Lights, Camera, Appalachia: How the Mountains Became One of America’s Favorite Filming Destinations

If you were to ask the average movie buff to name a film shot in Appalachia, most would say Deliverance. A few might name A Coal Miner’s Daughter. A few aficionados might know that Bandit and Frog took a break from running from the police in Smokey and the Bandit to kiss on a bridge near Helen, Georgia. After that, the movie trivia well runs dry. 

But there is so much more! 

Storytelling is part of the culture.

Appalachia is famous for its stories. Storytelling is a highly regarded art form in Appalachia and is central to its culture and traditions. For generations, stories were passed down from the old to the young, eventually developing into a noteworthy tradition of writing and journalism. Not as well-known is the connection between Appalachia and the movie industry. 

For more than a century, filmmakers have found Appalachia to be the perfect backdrop for a range of projects, from silent-era Westerns to Oscar-winning blockbusters. The region’s ancient mountains are visually unlike anything found elsewhere in the United States, and are dotted with towns that offer a snapshot of times long since past. Add to these the region’s rich culture and hard-working people, and you have a ready-made movie set that Hollywood soundstages cannot replicate.

Hiking through movie history

Most visitors to Appalachia come for the hiking, waterfalls, wildflowers, and scenic drives. What they may not realize is that the same landscapes that attract millions of travelers each year have also appeared in some of Hollywood’s most memorable films. Filmmakers needing towns that look lived-in, mountains that appear mysterious and rugged, and rolling countryside and small working farms have come to different parts of Appalachian communities to shoot stories that feel real. 

Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at the history of filmmaking in Appalachia. We’ve put together a guide to visiting real movie locations you can explore on your next trip.

The Appalachian Mountains on Film: A Century of Storytelling

Deliverance. Appalachia’s most (in)famous movie

In 1971, director John Boorman (Excalibur, Exorcist II: The Heretic, Hope and Glory) chose Rabun and Habersham Counties, Georgia, as a stand-in for the for the fictional Cahulawassee River in the film Deliverance. Scenes on and around the Chattooga River and the Talulah Gorge are among the most visually striking in all of filmdom. Released in 1972, Deliverance was nominated for Best Picture and Boorman for Best Director. It’s preserved in the U.S. National Film Registry for its cultural significance. Not only did it jump-start the survival film genre, but it also documented the real-life damming of several rivers to form Lake Jocassee in South Carolina. The masterfully shot river scenes set the standard for outdoor adventure films. The wild river and rugged wilderness conspired to create a perilous backdrop for the complex story of fear, violence, and the struggle for survival against the self, man, and nature. 

A young Jon Voigt and Burt Reynolds delivered powerful performances, but the real stars of the movie were the wild rivers, deep gorges, and old-growth forests that define the Southern Appalachians. The famous dueling banjo scene became one of the most iconic scenes in American filmmaking. (By the way, the local boy with narrow eyes and prominent ears in the scene, Billy Redden, did not actually play the banjo. A real musician’s arms wrapped around him, while Redden’s unusual features transform from impassive to gleeful to almost menacing in the course of a few minutes. Redden is a regular at regional festivals and events and retired from the Walmart in Rabun County.)

The film was based on the book by James Dickey, who drew on his own experiences canoeing on the soon-to-be-dammed Coosawatee River. Dickey spent much of his life in and around Appalachia, and the characters in the book were based on his personal observations. The movie, however brilliant, received some negative feedback. It reinforced negative stereotypes about Appalachia and Southerners in general. 

For a deep dive into shooting locations, check this blog on GiGgster.

And then the dam broke

Well, not literally. Filmmakers realized the Appalachian Mountains offered landscapes that felt truly cinematic. From that point forward, film production blossomed across the entire mountain range. The list of movies filmed somewhere across Appalachia is extensive, including these classic films 

The Appalachians are now among the most frequently used filming locations in the eastern United States, second only to major hubs like Atlanta, New Orleans, and Wilmington.

Coal Miner’s Daughter

Possibly the second-most famous movie shot in Appalachia is 1980’s Coal Miner’s Daughter. Based on Loretta Lynn’s autobiography and song of the same name, the movie is considered an accurate portrayal of life in 1950s Appalachia. Since it was shot in areas close to where Loretta Lynn grew up and based on a primary source book, the film’s producers were able to recreate the look and feel of the story without resorting to sound stages and backlots. 

