Friday the 13th (2009)

Almost thirty years after the massacre at Camp Crystal Lake, a group of unsuspecting teenagers are in search of marijuana growing nearby.  All but one are quickly decimated by a hooded Jason Voorhees.  Weeks later, Clay Miller is in search of his missing sister and runs into another group of unsuspecting teenagers vacationing at a cabin.  Jason, now donning his signature hockey mask, disposes of them in his signature fashion.  Clay eventually finds his sister Whitney, who has been held hostage in Jason's lair.  They ban together, and with the help of a little child psychology, Jason succumbs to his own machete, with the little help of a wood chipper.  Or so we thought.  

Though my heart belongs to Halloween (1978) and its franchise (mostly), there's no argument that the original Friday the 13th (1980) is a classic.  I hated all the other horror reboots released around that time, particularly
Halloween (2007), but I'm probably one of five people who didn't hate this one.  The characters were annoying but I liked how the film encompassed elements of the first four Friday films, which in my opinion, are the best. And bonus points for having a Jason that runs.  The movie had a killer ;-) opening weekend at the box office, but also had one of the steepest second week drop offs in cinematic history thanks to word of mouth.  But hey, it's still better than Jason Goes to Hell.

Friday the 13th was filmed in Bastrop, Austin, Wimberley and Round Rock, TX


Location: Camp Crystal Lake
Address: 785 FM 1441, Bastrop, TX   Lake Bastrop

This is not the exact spot of filming, but it gives you an idea...

Knowing a Friday the 13th movie was filmed here, would you camp out?

Location: The Gas Station
Address: 11606 FM 1826, Austin TX

At the time of filming, this was Bubba's Country Store.  It has since changed businesses over the last few years and is currently undergoing renovations to become a bar...

Location: Clay Gets Pulled Over
Address: 1370 Chestnut Street, Bastrop, TX

Location: Trent's House
Address: 1190 Red Hawk Road, Wimberley, TX

Location: The Barn
Address: 180 Harrell Parkway, Round Rock, TX

Normally I visit locations during the daylight hours but I wasn't sure I'd have time to come back before my flight the next day.  Turns out I did but I had fun checking this place out with Paul Slattery at Then & Now Movie Locations...

Locations Visited: October 2019

Related Locations:

Friday the 13th (1980), Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), Friday the 13th Part III (1982), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985), Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986), Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988), Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

Locations Master List

The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976)

Spirits were high in Texarkana following World War II, until a couple was attacked at lovers' lane by a man wearing a hood.  Three weeks later, another couple are found murdered, sending shockwaves throughout the once serene town.  Now dubbed the Phantom Killer, it's up to Sherriff Barker and criminal investigator J.D. Morales to track him down.  They eventually do, but the Phantom Killer is able to escape, never to be caught.

The Town That Dreaded Sundown is loosely based on The Texarkana Moonlight Murders which took place in the spring of 1946.  Five out of the eight people attacked were killed.  At sundown, terrified residents barricaded themselves in their homes, armed with guns.  The Phantom Killer was never captured but was believed to be Youell Swinney. The film received mix reviews upon release and certainly drags in places, but is still worth a watch.  The Phantom Killer is noted for being a clothing trendsetter for future mass murderer Jason Voorhees. 

Visiting the part of Texarkana where filming took place was like stepping back in time, similar to my trek to Loleta, CA for Halloween III: Season of The Witch (1982).  I dreaded ;-) the drive to and from during my stay in Dallas, but it was definitely worth it.  Not much had changed and there was a very creepy feeling as practically no one was around.  As you'll see in the photos, the buildings of the town are quite dilapidated so if you're thinking of checking out the locations, I would get thee to Texarkana.

The Town That Dreaded Sundown was filmed in Texarkana, TX, Texarkana, AR and Shreveport, LA


Location: The Train Station
Address: 100 E Front Street, Texarkana, AR  Union Station

Location: The Hotel  

Address: 101 W Front Street, Texarkana, AR

Location: The Police Station

Address: 100 E Front Street, Texarkana, AR

The police station is connected to the train station...

Location: The Paramount Theatre
Address: 101 W Front Street, Texarkana, AR

Location: The College Auditorium
Address: 2500 N Robison Road, Texarkana, TX   Texarkana College

The building seen in the film was torn down...

Location: The Church
Address: W 14th Street & Bowie Street, Texarkana, TX

Another location that is no longer...

Location: The Cemetery
Address: 5399 Mandeville Road, Texarkana, AR

East Memorial Gardens Cemetery

Location: The Prom
Address: 601 Locust Street, Texarkana, AR

Location: The Trombone Murder
Address: 4303 N Park Road, Texarkana, TX  Spring Lake Park

This is not the exact area where the scenes were filmed but it gives you an idea.  One of the actual murders took place nearby...

Location: Palmer's Grocery & Meats
Address: 1738 W 7th Street, Texarkana, TX

Originally I thought this location might be in Shreveport, LA.  It turns out it is actually located in Texarkana.  Thank you to Matthew Dainey Carson for this information.  Here are a few shots from Google...

Thanks to GrahmsGuide for providing information on several locations.


Locations Visited: October 2019

Locations Master List