2 Oregon cities named among HGTV’s ‘must-visit’ movie sets in US
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – HGTV released a list of “must-visit” small-town movie sets in the United States, featuring two Oregon cities where award-winning movies were filmed.
With more than 500 films and TV shows shot in Oregon, HGTV’s Oregon picks included a city with plenty of outdoor activities and a set based on a mystery novella by a New York Times best-selling author.
The first Oregon city on HGTV’s list is St. Helens where some scenes for “Twilight” (2008) were filmed.
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“With its small-town feel, natural beauty and quaint parks, boutiques and eateries, St. Helens, Oregon, was a perfect stand-in for Forks, Washington,” HGTV said.
The list highlighted the Swan House, which is available on Airbnb with costumes and décor from the film.
The Swan House from “Twilight” is available on Airbnb with costumes and décor from the film (Courtesy City of St. Helens.) “Twilight” actors Maggie Grace, Jackson Rathbone, and Peter Facinelli at the Oregon Film Trail marker in St. Helens, Oregon, where scenes from their movie were filmed (Courtesy City of St. Helens.) The Bloated Toad Restaurant where “Twilight” was filmed in St. Helens, Oregon (Courtesy City of St. Helens.) A parking lot in St. Helens, Oregon where a “Twilight” scene was filmed, in which Bella is followed and Edward saves her (Courtesy City of St. Helens.) “Twilight” actors Maggie Grace, Jackson Rathbone, and Peter Facinelli at Spirit of Halloweentown – a festival in St. Helens, Oregon celebrating “all things spooky,” including films like “Halloweentown” and “Twilight,” which were filmed in the city (Courtesy City of St. Helens.)
HGTV added, “You’ll find more locations from this film about small-town life with vampires around the Pacific Northwest. Ramble through Silver Falls State Park, the setting for Bella’s ‘spider monkey; ride on Edward’s back.”
St. Helens is also home to the Spirit of Halloweentown festival in the fall — celebrating Disney Channel’s “Halloweentown,” (1998) “Twilight,” and “all things spooky.”
“Aside from its cinema magic, the small town of St. Helens, (pop. 14,015), is a great place to hike, fish and kayak,” HGTV added.
Brownsville, Oregon was also featured in the “must-visit” list for “Stand By Me” (1986) inspired by Stephen King’s novella, “The Body.”
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“King said he drew on his Maine childhood for this story about four boys whose lives change one summer in fictional Castle Rock, Oregon,” HGTV explained. “The small town of Brownsville, Oregon, (pop. 1,700) was transformed for the movie, set in 1959. You can still see a Coca-Cola sign painted for the film on the exterior of the 1903 Bank of Brownsville on Main Street.”
Filming locations included the Calapooia River Bridge on Main Street, The Brownsville Saloon, and Pioneer Park.
Brownsville is home to Stand By Me Day, held on July 23. HGTV said past Stand By Me Days included guided walking tours of film locations, featuring vintage car displays.
Other cities on HGTV’s list include film locations for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” in Sylva, North Carolina, the “Forrest Gump” set in Savannah, Georgia, and “Independence Day,” shot in Rachel, Nevada.
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