In much of Appalachia, especially in Kentucky’s coal-mining areas, the past rubs elbows with the present. Landscape and buildings have not changed visually in decades. One can argue that even the people have not changed. In many towns and hollers, the same families do the same work, attend the same schools and churches, and speak the same way as their ancestors did a century ago. It is a rarity in the United States, and a national treasure in its own right.

Coal Miner’s Daughter was filmed in Letcher County, Kentucky, a short hop from Johnson County, home of Lynn’s Butcher Holler. The famous bologna scene was shot at Maggards Cash Store, which is now closed but still standing. You can find stores just like this one all over the Appalachian Mountains. Check out our TikTok on just such a place, the Crossroads Grocery store in the Georgia Mountains. Like other mom-and-pop stores, they are a dying breed, falling prey to franchise convenience stores and gas stops, and to the endless supply of Family Dollar stores that pop up seemingly overnight.

Why Filmmakers Love the Appalachians

The reasons filmmakers flock to the Appalachian Mountains are both practical and artistic. The region offers a combination of scenery, culture, affordability, and accessibility that is hard to match elsewhere.

1. Stunning, Diverse Landscapes

The Appalachian chain is one of the oldest mountain systems in the world. Eons of weather, erosion, and other natural processes have created a rich variety of terrain, microclimates, and wilderness areas. Nestled in the hollers and valleys are small to midsize towns that have not changed much since the 1950s or 1960s. In just a few hours of driving–often even within the same county– a film crew can move from rolling farmland to rugged mountaintops, from dense forest to open river gorges, from pristine waterfalls to historic towns. All of this gives productions enormous flexibility.

Directors can shoot a rustic pioneer cabin, a Civil War battlefield, a ghost town consumed by kudzu, a charming mountain village, a forest chase scene, and a 3,000-foot overlook all in the same region.

2. Lower Production Costs Than Most Film Hubs

Producing a movie in Los Angeles or New York is expensive. By comparison, filming in Appalachia is significantly more budget-friendly. State film offices in Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and other Appalachian states offer tax incentives that reduce the cost of everything from lodging to equipment rentals.

Smaller communities are also typically easier to work with. Local authorities are more flexible about road closures, town square shoots, and special effects. The people of the area are eager to contribute as extras or by making their properties available to film crews. This makes mountain counties attractive to big studios and independent filmmakers alike.

3. Authentic Small Towns and Historical Sites

Many movies need a place that looks untouched by time. Unlike much of America, where bulldozers have razed historical buildings in favor of flavorless modern buildings, Appalachian communities often maintain active old downtown areas and central squares. Historic homes in these areas are kept up instead of being knocked down to build a McMansion on their prime lots. 19th-century churches and rural backroads that require almost no dressing up to appear period-accurate are abundant.

Jackson County Courthouse in Sylva, NC
Photo credit: Lynne Harty

4. A Growing Film Workforce

Over the last twenty years, as film production increased in Georgia and North Carolina, the entire Appalachian film workforce grew with it. Today, the region has experienced crews, local casting offices, camera teams, electricians, and makeup professionals. Production companies can now staff a whole crew without needing to fly in dozens of specialists. Best of all, the local companies have all the right contacts in their communities. Anyone who has spent time in the Appalachian region understands that who you know is much more important than how big your budget might be.

5. An Atmosphere No Studio Can Fake

The biggest reason filmmakers choose the Appalachians is the atmosphere. For years, Hollywood studios tried to replace every mountain setting with locations in the California hills. The scrub hillsides and sparse forests are visually nothing like the dense, ancient wilderness that is Appalachia. No amount of AI or props can fake the character found in the Appalachian Mountains. There is an emotional depth to these mountains, a presence. It lies in the mist on the ridges at sunrise, the deep green of the summer hills, the way small towns glow during the holidays, and the rugged character of the old mountains that all come to life on camera.

The Appalachians are beautiful, but the real magic is how they feel. That emotional texture translates powerfully to film.

Famous Films Shot Across the Appalachians

Although the total list is enormous, here are some of the most iconic films shot somewhere in the Appalachian Mountains.

Travel Across the Appalachians Through Their Movie Locations

For travelers, the best part of all this film history is that nearly every location is open to visitors. You can stand where famous scenes were shot, walk the trails seen on screen, eat at local restaurants that appeared in major productions, and explore mountain towns that served as the backdrop.

Here is a travel-style guide for exploring real Appalachian filming locations, starting in the south and working north.

North Georgia: Holiday Movies, Mountain Towns, and Early Film History

North Georgia is one of the fastest-growing filming hubs in the United States. Dahlonega, in particular, has become famous for its holiday movie atmosphere.

