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Autumn Fall Travel Halloween Road Trip Travel

Salem, Massachusetts – A “Hocus Pocus” Self Guided Walking Tour

Update: This is a self-guided walking tour that I put together after our trip to Salem in October 2013, which just happened to be the 20th anniversary of Hocus Pocus. You can read more about our trip The Witch City and Historical Town. We are not running a tour (although I would love to spend all of October in Salem talking to people about film!). If you’d like to take a tour of Salem, there are many great guides out there. You can also check out my post on the Canadian town where Gilmore Girls was first filmed and the house built for Practical Magic. Happy Hauntings!

Hocus Pocus is one of my all-time favourite Halloween films. It was the right mix of funny and scary when I was a kid and I can still appreciate it to this day. From the outstanding costumes to the beautiful locations and spectacular sets – it really is a great film to watch this time of year. It’s hard to believe that 2013 marked its 20th anniversary!

Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Nijimy, Hocus Pocus tells the story of the Sanderson sisters – three witches with a taste for children who are hanged during the Salem witch trials. After 300 years, the witches are accidentally resurrected on Halloween night by Max, a teenager who wasn’t feeling the Halloween spirit until now. It’s up to Max, his sister Dani, his high school crush Allison, a friendly zombie and an immortal cat named Binx to put an end to the witches’ reign of terror once and for all.

While Garrett and I were in Salem, Massachusetts this weekend, we took our own little Hocus Pocus tour, visiting many of the real locations that were used in the film.

The “Hocus Pocus” Self-Guided Walking Tour

Max & Dani’s House – 4 Ocean Avenue

You can’t do a Hocus Pocus tour and not go see Max and Dani’s house. Built in the 1870’s, this house has become a tourist attraction of its own since the release of the film. We weren’t the only ones on the street that day taking pictures.

 I think that every kid who grew up in the 90’s wanted their own lookout tower like Max.

The stairs were in his room, leading up to the tower. Perfect place to be a sulky teenager full of angst. Nice tie-dye t-shirt too.

Later in the film, after seemingly destroying the witches in their high school’s kiln, Max and Allison open the Sanderson sister’s creepy spell book in his room. Before you know it, a beam of light shoots into the night sky, lighting a beacon for the witches to come and find them.

 The tower was destroyed as the witches fly off into the night with Dani.

A painting of the house can be seen in the background of this scene with Max and Dani’s parents.

I always wonder where props like that end up!

Allison’s House – 318 Essex Street

The exterior scenes of Allison’s house were filmed at the Ropes Mansion. Built in the 1720’s, this Georgian Colonial mansion is rumored to be haunted. It’s now owned by the Peabody Essex Museum and open to the public.

In the film, the house was decorated for Halloween with pumpkins, hay bales and candles.

We didn’t go into the house when we were there, so I’m not sure if it was used for the interior shows of Allison’s parents’ party. Often the interior shots of films are done on a sound stage made to look like the house.

Old Town Hall – 32 Derby Square

Used as the exterior location of the party that Max and Dani’s parents went to, Old Town Hall dates back to 1816 and is the oldest surviving municipal building in Salem. The hall currently houses the Salem Museum. and productions of the plays Cry Innocent and History Alive.

During the end credits, all the parents in town can be seen leaving the building, exhausted after dancing all night under Winifred’s spell.

Thackery’s Village – Forest River Park

The opening village scenes from 1693 were recreated in the Salem Pioneer Village in Forest River Park, just one block away from Max and Dani’s house.

The village was built in the 1930s as a set for a play series in the park, but after the interest in it continued, the city reopened it that year as a museum. It was the first living history museum in the United States and gave visitors a look into the lives of early settlers.

In the opening credits, you can see Thackery Binx (not yet turned into a black cat) walking through the village looking for his sister.

He and his friend go running out of the village into the woods, looking for his sister who they find at the Sanderson sisters’ cottage, which was built on a Hollywood sound stage. (More on that below)

There were a couple more locations in town that we missed while we were there, but are worth checking out if you visit Salem.

John Bailey High School – Phillips Elementary School, Salem Commons

A year before filming began, Phillips Elementary School shut down, making it the perfect location for the fictional John Bailey High School.

This is where we’re first introduced to Max and Allison, and where they later try to burn the witches in the art room’s kiln.

The park across the street, Salem Commons, was used for the scene where Allison pretends to give Max her phone number.

Daytime Cemetery Scenes – Old Burial Hill, Marblehead

Old Burial Hill, in neighboring Marblehead was used for the day time exterior scenes. Nighttime scenes such as the resurrection of Billy Butcherson, the friendly zombie, were done on set.

Old Burial Hill is one of the oldest cemeteries in America, founded in 1638 and contains many historic Puritan graves including the remains of a victim of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.

