Sometimes we take a break from our typical outdoor hiking and nature camping vacations to take a theme based road trip based on film locations from our favorite movies! We’ve seen film location attractions from Twilight, Goonies, Jurassic Park, Somewhere in Time and more! So grab some popcorn, pop in a marathon of the Ghostbusters movies, and head out to see these famous Ghostbusters filming locations in the USA! Shop Ghostbusters gear on Etsy!
Filming for the original Ghostbusters movie actually started in 1983 and was released the next year making an iconic splash for decades! They were on a serious time constraint. The filming was filmed in split locations and was filmed both in New York City (4 weeks) and in Los Angeles (9 weeks). Below you can find a map, Ghostbusters filming locations, tips and more to relive one of your favorite films from the past! PLUS other great places to see in the nearby area!
The inspiration behind the original Ghostbusters film:
After all these years I never know about the inspiration behind the original Ghostbusters film! Dan Aykroyd drew his inspiration for Ghostbusters from his family legacy – no really! Aykroyd’s great-grandfather was a famous spiritualist and psychic investigator, his grandfather investigated contacting the dead via radio technology using a high-vibration crystal radio, his mother claimed to have seen a ghost and his father had an extensive library of research on the history of ghosts. It was literally in his family DNA! Aykroyd loved the idea of modernizing comedic ghost films similar to Abbott and Costello and Bob Hope.
DID YOU KNOW??? – Our favorite famous ghost Slimer actually didn’t receive that name until after the film came out. The green slimy ghost was referred to as “Onion Head” while filming!
Ghostbusters Filming Locations in New York City, New York:
Some of the most iconic Ghostbusters filming locations were taken in New York City, New York. But several of the iconic locations were only filmed from the exterior of the building in New York City and filmed in Los Angeles for the interior shots. While you’re in New York check out these things to do in New York!
Map of the Original Ghostbusters Filming Locations in NY:
Above is a handy fan-made Ghostbusters tour location map made for New York. Just zoom in and touch a ghost for more information!
Weaver Hall – the Department of Parapsychology:
The journey begins when Stantz, Venkman, Spengler, professors in the department of Parapsychology at Weaver Hall (all fictional of course) were fired. Although Weaver Hall isn’t a real place, the scenes were filmed at Columbia University. You can see the exact locations from the Low Memorial Library at 535 W. 116th St. as well as just outside Havemeyer Hall at 1180 Amsterdam Avenue. Also pass by the Upper Quadrangle of the campus, north of College Walk, between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway on West 114th and West 120th Streets (also seen in Spider-Man!).
The Ghostbusters Loan Office:
Ah yes, the short but vital loan office scene where the Ghostbusters begged for a business loan to get started. This is at the US Manhattan City Bank, opposite of the New York Public Library, at 489 5th Avenue.
The Famous Firehouse:
The mecca of all ghost busting plans is of course the famous firehouse that the four original ghostbusters – Peter Vankman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Akyroyd), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) – rented and turned into their headquarters. The movie only used the exterior of the Hook and Ladder 8 (a real functioning firehouse!) found at 14 N. Moore St.
In fact the firehouse even sports Ghostbusters branding and signed posters welcoming visitors when possible. The interior scenes of the Ghostbusters headquarters was actually filmed in Los Angeles (see below) as the Hook and Ladder 8 was too active in their real work!
The Haunted Library:
The haunted library is another popular spot in the film which had split filming locations in both New York and Los Angeles. The exterior of the New York Public Library – Main Branch (also used in Spider-Man!) can be found on 5th Avenue at 42nd Street. (the interior library scenes was filmed in LA – see below)
Dana’s Apartment:
And who can forget Dana’s apartment? Central mecca to all sorts of weirdness! You can see a portion of the apartment building at 55 Central Park West but the top of the apartment building (you didn’t really think they blew up an apartment building did you?), also referenced in the film as The Shandor, was created separately.
Other NYC Filming Locations for the original Ghostbusters movie:
1. The jail scene when the Ghostbusters team was arrested for unlicensed waste control – 240 Center Street (pst – it’s really haunted!)
2. The Tavern on the Green restaurant where Louis Tully (aka Rick Moranis) pounds on the window to escape a ravening hellhound – Central Park West at 67th Street
3. The church that Marshmallow Man steps on – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church next to 55 Central Park West
4. The fountain (outside the Lincoln Centre) where Peter Venkman tells Dana about Zuul, organizes a date and meets “The Stiff” – 140 W. 65th St, New York City, Upper West Side, Manhattan
5. The Rockefeller Center
Ghostbusters Filming Locations in Los Angeles, California:
Several of the famous Ghostbusters film spots were filmed in BOTH New York City and Los Angeles! You’ll notice the firehouse and library exterior scenes were in NYC and the interior scenes were shot in LA. While you’re in California check out these things to do in California!
The Famous Firehouse:
While the exterior of the firehouse used in the Ghostbusters film will go down in history, all of the cool stuff happened inside at the Firestation No. 23 located at 225 East Fifth Street, LA. These interior fire house shots were created in an abandoned firehouse which worked a lot better than trying to shoot film scenes around an active working fire station!
The Haunted Library:
The haunted library basement (interior film shots) are at the Los Angeles Central Library at 630 West 5th Street at Hope Street.
The Haunted Hotel:
Perhaps most widely recognized in the original Ghostbusters film is the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles at 506 S. Grand Avenue. It was known as the Sedgewick Hotel in the film, however, and was where we first see Slimer!
Not seen but referenced:
Not seen in the film but referenced is Camp Wokanda when Ray talked about roasting Stay-Puft marshmallows at camp. There is a REAL Camp Wokanda and it’s located at 1125 W. Lake Avenue in Peoria, Illinois.
Famous Hit Single Ghostbusters Theme Song:
Ghostbusters Fun Facts:
Before Slimer had a name given to him by fans of the film, he was referred to as Onion Head.
Slimer was created in the film by spray painting a peanut green and “flying” around the scenes.
When Stay Puft “exploded”, instead of marshmallow raining down on the crowd it is actually shaving cream!
There was ONLY one ectomobile created and it actually broke down at the end of filming.
The Ecto-1 was a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance retro-fitted with ghost-catching gadgets.
Sound designer Richard Beggs used a modified leopard snarl for the siren sound on Ecto-1. The snarl was reversed, played backwards, and then its speed was changed.
In deleted scenes the Ecto-1 actually had supernatural powers and made a parking ticket “disappear”.
The popular “proton packs” were inspired by military issued flamethrowers.
John Belushi (the original choice for the actor Venkman before his death) was the inspiration that Aykroyd used to create Slimer.
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