2023-12-08 07:22:35
The silver screen loves Colorado’s soaring peaks, rushing rivers and historical trains. From laugh-out-loud comedies to old-fashioned Westerns, walk in the footsteps of some of Hollywood’s greats on your next trip. Furious 7 If you too were shocked, awed and amazed at the airdrop scene in “Furious 7” — the one where Vin Diesel and crew reversed out of an airplane, hurtled through the air, pulled parachutes and landed cars onto a mountain road — you weren’t the only one. You can drive that same stretch of road up to Pikes Peak, near Colorado Springs. Once you’re at the top, take in those fourteener (mountains over 14,000 feet) views and enjoy the world-famous doughnuts. Continue following their high-speed chase through nearby Woodland Park, where downtown Bergstrom Park provides an excellent vista of America’s Mountain. The Hateful Eight The towering and jagged San Juan Mountains are inspirational for anyone, but especially Quentin Tarantino when he was scouting for “The Hateful Eight.” Just outside of Victorian-era Telluride, those snowy scenes were filmed on the surrounding fourteeners and along the San Miguel River. Be sure to visit Telluride Elks Park, where Tarantino and Samuel L. Jackson took part in a ceremonial burning of the skis — a local ritual to bring more snow. Gossip blogs say the cast and crew enjoyed meals at 221 South Oak and Allred’s Restaurant, went ice skating in Town Park and got zen at nearby Orvis Hot Springs. The Shining & Dumb and Dumber Looking to be spooked? Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining after a one-night stay at The Stanley Hotel, just down the road from Rocky Mountain National Park’s entrance. Take the tour to see The Shining Suite, the lovingly re-created bathroom and an ax from the film. And while no one enjoys being stood up, recreate the iconic “Dumb and Dumber” scene where Lloyd (Jim Carrey) is waiting for his dream girl at Cascades Whiskey Bar. Order an ice-cold Coors Light or a Stanley Old Fashioned — it is a whiskey bar, after all. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid The stunning backdrop of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” train robbery scenes can be in your photo album if you ride the 1882 Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. You’ll cross Animas Canyon in style, with the echoes of the steam whistle as you unwind in nature — there’s no Wi-Fi on this 3.5-hour journey (both ways) so it’ll feel like you’re part of the Western. The railroad also does event excursions like a fall photo special, “The Polar Express”-style holiday rides and brew trains. True Grit For six weeks, a film crew turned the center of Ridgway into an 1880s Western set for the John Wayne-classic “True Grit.” The firehouse is now an art studio and, on Clinton Street, see Rooster Cogburn’s residence. At the Ouray County Ranch History Museum, visit the jail wagon the character brought back. True Grit Cafe is the ultimate end to your trip. It’s festooned with actor and movie memorabilia. A mural, Chamber’s Staple & Fancy Groceries, from the feature was preserved as the restaurant was built around it. Wear your cowboy hat and order the “Grit” sandwich, it’s their famous chicken-fried steak triple stacked on a brioche bun topped with bacon and white gravy. Thelma & Louise Put the top down, play some ’90s tunes and feel the wind in your hair like “Thelma & Louise,” and head toward Unaweep Canyon (near Gateway) on the Unaweep Tabeguache scenic and historic byway. Translated from Ute, its name means “Canyon with Two Mouths,” and it’s the only canyon in the world where the creeks flow out in opposite directions. It offers some of the best granite climbing outside of Yosemite. Constructed in 1882, the Bedrock Store is also featured in the flick. Snap some photos of you and your friends pretending to be on the lam — oversized sunglasses and headscarves required! South Park Denverites can tell you stories of childhood birthday parties at Casa Bonita restaurant; the same goes for Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of animated mainstay “South Park.” One episode finds Cartman on the run from the law inside the eatery. He takes part in all the activities, including snacking on sopapillas, sprinting through haunted Black Bart’s Cave and finally making his very own cliff dive — yes, the restaurant has a massive waterfall inside where trained cliff divers do shows. Make your own mad dash through the recently renovated space (with an updated menu) and catch the puppet show and mariachi band. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade In the opening scenes of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” a young Indy (played by River Phoenix) tussles with bad guys and escapes to a beige stucco house with green trim and a mailbox that reads, “Jones,” where his father (Sean Connery) sits inside reading. Today, the Antonito house looks identical to the way it appeared in the film. It’s now the Indiana Jones Bed & Breakfast, filled with Indiana Jones memorabilia. The B&B is a short walk from the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, where many of the train scenes took place. From late May to mid-October, you can shoot your own adventure scenes as the train traverses stunning wilderness areas. How the West Was Won, The Cowboys, The Searchers, Cat Ballou, The Naked Spur & More The Centennial State screams Old West vibes, which makes sense as to why more than a handful of the most famous Westerns have been filmed here. Feel like you’re James Stewart, Henry Fonda or Gregory Peck at one of the many dude ranches that call Colorado home. At some, you can get down and dirty with farm chores — like moving cattle and mending fences. At others, you can snack on bottomless cookies, raft through whitewater rapids and horseback ride across wide-open spaces. They all offer landscapes that look the same as they did in the 1800s, with rustic Western beauty. Find more filming locations on Colorado.com
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