The Sanderson Sisters Witch Cottage (Sound Stage)

The scenes in the Sanderson Sisters Cottage were filmed on a sound stage in Burbank, California:

If you haven’t seen Hocus Pocus in a while, it’s worth a revisit. Perfect for this spooky time of year! I also recommend a trip to Salem – it’s a great town rich in American history, ghost stories and great people. I hope we can go back there again soon!

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Comments

  1. Jessica says

    October 23, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    Very cool. My Mom lives in Salem, MA and loves it. So many cool (and spooky) places to visit. It’s super crowded right now so we will plan to visit AFTER the big day…plus it’s a little scary for the kids.

  2. Katharine Parsons says

    October 25, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    I actually have ancestors from the Salem Witch trials and am currently starting a screenplay on another aspect of the trials. The witch hysteria had a lasting effect on the United States. During 1692, there were about 600 inhabitants in Salem Village and eventually 200 of them were accused – mostly by disturbed young girls wanting to stand in the spotlight, and by landowners hoping to grab the land of the accused. it wasn’t even safe being called to testify at the trials – the girls would be apt to accuse anyone within their eyesight! My ninth-great-aunt was on record refusing to testify against her sisters-in-law. Another elderly farmer in his eighties refused to testify (they would have legally grabbed his large farm if he confessed or was convicted), so Giles Corey was subjected to the procedure called “Presse-Dire” – they loaded boulders onto him over two days to press him to testify. But he refused and his last words before he died were: “More weight.” The name of Salem Village was changed to Danvers to try to erase the stain of this shameful period of American history.

    • Amanda - Small Home Big Start says

      October 28, 2013 at 9:37 pm

      We met an awesome tour guide (mentioned it in my first post on Salem) who told us the same theory on the witch trials. So interesting that you have an ancestor from that part of history. I’m so glad we made the trip to Salem and learned more about it.

  3. Ashley says

    October 30, 2013 at 9:29 am

    This is the coolest post ever.

  4. Nicole says

    April 5, 2014 at 4:29 am

    It would be awesome if they made the Sanderson Sisters house as well, it could be a gift shop/attraction. Make it a replica of the one in the movie, during October they could have hayrides that lead to it, maybe have a showing of the movie. I got to see the creepy eyeball book and Winifred’s outfit at a Disney exhibit in Chicago last fall it was awesome!

    • Amanda - Small Home Big Start says

      April 6, 2014 at 10:31 pm

      I agree! It would be a great tourist attraction. That is so cool that you got to see the props in Chicago.

  5. John Sweet says

    March 15, 2015 at 5:31 pm

    As the first licensed tour guide in Salem (1964) and as my namesake arrived in Dec 1630 with Roger Williams, I have always been interested in the actual history of the city. Salem was destined to be the capital but when the Arbella arrived with Gov. Winthrop the same day his son Henry attempted to swim across the North River to an Indian village (where a junk yard soon to become new condos resides) and drowned. His father was so filled with grief that he refused to stay in Salem and founded Boston further south along the coast.
    The actual location where the “witches” were hung and thrown from the small cliff behind which is in back of the current location of Walgreen Drug Store on the corner of Boston and Bridge Streets. If you read the first person accounts in Samuel Purley’s History of Salem, MA you can learn why I know the exact location: It’s on line: http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/006784546 Also the so called “Witch House” was the actual home of Roger Williams and this was proven way back in the 1800’s but of course in the 20th century it became popular to associate it with the second owner, Judge Jonathan Curwin and his participation in the witch trials. I could go on and on of course, but anyone interested just copy and paste the link to a collection of FIRST PERSON accounts which Samuel Purley compiled into the early history of the city of Salem, MA.
    I hope you will enjoy it. It’s a shame tour guides today have little actual historical knowledge other than a few brochures and an occasional article or two which is an immense loss. Thanks for your blog which I stumbled across, I never knew Hocus Pocus was filmed in Salem until now! 🙂

    • Gregg Lavoie says

      September 9, 2015 at 3:49 pm

      Roger Conant?

  6. William Sandell says

    August 25, 2015 at 12:44 am

    Just noticed this lovely site. I was just starting to think about Halloween, and wanted look up Hocus Pocus stuff. I was the Production Designer on the film. I picked all those locations you talk about. I spoke at the 20 yr. screening at Disney a few years ago. We all agreed it was the most fun you can ever have on a film. I love that it plays on T.V. every year. Anyway, just wanted to say how much the film means to me.

