad to let all those people go. I too absolutely loved the music (I even got 300 songs OTH playlist on my itunes:p) as well as Lucas’s quotes and Peyton’s drawings. I would love to do one of those tours, you were quite lucky! I hope to be able to do it some day. It truly was a great outstanding show and it will stay in my heart always…and forever! ha!

I really like your article! Thank you so mych for sharing it with us! I want to take that tour too some day.

Where did you find the clothes over bros shirt!? Was it the same place you found the sweatshirt? Love it!!

Yup Black Cat Shoppe 8 Market Street 910-251-6693 http://www.theblackcatshoppe.net

Julie Foster

I currently live in Wilmington and moving next week. I have been here for a few years and started this tour a few years ago. Tomorrow, I am going back over my tracks while I can. Just wanted to say thank you for helping me make a list of all the places I want to see again.

You are so very welcome!

Brigitte Guevremont

I want to go to Wilmington this summer 2016

Can I contact you for more informations?

Sorry for my english i’m french canadian.

Have a nice one

I don’t really have any information other than what’s already in this post.

I have to say I am so jealous of you lol. It is something I want to do so bad. I literally just today finished watching the complete season for a second time (the 1st being when it was on tv). I just love the show so much!

Is it a little crazy to you that nearly 4 years later people are still reading and commenting on your post that you thought “only a handful of people” would read? 🙂 I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this post, and every single one of your pictures. I have been wanting to visit Wilmington and visit all of the filming locations. I got into OTH during it’s second season and watched it religiously through the end. My sister and I used to have text dates every week to “watch” it together. I have all 9 seasons on DVD, and am currently in my 7th (or 8th) time re-watching all of the seasons. (Julian and Alex are about to make their movie.) One Tree Hill isn’t just a “stupid-teenage-drama”, it speaks to viewers and fans. There are so many quotes that have helped me through various situations. My sister even used THREE separate One Tree Hill quotes in her Maid-of-Honor speech at my wedding. Your post made me happy to know that I’m not the only one who is still obsessed with this show. Fun Fact: When filming for the show ended, the CW ran a contest through their website where you could enter to win a piece of the Rivercourt. I entered and almost immediately forgot about it. A couple months later, I received a package in the mail that contained a display box with a piece of the Rivercourt inside. It also had a booklet with a number of stills of the Rivercourt from the show and a letter of authenticity. The box the actual piece came in was filled with Raven blue and white paper. 🙂 That piece of the Rivercourt came with me when I moved from Massachusetts to Maryland in 2012, then to Texas in 2013, then back to Maryland in 2014, and finally, back to Massachusetts this past October. This past Christmas, I wrapped the box up and gave it to my sister so that she could enjoy it. I signed the tag from me “and B.Davis”. She cried. 🙂 Thank you for your post. And I also thank Pinterest and whoever “pinned” your post so I had a chance to venture to your little corner of the internet.

Now, I need to go start planning my own trip to Wilmington. 🙂

1) yes yes yes! This post I wrote on a whim, 4 years ago – it is so unrelated to anything else I write about, but I get hits EVERY SINGLE DAY from google searchers. It’s crazy! Over 26,000 views and that’s just since I transferred my site from wordpress.com to wordpress.org in December of 2014. GET OUT OF HERE! 2) Yes it totally speaks to viewers of ALL ages. I have thought about going back and watching it again because there were so many ways it spoke to me – and it would probably speak to me in TOTALLY different ways now. 3) Wow that is totally awesome that you WON a piece of the RIVER COURT! AMAZING. What a great memento! Thanks for commenting!

Honestly, I love the show too and I cannot get enough of it! Believe me you are not the only one. I actually wany to move down there to NC lol. That’s from too many Nicholas Sparks books and this TV show lol. It was a good read and I enjoyed it! Thank you 🙂

I live in NC now and love it! Not on the coast though…only make it there a few times each year.

I really enjoyed reading about your self guided tour of OTH filming locations! I absolutely love the show and am in the process of watching it all over again! I live in Adelaide, Australia but visiting the town is something I would love to do one day!

I just started watching it all over again too!

Thanks so much for sharing this.

I absolutely love this!!! I watched the show when it first came out and my daughter’s watch it now. I really can’t tell you how many times this 43 year old mother of 4 has watched OTH!!!

Aw I’m glad I’m not the only OTH lover who isn’t a teeny-bopper!

