Dirty Dancing Lord of the Rings
In the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the Mountain Lake Lodge hotel is the ideal location to have the time of your life.
Rewind to the summer of 1963, “before President Kennedy was shot, before the Beatles came” and stay in Baby’s Cabin where Jennifer Grey gave her tearful “sorry I lied” speech. The newly renovated three-bedroom Virginia Cottage sleeps 10 and overlooks the hotel’s lake.
Contrary to popular belief, the water here was never used to film Johnny and Baby’s lift practise scenes for the 1987 flick – they were shot in Lake Lure in North Carolina.
Fans can also mambo in their dancing shoes when the hotel morphs into the film’s Kellerman’s resort for its Dirty Dancing Themed Weekends, available to book for 2021 (June 25-27, July 30-August 1, August 27-29).
There’s a full itinerary of Dirty Dancing activities including a DD-inspired scavenger hunt and quiz, group and private dance lessons plus dance parties in the barn. You can even create your own happy ending and tie the knot in the gazebo used for one of Penny’s dance classes.
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When movie maker Sir Peter Jackson sent a team of location scouts on the hunt for rolling hills and green pastures to feature in the epic fantasy adventure, an aerial search over the mountains and valleys of New Zealand revealed the Alexander farm, a 1,250-acre sheep farm in lush Waikato.
Bearing a striking similarity to The Shire, as described by JRR Tolkien, the hometown of the novel’s Hobbit heroes was created, with 39 temporary Hobbit holes.
After an initial attempt at demolition, 17 bare plywood facades remained, which became the catalyst for the guided tours beginning in 2002.
In 2009, Jackson returned to The Hobbit Trilogy and he left behind the beautiful movie set, which became the tourist attraction that still stands today. It features 44 permanent Hobbit holes and The Green Dragon Inn, which was opened in 2012, is the finale to the $89 two-hour fan tours.
hobbitontours.com