City of Weirton Looking for a unique way to spend a long weekend? Head to Weirton, West Virginia, the small-town setting for “Super 8”. A perfect fit for this sci-fi film set in the 1970’s, the town welcomed director J.J. Abrams and made Hollywood feel at home. Recently, OnLocationVacations.com put “Super 8” on its list of the top five most travel-inspiring movies of 2011.
Watch the movie, and take a look around town at some of the most memorable scene settings:
Weirton’s Main Street became the principal setting of the movie. One of the scenes filmed there was the car dealership scene where a car salesman is telling the deputy that engine parts under the hood are missing in all of his cars.
One of the final scenes where the deputy, Joe, Alice and her father are watching the phenomenon going on at the water tower was also filmed on Main Street.
Weirton Electrical Supply (located at 3061 Main Street) was transformed into the Olson Camera Store, a dream hangout for the young filmmakers in town.
The neighborhood on Avenue F in Weirton was the setting for Alice's home. It was here that Joe went to see Alice, only to be confronted by Alice's angry father.
Weirton Heights was another main location in the film since it housed the homes of Joe and Charles. This neighborhood was also the setting for the action scenes involving armored military units.
Cathy's Pies and Sandwiches, a local deli/restaurant at 3073 Main Street, had an important scene in the movie when it stood in for the diner where the kids shared a meal together. Cathy Adams, owner of Cathy’s Pies and Sandwiches said the interior of her store already has the 1970s look. Paramount repainted the exterior of the building and added extra booths for seating in the restaurant. Another local business owner, Karen Kruger of Mystic Mountain Crafts, a local arts & crafts store at 3053 Main Street, also allowed her three storefronts to be altered for Super 8. The three storefronts are connected on the inside, but to create the 1979 setting Paramount made them look like three different stores (a women's fashion store, pawn shop and a hobby shop).
DeStefano's Spaghetti House & Restaurant, 545 Main Street, Follansbee, played a small part at the beginning of the movie. It was in this restaurant that Joe and his father were discussing Joe attending summer camp instead of making zombie movies.
If you’re planning a trip to West Virginia and would like to visit the filming locations of Super 8, The Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center has compiled a list of the film locations:
- Weirton Millsop Community Center, 3420 Main Street: holding site for extras and storage.
- 3000 Block of Main Street: numerous scenes near bus terminal, camera shop, diners, auto sales lot, and more, including battle scenes and fictional water tower.
- Taylor Avenue, Orchard and Elm Streets: car crash and evacuation scenes.
- ArcelorMittal, Main Street: doubled for Lillian Steel Company as backdrop in various scenes.
- Weir Avenue, Mendel Street, and Sharp Street: montage of scenes, including boy searchingn for dog.
- Tri-State Church of God, 3519 West Street: exterior doubled for Lillian Town Hall.
- Salvation Army Church, 794 Cove Road: interior doubled for Lillian Town Hall.
- Marland Heights Community Church, 3900 Brightway Street: exterior doubled for Lillian Middle School, located next to ball field.
- Marland Heights Deli, 3815 Brightway Street: doubled for 7-Eleven convenience store.
- Weirton Heights neighborhood of South 17th, South 20th, Mineral Avenue, and South 22nd Street: house explosion, houses on fire, playground, evacuation and tank battle scenes.
- Weirton Heights neighborhood of South 22nd Street, and alley way between Wayne Street and Mineral Avenue: battle and evacuation scenes.
- Saint Paul's Cemetery, South 24th and Greenbrier Streets.
- Neighborhood of Fernwood Avenue and Crystal Lane: Joe's and Charles' homes.
- Neighborhood of Avenue F: Alice's home overlooking steel mill.
- Intersection of Shepard Valley Road and Murray Road near Tomlinson Run State Park, New Manchester region: hillside overlooking train crash site.
- Along Route 2, between Cabot Lane, 2 miles north of the Route 2 - Route 8 intersection, and Roadside Park, 4 miles north: evacuation sequence, including the Cowl Farm.
- Wylie Ridge Road, New Cumberland: town evacuation sequences.
- DeStefano's Spaghetti House & Restaurant, 545 Main Street, Follansbee: scene with father and son conversation.
- Wheeling-Ohio County Airport, Rural Route 5 - Box 5 and Girty's Point, Brooke County: doubled as military compound.
Some of the above locations are on private property and unavailable to the public. Please contact or visit the Top of WV Convention and Visitors Bureau to help arrange tours.
You can also check out Super 8 Behind the Scenes here.