Dahlonega

Small-town charm and lavish Christmas decorations are hallmarks of Dahlonega, Georgia. It is not surprising that the town attracted Hallmark films to its streets. Dahlonega’s historic square has been featured in Christmas in the Smokies, Christmas in Homestead, A Taste of Christmas, and the recent film Ruth and Boaz. Its 19th-century buildings and festive decorations create the kind of small-town charm Hallmark loves.

Visitors can stroll the square, stop into local shops, and tour the Dahlonega Gold Museum. Three Sisters Vineyards and Montaluce Winery both offer wine tastings and scenic views and have been the sites of film shoots.

Film fans who enjoy early cinema can explore Dahlonega’s connection to silent-era Westerns filmed in the region’s mining communities.

Tallulah Gorge and Rabun County

Deliverance was filmed on the Chattooga River and around Tallulah Gorge. Today, the area is one of Georgia’s most popular outdoor destinations. You can hike rim trails, kayak the river, or simply take in the dramatic views that made the gorge a cinematic legend. Be careful, though. Some stretches of the river are wild, and there have been several drownings over the years.

Western North Carolina: Waterfalls, Railroads, and Hollywood-Level Scenery

Western North Carolina probably wins the award for the most-filmed section of Appalachia. The landscape is a dream for cinematographers, with deep gorges, towering craggy peaks, and mists that rise from the forests like clouds. Forest Gump made an appearance running up Grandfather Mountain. Here are some other movies shot in part in North Carolina:

Lake Lure

Dirty Dancing has a cult following, and fans love visiting Lake Lure, where some memorable scenes were shot. Although some structures have changed over time, the lake and mountain views are unmistakable.

Chimney Rock and Lake James

The final 17 minutes of The Last of the Mohicans was set in Chimney Rock State Park. The final chase and fight scene took place atop the 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls. Alice’s leap was shot nearby. Hawkeye and Cora embrace at the top of Inspiration Point (or Exclamation Point, depending on who you ask), and the panoramic views in the movie are available to visitors today. Trails lead to shooting locations, and the views are among the most spectacular in the Blue Ridge. Camp Chimney Rock was the site of the staff cabins and the gymnasium used for the final dance scene. The gym has since burned down. 

Bryson City and Dillsboro

The Fugitive’s famous train crash scene was filmed on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad line. Visitors can still ride the railroad and see the wreck remains preserved as a tourist attraction.

Asheville Area

The Hunger Games and numerous other productions used forests, rivers, and abandoned mill areas around Asheville. The shooting locations are well-documented and numerous. If you are a fan of The Hunger Games, Asheville should be on your itinerary. The city blends arts, food, history, and outdoor exploration, making it one of the best film-tourism stops in the Appalachians. ExploreAsheville.com has an entire section of its website dedicated to visiting movie locations.

Bull Durham featured scenes at a baseball park that, according to the story, was set in Durham, North Carolina. But it was filmed in Asheville at McCormick Field.

Tennessee: Classic Mountain Culture Meets Film History

Tennessee’s mountains have inspired countless stories.

Townsend

Known as the “quiet side of the Smokies,” Townsend hosted productions like The Jungle Book and Christy, which was filmed on a 400-acre farm in the area. Travelers can visit Cades Cove, where Jane Fonda appeared in The Doll Maker, explore heritage sites, or take scenic drives through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Knoxville Region

Films like The River used farmland and river landscapes outside Knoxville to portray rural American life. The area blends film history with easy access to the Smokies.

Virginia: Civil War Epics and Blue Ridge Dramas

Virginia’s stretch of Appalachia includes some of the most historically significant terrain in the eastern United States.

Blue Ridge Mountains

Cold Mountain was filmed in Virginia, even though the story takes place in North Carolina. The choice was inspired by the region’s panoramic views and preserved rural settings.

Shenandoah Valley

Ironically, the 1965 film Shenandoah, about a Virginia farmer who broke his vow of neutrality in the American Civil War, was not shot in the Shenandoah Valley. Naturally, in true Hollywood fashion, it was filmed in California and Oregon. Other films, however, like Gods and Generals, used the valley for Civil War reenactments. Jody Foster and Richard Gere teamed up in the valley for Sommersby, and parts of the War of the Worlds saw Tom Cruise battling Martian invaders in the same area. Visitors can tour battlefields, hike Skyline Drive, and explore charming mountain towns.

West Virginia: Rail Towns, Coal Country, and Mythology

West Virginia’s landscapes have a rugged authenticity that filmmakers love.