Great article ! Loved it !

Renae Duncan

Love the pics from one tree Hill .I also visited quite a few Right before hurricane Florence came thru . It’s beautiful there and so many great memories from the show

Havanna Watlington

This is awesome!! I totally want to tour the town and visit as many sights as possible! Thank you for sharing!

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Project 543 tells the story of unique spots across North Carolina we hope will become some of your favorite places. Why 543? Because that’s the number of miles from Manteo, on the coast, to Murphy, in the mountains, and is traditionally considered to be the width of our state. The entries in this project are in no particular order, and we’ll add to them each week. Check in often to find inspiration for your next trip, or start planning today at VisitNC.com .

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Visit the hangouts from 'One Tree Hill' and 'Dawson’s Creek'

Many visitors recognize the streets and settings of Wilmington on North Carolina’s coast even if they’ve never been to the historic city before. That’s because in addition to being a popular beach destination, Wilmington also is one of the leading film destinations in the country and it often doubles for other towns. In fact, fans of Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill will instantly recognize several sites in Wilmington as the fictional towns of Capeside and Tree Hill. Those programs frequently filmed in the area, from the shops where they worked, the restaurants where they ate, and some places such as Hell’s Kitchen that were featured in both series. But those aren’t the only film credits to Wilmington’s name. The Wilmington area has been the location for more than 400 film-related productions since producer Dino De Laurentiis “discovered” the area in 1983 while scouting locations for the movie Firestarter . EUE Screen Gems , the studio that has evolved from the one he founded in Wilmington, is now the largest movie studio outside of California. From feature films such as Iron Man 3 to cult classics like Blue Velvet and a host of TV series, Wilmington has become known as Hollywood East. Self-guided tours for Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill fans are available at the Wilmington Visitor Center.

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One Tree Hill made a huge impact on so many, and our tour guides are no exception. Get to know a little about these dedicated fans.

Meet Amy – Amy is the owner and producer of Variety Radio Online and has been working in the convention world for 8 years, attending large conventions such as SDCC, Wizard World, DragonCon, and smaller fan conventions like Eyecon and Blood on the Beach. She has been part of the entertainment world even longer. From the set of Dawson’s Creek to the set of One Tree Hill, Amy has seen it all in Wilmywood, along with a few others places around the world. Conventions remain a big part of Amy’s world. When Amy was told that her friends at EYECON were going to be doing a One Tree Hill Convention she couldn’t have been happier. She jumped right in and started helping with the planning. One Tree Hill is home to Amy and she can’t wait to share it with her friends and all of you.

Meet Gina – Gina has been working with Variety Radio Online for 8 years and has become somewhat of an old hand at conventions, whether its huge cons like SDCC, Wizard World or Dragon Con, or if its the smaller more intimate Eyecon experiences. She enjoys bringing fans together with show stars and seeing the happiness that interaction brings, with both radio and video interviews and at the conventions. She also has a thriving business creating her own unique jewelry, t shirts, and other merchandise specifically made for fandoms with special meanings behind the pieces only show fans would know.

She is very new to the OTH fandom and family, just starting the show after the convention was planned. Her favorite characters have to be Lucas and Karen, as she sees so much of herself and her own life experiences in this little family. She is excited to share her newfound love for the show with fans from around the world at the convention.

Meet Brancey – Brancey’s passion in life is all forms of entertainment, but that doesn’t just mean the shows and movies themselves. Though she certainly has a thorough knowledge of television, movies and books, what interests her the most is the fandoms that accompany a series. Brancey has been a member of Variety Radio Online for just over a year but in that short time she has made close friendships with other hosts and has immersed herself even farther into the fandom lifestyle. She’s been to many other conventions before including smaller and more intimate conventions such as other EyeCon conventions and also large conventions like Walker Stalker Con. Though she does love interacting with the stars, her favorite aspect of conventions is the friendships that form and strengthen while attending. She thinks of her fandom members as her family and is a part of many fandoms (her Tumblr blog is plenty proof of that). She also runs a successful Etsy shop dedicated to fandom themed merchandise because, to her, loving a series goes so much farther than casual viewing.

Though she is incredibly new to the One Tree Hill fandom, she is a firm believer that whether you have been there from day one or binge-watched a show in a few weeks, you are welcome into the family. Brancey keeps a level head and is very open to varying opinions, so don’t worry: she won’t be picking any fights with you if you’ve got a different opinion. She believes that as long as you are respectful of other people’s opinions, you will be able to get along with her just fine. Brancey cannot wait to share her love of the show with other fans who love the story of One Tree Hill just as much as her.

