The surprising destination in the United States where you can visit famous movie sets (and it’s not New York)

Extraordinary landscapes have always inspired great stories.

A magnet for the spirit of travelers and the hearts of locals, the state of Utah holds several records that can be translated into numbers: it has five iconic national parksnine national monuments, 44 state parks, 15 world-renowned ski resorts24 international “dark sky” parks and sites, 28 scenic byways, and many other lesser-known scenic destinations.

For all this and much more, the state of Utah, in the central western United States, was chosen time and again by Hollywood to film series and movies in its natural locations.

So many blockbusters have been filmed in these red lands with imposing walls that throughout 2024, 100 years will be celebrated since the premiere of the first films filmed in Utah: The Covered Wagon (The covered wagon) and The Deadwood Coach (Deadwood Coach), two silent westerns from the 1920s.

In that direction, the Utah Office of Tourism is celebrating, together with the local Film Commission, the “100 Years of Utah Film and Television”.

“Over the last century, our landscapes have sparked the imaginations of some of the world’s greatest storytellers and have also inspired many to see these places for themselves. The 2024 celebration is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate not only the iconic film and television moments that were made in Utah, but also the people and places behind those moments,” said Virginia Pearce, Director of the Film Commission of Utah.

At the same time, upon the 50th anniversary of that commission – it was established around 1974 – there will be exhibitions, events and film screenings throughout the state throughout the year.

With various itineraries and celebrations, the place invites travelers to discover why it is said that Utah is “America’s movie set”.

Below, a review of the most emblematic films filmed in these latitudes and where to see the most famous scenes.

In the western desert area of ​​Utah soon appear the turquoise waters of the Great Salt Lake, the Rocky Mountains with snow-capped peaks and a white blanket of salt: the Bonneville Salt Flats. Precisely in this salt flat, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) landed with his Black Pearl in Pirates of the Caribbean: At the end of the world.

In turn, in Independence Daythe grumpy Captain Hiller (Will Smith) was dragged along with an unconscious alien while en route to Area 51. And the sequel, which takes place 20 years later, Independence Day: Resurgencewas also filmed in this arid landscape.

From Bonneville Salt Flats, it’s only 10 minutes to Wendover, where its airfield overflows with cinematic history. scenes of Independence Day, Jurassic Park III and the film adaptation of Hulk from 2003 were filmed at this historic World War II outpost, as well as the action thriller Con Airstarring Nicholas Cage.

The fame of the city of Moab It comes from a long time ago, because it is among the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

It all started in 1949, when it became the setting for renowned westerns of the time and director John Ford filmed his film classics. big River y Wagon Master (Caravan of brave men). Then, the Moab Film Commission, considered the oldest in the world, was founded.

At the main gate of the city is the Arches National Park, one of the most spectacular landscapes in the country, with more than 2,000 stone arches. A simple walk is enough to reach the stage where it began Indiana Jones and the last crusade. Fans of the saga will soon recognize the cave from which young Indiana (River Phoenix) ran to save the Coronado Cross from treasure hunters.

Not far from the park entrance, in Courthouse Towers, friends Thelma and Louise (Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon), who were under suspicion of murder and armed robbery, were being detained by a police officer. In that scene Thelma locked the police officer in the trunk of the car, after Louise took the gun from her.

La road movie de 1991 Thelma & Louise delighted audiences around the world, with an inspiring and heartbreaking story that led its protagonists to flee the law, embarking on a road trip through natural landscapes and wild deserts.

Although they supposedly went from Arkansas to Arizona, much of the film was filmed in Utah. Therefore, fans of Thelma & Louise They will be able to see the places where the memorable moments of the film took place, “with hiking boots, a sun hat and a vintage convertible as an option,” according to what they say on the spot.

As for the shocking final scene in which they both hold hands and jump into the void with their car, they are actually in Fossil Point, Dead Horse Point State Park. It can be reached from the west through Canyonlands National Park, or from the east via State Route 279 and San Juan County Route 142, also called Shafer Trail or Potash Road. The place is even identified on Google Maps as “Thelma & Louise Point.”

Dead Horse Point State Park also serves as a backdrop in an episode of the series. Westworld from HBO, in the pilot of MacGyver and when Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) climbs the rocks at the beginning of Mission: Impossible 2 until you find yourself facing an incredible panorama.

Along the Colorado River, at Red Cliffs Lodge, John Wayne stayed and many Western movies were filmed. Visitors can explore the Moab Western Heritage and Film Museum, featuring posters, memorabilia and props from filming over the decades.

Once you leave the rugged Rocky Mountains behind, the landscape to the south seems like something from another planet: it is the volcanic field of San Rafael Swella geological formation with gorges hundreds of meters deep in the rock.

Some scenes of Star Trek of 2009 were filmed around Three Fingers Canyon, while the parody Galaxy Quest came to life in Goblin Valley State Parkwhere figures eroded by wind and water predominate.

In these lands of coyotes and rattlesnakes, the Navajo Tribal Park of Monument Valley is perhaps the most famous star of film locations: not only was it the setting for numerous westerns, Transformers y back to the future 3but at mile 13 of Highway 163, south of Mexican Hat, Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) decided to go home and stop running. There is a “Forrest Gump Point” there to take photos.

In it Lake Powell and Padre Bay two famous forced landings were filmed: that of Charlton Heston in Planet of the Apes and Sandra Bullock’s in Gravity.

And when Hollywood discovered southern Utah in the 1930s, Kanab It became one of the central locations: more than 200 westerns, feature films and television series were filmed there, earning it the title of “Little Hollywood.”

Towards the end of the tour, the Zion National Park and the Grafton ghost town They were key in the classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidwith the duo of Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

The latter fell in love with the landscapes of Utah, to the point that he bought a ski resort at the foot of Mount Timpanogos, transformed it into Sundance Mountain Resort and established the Sundance Film Festival. Most screenings take place in Park City y Salt Lake City.

In addition to its natural beauties, Utah has two schools that served as the setting for super-famous movies: in East High it was filmed High School Musical by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, while in Payson High School it was rolled Footloose with Kevin Bacon as the protagonist, who visited weeks ago on the 40th anniversary of filming.