The camp where fictional teenagers met their fate is a real working youth camp. The comic-book romance in Chasing Amy unfolded across actual Monmouth County diners, shops, parks and hotel corridors. And the magical carnival in Big was built for filming on a real Hudson River park site. For fans, such ordinary places can become something more: landmarks in a story they have carried with them for years.
New Jersey is formalizing that feeling as tourism. On September 30, the Division of Travel and Tourism announced three official Film Trails, developed with the state Motion Picture and Television Commission. The free online itineraries connect films and television productions with specific filming sites, scene explanations, maps and nearby ways to explore. Rather than a single continuous driving route, the three themed trails are collections of film-by-film trips spread across the state.
The premise raises a delightful question: When did visiting the location of a fictional event become a vacation? Perhaps the answer is that fans are not traveling to see fiction; they are traveling to see the real places that helped make those stories believable.
Below is a location-by-location guide to every production featured in the three inaugural trail pages, retaining the official trail stop order. Addresses are wayfinding references supplied by VisitNJ, not guarantees of public entry.
Trail one | Spooky season
Friday the 13th (1980)
Downtown Blairstown — 13 Main Street, Blairstown, NJ
Walk Annie’s route past the Old Mill arch, Main Street pedestrian bridge and the exterior at 26 Main Street, where townspeople warn her about “Camp Blood.”
Blairstown Diner — 53 NJ-94, Blairstown, NJ
Steve Christy’s coffee stop; a working diner and an easy anchor for a horror-fan outing.
Hope Moravian Cemetery — 354 High Street, Hope, NJ
The cemetery gate where Enos drops Annie off; remain respectful of the cemetery.
Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco / Crystal Lake Tours — Hardwick, NJ — booking and directions through tour organizer
The primary camp location, with recognizable cabins, lakefront, beach and finale sites. PRIVATE ACTIVE YOUTH CAMP: no walk-ins; admission only on scheduled guided tours.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/friday-13th
Crystal Lake (television series)
Rutt’s Hut — 417 River Road, Clifton, NJ
Historic hot-dog stand used for a roadside restaurant scene; the “ripper” is its signature.
Downtown Blairstown — Main Street, Blairstown, NJ
Downtown street scenes connect the prequel with the original film’s familiar geography.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/crystal-lake
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Georgian Court University — Sunken Garden — 900 Lakewood Avenue, Lakewood, NJ
Arboretum garden used as seminary grounds. Look into university visitor guidance and the garden’s self-guided tour map.
St. Peter Roman Catholic Church — 406 Forman Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Filmed as Father Delaney’s parish; adjacent rectory was used for his home. Active religious property: exterior viewing unless access is authorized.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/amityville-horror
I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
The Funplex — 182 Route 10, East Hanover, NJ
The family entertainment center used for Owen’s adult workplace and climactic sequences; entertainment admission may apply.
Keansburg Amusement Park — 275 Beachway Avenue, Keansburg, NJ
Owen and his mother walk through an eerily empty amusement park; seasonal operating hours apply.
The Saint (former live-music venue) — 601 Main Street, Asbury Park, NJ
The fictional Double Lunch bar and pivotal conversation scene. The Saint is no longer operating as a concert venue; exterior-viewing stop only.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/i-saw-tv-glow
Trail two | Holiday & family feel-good
Big (1988)
Palisades Interstate Park — Ross Dock Picnic Area — Henry Hudson Drive, Fort Lee, NJ
Site of the temporary carnival and Zoltar wish that transforms Josh. The carnival and fortune teller are not permanent attractions; park road access varies.
Garden State News — 666 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ
Neighborhood shop featured as young Josh and Billy encounter Cynthia and friends; confirm present-day business status before planning a stop.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/big
The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
Downtown Paterson — 155 Market Street, Paterson, NJ
New Jersey streets doubled for the church’s surrounding New York neighborhood.
Trinity United Methodist Church — 581 Clinton Avenue, Newark, NJ
Sanctuary sequences with Whitney Houston’s character and choir, including the Christmas Eve finale. Film’s church exteriors were shot in Yonkers, NY; respect current congregation and building access.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/preachers-wife
Annie (1982)
Monmouth University — Great Hall — 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ
Daddy Warbucks’ mansion inside and out; the pipe organ appears in the film. An active university building, not an open-access movie set.
Historic NX Drawbridge — 9 Passaic Avenue, Kearny, NJ
Abandoned railroad bridge setting of the rescue climax. DO NOT ENTER or attempt to climb rail infrastructure; treat as a distant exterior landmark.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/annie
The Family Stone (2005)
Drew University — Mead Hall — 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ
Historic campus building dressed as a town transit station; campus walks appear elsewhere in the film.
Downtown Madison — Waverly Place at Main Street; Green Village Road at Kings Road, Madison, NJ
New Jersey downtown dressed up to play a wintry New England hometown; a walkable shopping and streetscape visit.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/family-stone
The Perfect Holiday (2007)
The Mills at Jersey Gardens — 651 Kapkowski Road, Elizabeth, NJ
Shopping mall used for the Santa scenes central to the story; open commercial property.
