12 Locations from Elvis Presley Movies You Can Visit Today—a Florida Courthouse to a Beach in Hawaii
Learn how you can explore some of the spots seen in ‘Follow that Dream,’ ‘Blue Hawaii’ and more
Though Elvis Presley may be best known as the “King of Rock and Roll,” he spent more than a decade making movies too. From 1956 to 1969, he filmed 31 feature films—17 of which became box office top-ten hits. While many of the movies were shot in a studio, some were filmed on location in various states around the U.S. The good news: Plenty of these sites are still accessible to fans more than 50 years later. Keep reading to learn more about some of the real-life locations featured in Elvis Presley’s classic films that you can visit for yourself.
Arizona
Merry-Go-Round Rock in Sedona
The impressive sandstone formation was featured in the 1968 film Stay Away, Joe. You can access the vista via a short, easy trail but the road to get there does require a high-clearance vehicle or ATV to access.
The spot is perfect for admiring the red rock landscape from the vista, and later afternoon is supposed to be an especially great time to visit.
Cottonwood Hotel in Cottonwood
The historic hotel’s Robinson Clothier Western Wear Store can be spotted in the background of one of the movie’s scenes. It seems Presley enjoyed sporting cowboy western attire so much that he reportedly bought his own western wear from the shop and hotel owner.
Today you can book a room in one of the Cottonwood Hotel’s many themed suites, but there’s another way to explore it. The hotel offers personal tours ($50 per hour for two people), including an Elvis-specific tour that’s perfect for fans.
California
The Hidden Lodge in Idyllwild
Built in 1947, the lodge is one of the many local locations featured in the 1962 boxing film Kid Galahad. It’s also known as the spot where Presley sat on the porch and sang “This is Living.”
Tours have been given at the home in the past thanks to the Idyllwild Area Historical Society. Now the property is available as a rental unit and promises historical charm, forest views and an outdoor entertainment area for all who stay at the cabin.
Florida
Old Courthouse Heritage Museum in Inverness
In the summer of 1961, Presley’s movie Follow that Dream filmed a climactic scene inside the historic courthouse. The second-floor courtroom still looks exactly like it did during the movie’s final scenes, which often surprises guests. According to the museum’s website, when engineers and architects restored it in the 1990s, they used scenes and stills provided by MGM studios because there were no other historical photographs available of its original 1912 interior.
Today, visitors to this free museum can wander through three exhibitions covering more than 12,000 years of Citrus County and Florida history. The restored courtroom is also available for touring.
Follow that Dream Parkway in Yankeetown
Yankeetown was put on the map thanks to Follow That Dream. The area was pretty unspoiled when filming began and the crew turned it into a picturesque movie setting, reports the Daily Commercial. They added more than 40 palm trees and dumped 15,000 cubic yards of sand to create the look along the scenic highway.
In 1996, four Elvis fans convinced town officials to rename the major highway in honor of the film. Nearly 30 years later, you can walk along an adjacent bridge where Presley shot a fishing scene. There’s now a railing with an inscription that reads “Elvis sat here.”
Valerie Theatre in Inverness
Though no scenes were filmed at this historic 1920s theatre, it still has a special connection to Follow that Dream. During the filming of the movie, daily clips from the day were shown at the theater with Presley in attendance.
After 1987 the building remained vacant until it was purchased in 2009 and later reopened as the Valerie Theatre Cultural Center in 2015. It now shows movies, plays and other cultural events.
Hawaii
Hanauma Bay on Oahu
This picturesque spot (formed within a volcanic cone) was used for the beach scenes in Blue Hawaii when Presley’s character, Chad Gates, sings “No More” while strolling along the sand. It was voted best beach in the U.S. in 2016 and is a popular snorkeling spot. Those who wish to swim in the waters of the Hanauma Bay State Park are required to watch a short video to teach them about safety, park preservation and the marine life they may encounter.
Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu
During the 1965 filming of Paradise, Hawaiian Style, Elvis spent a week at the location. He reportedly transposed the center’s signature song “Bula Laie” into “Drums of the Island” for the movie’s production.
When you visit this attraction in Laie, you can explore six villages representing Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, Aotearoa, Tahiti and Tonga. There are luaus, cultural demonstrations, performers, buffets and more.
Lydgate Beach on Kauai
This picturesque park served as a stunning backdrop throughout much of Blue Hawaii. Located along the Wailua River, it’s known for its golden sand, calm water and rock-enclosed ponds. The adjacent park also features playgrounds, greenery and picnic tables.
Tantalus Lookout on Oahu
After a romantic picnic scene in Blue Hawaii, this awe-inspiring spot has only grown in popularity. You can find the lookout in the Puu Ualakaa State Park and enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Waikiki Skyline, Pearl Harbor and the Diamond Head volcano cove.
Nevada
Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas
The hotel played a large role in the 1964 film Viva Las Vegas after Presley’s character, Lucky, meets Rusty (played by Ann-Margret) by the Flamingo pool. The original hotel opened in 1947 as a three-story hotel and later had a 28-story addition completed after it was bought by the Hilton Hotels Corporation in the early 1970s.
The last remaining structure from the original hotel was demolished in 1993, but there is now a 15-acre pool area that even features flamingos.
Lake Mead Recreation Area in Boulder City
Ann-Margret’s character in the movie lived in a fictional home in the area that is actually the real Las Vegas Boat Harbor and marina office. You can still see the exterior structures today.
This national recreation area is open year-round and features canyons, valleys, mountains and two reservoirs. It’s the perfect place for hiking, boating, camping and more.
Little Church of the West in Paradise
The charming venue was the site of the nuptials between Presley and Margaret’s characters in Viva Las Vegas. The church was created to be a replica of a typical church in pioneer times and is the oldest building on the Las Vegas Strip.
Weddings are still performed there regularly, and you can even have an Elvis impersonator perform your ceremony as part of your chosen package.
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