‘Dawson’s Creek,’ ‘One Tree Hill’ and More Filming Locations: Check Out the North Carolina Destinations Seen In Your Favorite TV Shows, Movies

Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock

'Dawson’s Creek,' 'One Tree Hill' and More Filming Locations: Check Out the North Carolina Destinations Seen In Your Favorite TV Shows, Movies

Reel talk! North Carolina may be known for its unmatched coastline, the Blue Ridge mountains and Cheerwine, but it’s also the backdrop of some of your favorite movies and television shows. It wasn’t always that way, however. The Tar Heel state — once home to celebrities including Julianne Moore, Zach Galifianakis and Michael C. Hall — became a coveted spot for cinema crews in 1983. Producers found Wilmington while scouting locations for Firestarter starring Drew Barrymore. The rest, as they say, is history. Since then, Wilmington, Southport, Outer Banks and New Bern have provided idyllic settings for everything from cult classics — including I Know What You Did Last Summer and A Walk to Remember — to fan favorite TV shows Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Here’s your definitive guide to filming locations around North Carolina:

Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock

'Dawson’s Creek,' 'One Tree Hill' and More Filming Locations: Check Out the North Carolina Destinations Seen In Your Favorite TV Shows, Movies

Reel talk! North Carolina may be known for its unmatched coastline, the Blue Ridge mountains and Cheerwine, but it’s also the backdrop of some of your favorite movies and television shows. It wasn’t always that way, however. The Tar Heel state — once home to celebrities including Julianne Moore, Zach Galifianakis and Michael C. Hall — became a coveted spot for cinema crews in 1983. Producers found Wilmington while scouting locations for Firestarter starring Drew Barrymore. The rest, as they say, is history. Since then, Wilmington, Southport, Outer Banks and New Bern have provided idyllic settings for everything from cult classics — including I Know What You Did Last Summer and A Walk to Remember — to fan favorite TV shows Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Here’s your definitive guide to filming locations around North Carolina:

Credit: Frank Ockenfels/Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

Welcome to Wilmington, A.K.A. Hollywood East

If you’re a fan of Dawson’s Creek — which celebrated the 20th anniversary of its series finale on May 14 — it’s likely you’re already familiar with the charming city known as Wilmywood and Hollywood East. Though New Bern native Kevin Williamson’s series was set in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, the teen drama was actually filmed in Wilmington for the majority of the WB show’s six seasons.

Countless scenes were filmed along Market Street, Water Street and the Wilmington Riverwalk featuring Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) and Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams) strolling, having intellectual chats and, at times, sharing emotional moments. (For instance, Pacey and Meredith Monroe's Andie McPhee shared their first kiss at Riverfront Park in season 2.)

Other projects that have filmed on location in Wilmington and at EUE/Screen Gems Studio include Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Eastbound & Down, Halloween Kills, We’re The Millers and Iron Man 3. (Dawson’s alum Joshua Jackson is currently filming Ava DuVernay’s upcoming Starz series in Wilmington, too!)

Credit: Youtube (2)

'Dawson's Creek' - Joey's Wall

If you’ve always wanted to see the iconic brick wall a smitten Pacey “gifts” to Joey in season 3 (and later, paints “Ask Me To Stay”) — you’re in luck: It still stands across the street from Reel Café. A few steps away, Michael's Waterfront Restaurant — known as Leery’s Fresh Fish, owned by Mitch (John Wesley Shipp) and Gail Leery (Mary-Margaret Humes) — overlooks the water. Other notable locations include Airlie Gardens, where Joey and Dawson’s dream wedding sequence filmed, and The Ability Garden, where Jen bids farewell in the series finale. 

After Dawson’s Creek wrapped in 2003, another teen drama began filming in Wilmington. One Tree Hill — starring Chad Michael Murray (Lucas Scott), James Lafferty (Nathan Scott), Sophia Bush (Brooke Davis), Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley James) and Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer) — shot many scenes in the same locations previously seen in Dawson’s Creek.  

Credit: Youtube

'Dawson's Creek,' 'One Tree Hill' - Hell's Kitchen

Hell’s Kitchen, which served as Mollye’s Market in Dawson’s Creek, was later turned into One Tree Hill’s Swinging Donkey Bar. (Fun fact: Joey’s rowboat hangs on the wall today!) Blue Post Billiards, where Lucas and Brooke played pool on their first date in season 1, was also a backdrop in Dawson’s Creek. The exterior of Black Cat Shoppe served as the Capeside CD Shop in season 4 — when Sasha Alexander’s Gretchen Witter and Dawson are handed a flyer for the rave where Andie takes ecstasy — and as Tree Hill Records in One Tree Hill.      