Our other tour guides and helpers also welcome you to the OTH family and look forward to seeing you in Tree Hill!!

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Wilmington's Famous Film and TV Sites

Tour "hollywood east".

"Hollywood East" and "Wilmywood" are names that have been attributed to Wilmington through the years. With a long list of film and TV credits to its name and home to Cinespace Studios Wilmington and Dark Horse Studios, the Wilmington area has served as the perfect backdrop for blockbuster movies, TV shows and indie productions alike since the early 1980s. Discover favorite movie and beloved TV show locations, like "One Tree Hill" or "Dawson's Creek" with self-guided tours and learn more about projects that are currently in production in Wilmington and its surrounding beaches.

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One Tree Hill Locations Tour

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Top Film & TV Locations

Lace up your walking shoes, print this guide or use the map below and head out on a self-guided film location scouting adventure through Wilmington and our Island Beaches. With more than 400 film and TV credits, there are plenty of famous—and infamous—sites to discover.

You'll think you're back in Tree Hill as you make your way through Wilmington with the self-guided One Tree Hill locations tour . Explore popular and recognizable film locations like "The Naley Bench" overlooking the Cape Fear River on the Riverwalk , Greenfield Lake Park , the backdrop to Lucas and Peyton's wedding in season six, or Wilmington's Harry Forden Bridge (694 N. Sixth St.), the one-lane metal truss bridge that appears in the show's opening sequence in seasons 1-4. Join TRIC Tours for an exclusive look inside the iconic TRIC Nightclub in downtown Wilmington. This self-guided tour features replica props from Chase's apartment and Peyton's bedroom, the original Red Bedroom Records door and more. Afterwards, shop for exclusive merchandise at the OTHmerch Souvenir Shop.

Dawson's Creek Locations Tour

Transport yourself to Capeside with the Dawson's Creek self-guided tour to dozens of locations in Wilmington made famous by the popular WB series, "Dawson’s Creek." Follow along the tour to find popular film sites like Hell's Kitchen , which served as a Mollye's Market during season 2-4 and where the Hell's Belles band often performed scenes. Or, spot multiple sites along the Wilmington Riverwalk like where Andie and Pacey's first kissed across from the Alton Lennon Federal Courthouse, located at the foot of Market Street and Water Street. After, head to Airlie Gardens ' Bradley Creek Lawn, which served as the location of Joey and Dawson's dream wedding or stop by the New Hanover County Arboretum's Ability Garden where Jen said her goodbyes to her daughter in the final episode.

Summer I Turned Pretty Locations Tour

Embark on a self-guided tour and visit popular film sites from Amazon Prime Video's hit series, "The Summer I Turned Pretty." Based on the books by New York Times best-selling author, Jenny Han, "The Summer I Turned Pretty" follows Belly, a teenager who spends the summer in Cousins Beach reconnecting with two old friends, Conrad and Jeremiah. The series filmed in Wilmington and its nearby beaches. Visit locations like Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach where Cam and Belly cycled along the trails or snap a photo where Taylor and Belly walk along the beach near Crystal Pier in Wrightsville Beach. In Carolina Beach, visit The Fat Pelican , where Laurel and Susannah decide to stop at a local bar. Season two is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and features several local spots including downtown Wilmington's Hell's Kitchen and the Rooster & The Crow .

Season three of the series, "The Summer I Turned Pretty" is currently in pre-production and will return to Wilmington and Island Beaches to film. The plot continues to follow teenagers Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah's love triangle story in Cousins Beach.

Amazon MGM Studios' upcoming romcom "Merv" is coming to Kure Beach to film this spring. Currently in pre-production, the film, starring Zooey Deschanel, follows a recently separated couple who take their dog on a beach vacation to cheer him up.

These movies and TV shows recently wrapped up filming. Keep an eye out for their release date!

Film: Based on a best-selling novel by Edward Kelsey Moore, "The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat" follows three lifelong friends, nicknamed The Supremes, who find their friendship tested when one is faced with a major life crisis. Emmy award-winning Uzo Adubo from “Orange is the New Black,” Sanaa Lathan from “Love & Basketball” and Oscar-nominated Aunjanue Ellis from “King Richard” lead the cast as The Supremes.