Thurmond

Thurmond is essentially a ghost town today. Amtrak will stop there if requested, but there isn’t much reason to go to Thurmond unless you are a fan of the 1987 film Matewan, John Sayles’s coal-war drama. Filmed largely in the nearly abandoned railroad town of Thurmond, Matewan is one of the grittiest, most atmospheric movies to come out of Appalachia. It’s the story of a mostly forgotten chapter in U.S. history, where anti-union guards and union mine workers battled over conditions and wages. When we say “battled,” we mean it. A gunfight in 1920 resulted in the Matewan Massacre. The next year, union and company forces shot it out with Gatling guns and other firearms in the Battle of Blair Mountain.  

Point Pleasant

Fans of The Mothman Prophecies (2002) visit the Mothman Museum, local landmarks, and the bridges featured in both the film and the legend. The movie was not filmed in West Virginia, however. It was shot mostly in Pennsylvania. The movie Mothman (2000) was filmed in Point Pleasant, but is not so much about the actual Mothman incident as it is about the legend of a killer Mothman. 

Welch

The Glass Castle used Welch’s historic coal town as the backdrop for the film version of former MSNBC gossip columnist and best-selling author Jeanette Walls’s biography of the same name. Visitors can explore the area’s heritage, murals, and scenic drives.

Pennsylvania and New York: Industrial Appalachia, Small Towns, and Hidden Wilderness

Northern Appalachia offers a mix of mountains, forests, and mill towns that lend themselves to gritty dramas and atmospheric thrillers.

Pittsburgh and the Allegheny Highlands

People often forget that Pittsburgh is an Appalachian city. In fact, it has been called the capital of Northern Appalachia. (Interestingly, Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania parts of the mountain chain pronounce the region’s name “App-uh-LAY-chuh” in contrast to the southern pronunciation, “App-uh-LA-Chuh.” Films like The Deer Hunter, The Dark Knight Rises, and Out of the Furnace use steel towns and Appalachian ridgelines to convey powerful emotional storytelling.

Central Pennsylvania

The Silence of the Lambs used forests and rural backroads between Pittsburgh and the Appalachian Plateau, many of which are accessible to visitors. This region is known for its rugged mountains and history of coal mining. (Check out TikTok on Pennsylvania Appalachian food.)

Catskills and Hudson Valley

Yes, believe it or not, the Catskills are part of Appalachia! Among the oldest settled areas in the United States, the Catskills are picturesque in a way reminiscent of Great Britain and parts of New England. The film A Quiet Place brought international attention back to the Catskills. Visitors can hike the forests used in the film, tour local villages, and enjoy classic mountain scenery.

Why Movie Tourism Is Growing Across Appalachia

Movie tourism has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in the travel industry. When a film captures a beautiful or compelling landscape, people want to see it in person. Appalachian movie locations are easily accessible, and travel to them is generally affordable. The towns and rural locations in Appalachia are spellbinding. It is rare that a visitor leaves without wanting to come back. Many plan to relocate after just one visit! 

Small communities often see increases in:

• Hotel bookings
• Restaurant traffic
• Tour participation
• Downtown shopping
• Heritage and museum visits

For travelers, exploring these filming sites adds another layer of adventure to mountain vacations. Instead of just hiking a trail, you might walk through the forest where Katniss trained in The Hunger Games. Instead of just riding a train, you might pass the set of The Fugitive’s most iconic scene. Instead of just visiting a winery, you might tour one featured in a new Netflix romance.

The films and the mountains enrich each other. The scenery elevates the movies, and the films inspire people to experience the locations firsthand.

Appalachia Is Ready for Its Close-Up

The Appalachian Mountains are more than a backdrop. They are a character. Their landscapes shape the stories told within them, and their communities bring authenticity that audiences connect with on screen.

Over a century after the first films were shot in places like Dahlonega, the mountains continue to attract major productions. Modern filmmakers still come for the same reasons the early pioneers did: the beauty, the culture, the atmosphere, and the sense that the mountains carry stories within them. Their close proximity to major metropolitan areas and transport centers makes it easy and affordable to access.

For travelers, exploring Appalachia’s film locations is a chance to experience the region through a new lens. Pun intended! A visit here is the perfect blend of history, scenery, storytelling, and adventure. And for communities across the mountains, film tourism provides an opportunity to share the places they love with the rest of the world.

Whether you are a movie buff, a nature enthusiast, or a curious traveler, the Appalachian Mountains offer endless possibilities. The next time you watch a film shot in these storied peaks, pay attention to the backdrop. Chances are, the mountains will steal the scene.