Abandoned film sets you can visit in real life from Star Wars to The Hobbit

28 September 2023 , 15:59

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Scenery for Star Wars film in Tunisia (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

When it comes to filming locations sometimes a big studio just won't do, so crew go out in search of real-life spots that are so spectacular they look like they were created by Hollywood anyway.

While there are plenty of locations you can easily visit, there are also some sets that required full construction, whether that's a desert village for Star Wars' Tatooine, or Hobbiton which served as a location for both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. For one film, crew actually built an entire village from scratch that stands to this day.

But what happens when filming wraps up? While in most cases sets get dismantled, in some cases they've been left behind, and intact - so naturally, they've become a hit with film buffs who want to immerse themselves in their favourite stories.

They're not always the easiest spots to reach - film crews like a remote location as it makes it easier than managing crowds and keeping plots secret- but they are well worth having on your radar for future travel.

We take a look at seven abandoned film sets you can visit in real life...

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1. Star Wars

Buildings for the film Star Wars in the Sahara Desert, Tunisia (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Luke Skywalker's desert planet home may be fictional, but the set where scenes were filmed is very real. In fact, an entire village set was created specifically for the iconic franchise, in the desert near Tozeur, Tunisia.

You'll feel like you've really stepped into the films, thanks to highlights such as the Pod-racing arena, the Mos Espa streets, Watto’s shop and Sebulba’s Café. Scenes in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith were filmed here, not to mention the nearby 'Star Wars canyon' also featured in the film. The desert location means it's not easy to find, but the good news is that there are heaps of guided tours and excursions you can take.

2. Popeye

Popeye Village on a sunny day in Malta (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This quirky village in Malta was built as a set for the 1980 musical adaptation of Popeye, starring Robin Williams. In fact, 165 crew members headed to Anchor Bay armed with two thousand gallons of paint, wood and eight tons of nails. When filming was complete, the village was left standing complete with the wooden homes and architecture. Nowadays it serves as a family-friendly theme park, complete with appearances from the famous sailor himself. Oh, and the seafront location is a bonus too!

3. Lord of the Rings

Hobbiton movie set in New Zealand (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Sir Peter Jackson's team of scouts for Lord of the Rings discovered this location in the heart of Waikato on New Zealand's North Island during an aerial search, and quickly set about transforming it into The Shire. Hobbit homes were built into the landscape for the films, and when production was over, they were left hidden away in the rolling green hills. Nowadays, the Hobbiton Movie Set is a famous tourist attraction and you can wander through Hobbiton, explore the Hobbit homes and take in the same views of the surrounding lush green countryside and nearby forest.

4. The Hills Have Eyes

The gas station from classic cult hit The Hills Have Eyes - has remained abandoned on the middle of the highway in Morocco (Caters)

One for horror film fans, there's something suitably eerie about this abandoned gas station in Agadir, Morocco, which was built specifically for cult hit The Hills Have Eyes. The station sits abandoned along a highway, complete with some abandoned cars. Inside, you'll find dust-covered furniture, and heaps of 'stocked' shelves with the fake goods left behind after filming.

5. The Smurfs

There's Smurf themed artwork to be found (Alamy Stock Photo)

Okay, this one technically wasn't used as a film set - but it's still pretty quirky and one for film buffs. When the 2011 film The Smurfs was released, as a publicity stunt the entire village of Juzcar in Malaga was painted bright blue, complete with Smurf artwork, statues and more surprises. Once the promotion was over, locals decided to keep the town in its new bright blue hues, and it's a hit with visitors who explore and keep an eye out for iconic characters Papa Smurf and Smurfette.

6. Field of Dreams

Field of Dreams location in Dyersville (The Washington Post via Getty Images)

A baseball field served as the setting for the 1980s hit starring Kevin Costner, but it wasn't an existing sports spot that was used. Instead, Universal Pictures built the set across two farms just outside of Dyersvilla in Iowa, USA. When filming wrapped up, the baseball diamond was left behind. The farm owners have kept the site intact, and nowadays you can take guided tours of the spot and hear behind-the-scenes tidbits, and there's even a themed gift shop.

7. The Hunger Games

Henry River Mill Village (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The Henry River Mill Village was a 'ghost town' abandoned since the 1970s, until 2011 when it was transformed into District 12, the home of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. Located in Burke County, North Carolina, you can visit the village and take guided tours of the area - and there have been reports of plans to transform it into a tourist site complete with a restaurant and holiday homes on-site.

Julie Delahaye