Exploring the Iconic Film Locations of Forrest Gump: A Dream Come True for Movie Fans
For film enthusiasts and fans of the iconic 1994 movie Forrest Gump, visiting the locations where the film was shot is a dream come true. One of the most recognizable places in the movie is the house where Forrest grew up and lived with his mother in Greenbow, Alabama. But can you really visit Forrest Gump’s house?
The Fictional House
The answer is both yes and no. While the iconic house, with its distinctive wraparound porch and white picket fence, is a major part of the movie, it was not a real house at all. It was purpose-built on a movie set, and once filming was complete, the set was dismantled, and the materials were recycled or disposed of.
Real-Life Locations
However, that doesn’t mean that fans of the movie can’t visit some locations that were used as settings for the movie. One such place is the nearby town of Varnville, South Carolina, where several scenes from the movie were shot.
Varnville, which is about 40 miles from Bluffton, South Carolina, and 100 miles from Savannah, Georgia, was the main location for the movie’s Vietnam War scenes. Many of the town’s buildings and streets were transformed into the busy streets of Saigon, complete with soldiers, motorcycles, and military vehicles.
Old Train Station
One of the most recognizable locations in Varnville is the old train station, which was used to film the scene where Forrest meets Bubba on his way to basic training. The station is now the Hampton County Museum and houses memorabilia from the town’s history, including artifacts from the movie.
Hunting Island State Park
Another location that fans can visit is the nearby Hunting Island State Park, which was used for the iconic scene where Forrest and Lieutenant Dan are stranded in the ocean during a storm. The park boasts miles of undeveloped beaches, a lighthouse, and abundant wildlife, making it an idyllic spot to explore and take in the natural beauty of the region.
Other Movie Locations
Aside from Varnville and Hunting Island State Park, there are other locations featured in the movie that fans can visit. The iconic bench where Forrest tells his story was situated in historic Chippewa Square in downtown Savannah, Georgia. Fans can easily locate the precise bench and take pictures reliving the famous scene.
The famous restaurant setting where Bubba and Forrest worked at called the ‘Bubba Gump Shrimp Company’ in the movie is an actual restaurant chain worldwide. The first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant opened in 1996, a couple of years after the film’s release, in Monterey, California. Now, over 20 years later, there are over 40 locations in the U.S. and more in Japan, Malaysia, Colombia, and Mexico.
Conclusion
Overall, exploring the iconic film set of Forrest Gump is a must-do activity for fans of the movie. Though you can’t visit Forrest’s house, there are plenty of other locations you can enjoy, from Varnville to Chippewa Square, to Hunting Island State Park. So, get your camera and start exploring these iconic landmarks, and relive the magic of Forrest Gump to your heart’s content.