"Boys of Summer," a mystery thriller, stars Academy Award-winning director and actor Mel Gibson and rising actor Mason Thames. The plot follows a local boy who begins to suspect a supernatural entity is hunting the children on Martha’s Vineyard.

TV Series: "Outer Banks," a popular Netflix series, recently filmed in the destination. The plot follows teenager John B (Chase Stokes) and three of his best friends, JJ (Rudy Pankow), Kiara (Madison Bailey) and Pope (Jonathan Daviss), as they search for legendary treasure. Season four filming locations included Crystal Pier and Oceanic Restaurant in Wrightsville Beach and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area in Kure Beach. Season four of "Outer Banks" is scheduled to premiere in 2024.

"Eric LaRue," a drama film produced by debut director and Academy Award-nominated Michael Shannon, tells the story of Janice, a mother of a teenage who shot and killed three of his classmates. The film stars Judy Geer from "Halloween Kills," Alison Pill from "American Horror Story" and Alexander Skarsgård from "True Blood." The movie debuted during the Tribeca Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival.

Season 3 of "Hightown," a Starz series and television drama is now streaming on Starz website. The series continues to follow a woman’s journey to sobriety that is overshadowed by a murder she feels she must solve. Some filming locations include Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Center, Wilmington Riverwalk, Elijah's Restaurant and more. 

“I.S.S.,” a space thriller following astronauts who receive a distressing message from Earth, debuted during this year's Tribeca Film Festival. Put on by LD Entertainment, the movie stars Chris Messina and Pilou Asbaek and is directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite. The film is now playing in select theaters.

"Breakwater," a new thriller film directed by James Rowe, was filmed in Wilmington and is now playing in theatres. The plot follows Dovey (Darren Mann), an ex-con who risks his freedom to help Ray (Dermot Mulroney), a fellow inmate who escaped prison, search for his estranged daughter. Some filming locations include Airlie Chapel located in the Airlie Gardens.

"Zoey 102," a movie sequel to the hit Nickelodeon television series "Zoey 101," was filmed in Wilmington. The movie takes place present day and follows the original "Zoey 101" characters, including Zoey Brooks (Jamie Lynn Spears), Erin Sanders (Quinn Pensky), Matthew Underwood (Logan Reese) and more when they reunite for a wedding. Filming locations include Origins Food and Drink, the Common Desk and Hell's Kitchen. The film is now playing on Paramount+.

Season 2 of the Amazon Studio television series, "The Summer I Turned Pretty,” filmed at Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Cape Fear Country Club, Kure Beach and Fort Fisher. The series continues to follow teenager Belly (Lola Tung) as she spends the summer at Cousin's Beach reconnecting with two old friends, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). Season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video.

"Florida Man," a television series starring Edgar Ramirez and Abbey Lee, is now streaming on Netflix. The series follows a former cop who travels from Philadelphia to his home state of Florida for a quick gig. His job is to hunt down a mobster's fugitive girlfriend, but his journey turns into a discovery of buried family secrets. Filming locations include the Rusty Nail, Wilmington Riverwalk, Jack Mackerel's Island Grill, Carolina Beach Boardwalk and Robert's Grocery.

Stars in Wilmington 

You'll be surprised by the number of stars who have filmed in Wilmington and our island beaches. Browse through an extensive listing of stars , including many Oscar, Grammy and Tony Award-winners, who've worked on productions filmed here and see how many you recognize.

Cucalorus Film Festival 

Dubbed as one of the largest film festivals in the South and recognized by Moviemaker Magazine as "One of the Coolest Film Festivals in the World," Cucalorus Film Festival attracts filmmakers, dancers, performers and cultural travelers from all over the world to Wilmington to celebrate the film industry. This annual festival features more than 90 films from around the world, events and a diverse selection of stage performances over the course of five days each November.

Filmed in Airlie Gardens 

If you're looking for one of the most popular filming locations from box office movies and top-rated TV shows, head to Airlie Gardens in Wilmington. Discover film locations featured in "King Kong Lives," Nicholas Spark's "The Choice," "Black Knight," the "Sleepy Hollow" and "Dawson's Creek" TV series and more with their Filmed at Airlie brochure.

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Find a list of TV shows filmed in Wilmington by exploring the Film Commission's website.

Film Credits

See Wilmington's complete list of film credits by exploring the Film Commission's website.

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