Former Brummer’s Chocolates — 125 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ
Former chocolate shop used in a scene; the business closed in 2020. Enjoy downtown Westfield but do not expect the original shop.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/perfect-holiday
Trail three | Fall in love
Atlantic City (1980)
Resorts Casino Hotel — 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ
Where Sally’s casino work and blackjack-dealing ambitions were filmed; current casino age and admission policies apply.
Atlantic City Boardwalk — 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ
Walk where Lou and Sally appear. The Traymore Hotel demolition visible in the film is historic footage, not a surviving hotel.
Knife and Fork Inn — 3600 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ
Landmark restaurant used for Lou and Sally’s elegant meal; reservations advisable.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/atlantic-city
Big Night (1996)
Downtown Keyport — Front Street and Broad Street, Keyport, NJ
The streets and storefronts supply the 1950s atmosphere of the fictional restaurant neighborhood.
Chill Bar and Lounge / restaurant exterior — 32 Broad Street, Keyport, NJ
The exterior of the brothers’ Paradise restaurant. Its interiors were filmed separately on a set in New York.
Keansburg Beach — Main Street and Beachway Avenue, Keansburg, NJ
Site of the brothers’ emotional waterfront confrontation; accessible shore setting, subject to local conditions.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/big-night
Chasing Amy (1997)
Sunny Side Diner (formerly New Marina Diner) — 553 NJ-36, Belford, NJ
The famous Silent Bob “Amy” monologue; local business names changed over time.
Quick Stop — 58 Leonard Avenue, Leonardo, NJ
Exterior where Holden hears the story about Alyssa’s nickname, also an essential Clerks location. Working convenience store.
Victory Park — 1 Lafayette Street, Rumson, NJ
Swings and waterfront where Holden and Alyssa connect, with the Oceanic Bridge in the background.
Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel — 1401 Ocean Avenue North, Asbury Park, NJ
Hotel interiors became the comic convention where Holden meets Alyssa; current hotel access and event areas may be restricted.
The Ice Palace — 197 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick Township, NJ
Hockey-rink scene where Holden’s questions ignite the couple’s argument; check public-skating schedule before entering.
Official scene-by-scene itinerary: https://visitnj.org/trail-itinerary/chasing-amy
Make the visit: Crystal Lake Tours, October–November 2026
Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Hardwick is not a public park. Crystal Lake Tours says more than 80% of the original 1980 film was shot there. The organizer offers guided access only on scheduled dates, with admission benefiting camp preservation and youth programs.
As published October 10: Sunday October 11 lakefront tour, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., $99; Friday October 16 extended tour 12:30–4 p.m., $149, or lakefront tour/movie screening 6:30–11:30 p.m., $149; Saturday October 17 extended tours 12:30–4 p.m. and 1:30–5 p.m., $159, while the evening screening combo was listed sold out. November 13 extended tours 12:30–4, 1:30–5, 6:30–10 and 7:30–11 p.m., $169; November 14 extended tour 12:30–4 p.m., $159. Many departures were nearly sold out at the time of checking. Ages: generally 13+ for extended and screening tours, 8+ for Sunday lakefront tour, 21+ for VIP overnight.
Book and recheck availability at https://crystallaketours.com/visit/. Never turn up without a ticket or enter the active camp independently.
October film-trail sweepstakes
An Audacy promotion tied to the launch runs through October 29, with a winner selected October 30. The grand prize includes a Crystal Lake experience and an overnight New Jersey stay, plus related dining and attraction passes; a runner-up receives Six Flags Great Adventure passes. Check the official VisitNJ announcement for entry rules and eligibility. This promotional prize is separate from reserving a public camp tour.
How to plan a smarter film pilgrimage
Start with a single film rather than attempting the entire statewide network in one day. Blairstown, Hope and ticketed Hardwick make a natural Friday the 13th outing; Belford, Leonardo, Rumson, Asbury Park and Brick form a coastal Chasing Amy trip; Keyport and Keansburg pair well for Big Night.
Movie enthusiasts can also group the two Big stops in Bergen County or the Atlantic City locations on foot and by short local transfers.
The entries above are filming-site references, not blanket invitations to enter a university, church, private business, derelict bridge or working summer camp. Verify current access, parking, hours, seasonal conditions and accessibility with each venue.
Watch for historical name changes and scenes built on temporary sets: a famous prop or building may no longer exist. For driving navigation, use the official interactive maps at https://visitnj.org/film-trails.
A feature about film tourism is ultimately a feature about memory. A diner table, park swing or stretch of Main Street can come to mean something entirely different after it appears in a story that matters to a viewer. The new trails acknowledge that the backdrop has become part of the experience, and invite fans to discover the very real New Jersey beyond the frame.
Source directory
https://visitnj.org/film-trails
https://visitnj.org/spooky-season-trail
https://visitnj.org/holiday-family-feel-good-trail
https://visitnj.org/press/lights-camera-new-jersey-garden-state-launches-film-trails-explore-real-locations-behind