Credit: Youtube ; Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

'One Tree Hill' - Harry Forden Bridge

You don’t need to know how to dribble a basketball to head over to the historic North 6th Street/Harry Forden Bridge, the same one seen in the intro of One Tree Hill. Reel Café served as Carl’s Crab Shack, where Brooke dressed up as a lobster while doing PR in season 2. The “Naley” bench — where Nathan confidently tells Haley, “Don’t say I never gave you anything,” before handing over a bracelet from a Cracker Jack box in season 1 — can be found on the Riverwalk.  

Credit: Prime Video ; Shutterstock

'The Summer I Turned Pretty' - Papercut Books

You won’t be able to visit Cousins Beach — the fictional town in Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty — but loyal fans of Jenny Han and Lola Tung’s Belly can still get their fix in Wilmington. Whale of a Tale Bookshop, where Laurel (Jackie Chung) hosts a book party in season 1, was set at Papercut Books, an Insta-worthy independent bookstore downtown.  

Credit: Youtube

'The Summer I Turned Pretty' - Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington

Cape Fear Country Club stood in as the country club where Gavin Casalegno’s Jeremiah worked — and where the debutante balls were held in in the coming-of-age drama. Steps away from the renowned property stands Capt'n Bill's Backyard Grill & Volleyball Facility, where Belly and her fellow debutantes host a game of volleyball in the name of charity in season 1. In season 1, Belly also searches for dresses for the debutante ball at the Blush Haus of Beauté, however, the exterior shot was filmed at Pipton while the interior was filmed at Camille’s of Wilmington. 

Credit: Shutterstock (2) ; Youtube

Seek Out Southport

Less than an hour away from Wilmington stands the coastal city of Southport. The seaside town is known for its massive Oak Trees, Victorian homes and gorgeous views of the Cape Fear River. The Secret Life of Bees, Crimes of the Heart, I Know What You Did Last Summer, A Walk to Remember and Weekend at Bernie’s are just a few titles that have filmed here.

Credit: Youtube (2)

'Safe Haven' - Ports of Call

Southport was a key location in 2013’s Safe Haven starring Josh Duhamel (Alex Wheatley) and Julianne Hough (Katie Feldman). Ports of Call served as the site of Katie and Alex’s romantic date, while Wildlife Restaurant and Grill stood in as the spot where the pair seek reprieve from a storm. The exterior of Alex’s quaint home is located right off of Yacht Basin, where Ryan’s market was located.

Credit: Youtube ; Cover Images

'Safe Haven,' 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' - American Fish Company

American Fish Company served as Ivan’s Shack, where Katie works, in Safe Haven. I Know What You Did Last Summer — starring Jennifer Love Hewitt (Julie James), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Ray Bronson), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Helen Shivers) and Ryan Phillippe (Barry William Cox) — also filmed scenes at the open deck bar, which is near the same property that served as the exterior of Julie’s home.       

Credit: Prime Video ; Youtube ; Shutterstock

'Dawson's Creek,' 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' - Yacht Basin

Yacht Basin, a scenic road hosting an array of seafood spots, was the backdrop for several projects — and also where Pacey Witter docked his boat, the True Love. Fishy Fishy Restaurant was used for both Revenge (known as Stowaway Tavern) and as the gym where Barry works out before getting harassed in IKWYDLS. Amuzu Theater, also known as Southport Community Theatre, served as the location where Barry meets his grisly end in IKWYDLS, too.

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Odyssey to the Outer Banks

Wilmington and Southport aren’t the only locations that have provided an ideal setting for projects. If you’re in the mood for romance, look no further than Rodanthe, located on Hatteras Island in the dreamy OBX — the same barrier islands that inspired the hit Netflix series, Outer Banks. The exterior of the inn made famous in 2008’s Nights in Rodanthe starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane are actually of The Inn at Rodanthe, formerly known as Serendipity. (The beachfront property was relocated in 2010 after it ended up in the Atlantic Ocean.) The film, based on Nicholas Sparks’ love story by the same name, also filmed on the Hatteras Island Fishing Pier.  

Credit: Youtube (2)

Admire New Bern

New Bern has become synonymous with Nicholas Sparks' novels: The Notebook, A Bend in the Road, The Wedding and The Return include mentions of legendary locations including Masonic Theater, Union Point Park and The Harvey, just to name a few. The historic Tyron Palace (known as Governor’s Palace), the Stanley House and Dixon House also served as shooting locations for the season 2 finale of Fox’s Sleepy Hollow.