    • Amanda says

      August 31, 2015 at 10:27 pm

      My husband and I just looked up your credits on IMDb – we’ve seen at least 75% of the films that you’ve worked on and loved them all. As a former film school student and small-time producer, it’s so inspiring to see such an impressive legacy you’ve had. I’m flattered that you’d take the time to comment on the post. It was a really fun trip to Salem and made us feel like kids again to see all those iconic locations. Thanks for making one of my favourite childhood movies so magical. I love catching it on TV every year too.

    • Terry Scott says

      September 9, 2015 at 6:29 pm

      How fun for you Mr. Sandell, my youngest daughter was born the year HP came out. We watched it every season, bought the “tape” and then the DVD and it’s her favorite movie of all time now. We visited Salem in early 2000, but at that time didn’t think to look up the sites used in the movie. Actually I think we thought they were just stages somewhere else. So glad you posted here. And I hope the rumors of a HP 2 are true and you can be involved for more fun!

    • Sherry Riffle says

      September 17, 2016 at 11:53 am

      You did a GREAT job! Thank you for helping to make a classic! <3

    • Patti Beauregard says

      September 13, 2017 at 11:37 am

      Bill,

      My Mom and Dad still live in the house and are 87 and 91 years old, respectively. They still get visitors just about every day wanting to see Max and Dani’s house. In October the number of visitors gets so large that they almost need crowd control personnel. The movie is obviously a favorite of many people.

      We all (my family) remember you fondly. I specifically remember how much you loved New England and that, shortly after you left, we were experiencing a hurricane and you called us to see if we were okay.

      I am so glad that your memories of making the movie are as happy as ours are. It was a wonderful experience for all of us.

      • Amanda says

        September 19, 2017 at 10:38 am

        Hi Patti! I’m so glad to hear that your family has enjoyed being a part of this great movie experience for so many people. Thank you 🙂

  7. Krissy says

    September 9, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    It’s funny that I live in the next city over from Salem and never visited these sites. I guess I take for granted what is in my backyard. I go into salem every year for Halloween to check out the cool costumes. Now I’ll have to check out these sites. Loved the movie!

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:44 am

      It was such a sight to see it all done up for Halloween – so fun! I hope you check out the filming locations this year Krissy 🙂

  8. Judith (McSwiggan, DeVeau) Regan says

    September 9, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    Was born and raised in Salem, MA, graduated from Salem High in 1975. Lived in Salem until I moved to Mesa, AZ in 2009. I remember them doing the filming of Hocus, Pocus and loved the movie. My grandmother stood on the hill of the old Salem High and watched as the Salem Fire burned half the city in the early 1900’s. My Grandmother was born in Canada late 1800’s and moved to Salem with her parents and her home was one of the few that were on the edge of the fire and survived. One of the courses that they taught at Salem High in the 70’s was History of Salem and I was so into Salem’s history that I took that course and was so glad I did. I am looking forward to returning to visit someday to see my hometown. Thank you for posting this and I am so grateful for having this to read and reminisce.

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:50 am

      I’m glad that my post could bring back some nice memories of Salem for you. We thought it was such a charming town and I can see why you loved it.

  9. Karen Rae says

    September 9, 2015 at 7:04 pm

    I grew up in Lynn which is right next door to Salem. My oldest brother and his family live in Salem. Best place to visit on Halloween! The whole town goes crazy! All the places were this movie was done are places I went to as a child! Best movie ever! ?

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:51 am

      That’s cool that you grew up so close! It definitely gets you in the Halloween spirit when you’re there!

  10. Sarah says

    September 9, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    When will this be in Salem, MA???

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:52 am

      Hi Sarah – this is just a self-guided tour that I put together after our trip to Salem. Anyone can walk to themselves and see the locations first hand!

      • Crystal says

        October 6, 2018 at 12:52 am

        These locations listed are they in the order as they should be visited?

        • Amanda says

          October 26, 2018 at 2:33 pm

          They’re not in any particular order. You may want to look them up on a map and plan out a route that works best for you.

  11. Renee says

    September 9, 2015 at 11:50 pm

    Being from Leominster mass. Seeing all this is just so intriguing I miss mass. so much

  12. Teal says

    September 10, 2015 at 9:19 am

    Can some one tell me the prices and times for this tour and any others for the month of October 2015

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:53 am

      Hi Teal – this is just a self-guided tour that I put together after our trip to Salem. Anyone can walk to themselves and see the locations first hand!

  13. Desiree Petitt says

    September 10, 2015 at 10:13 am

    Are the houses decorated around Halloween like in the movie? Is there a special event planned for the 20th anniversary? I would love details. I didn’t see any on the site.

    Thank you!

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:54 am

      The 20th anniversary was in 2013, which is when we visited Salem. This is a self-guided walking tour that anyone can do themselves!

  14. Maria says

    September 10, 2015 at 11:27 am

    Hi I love this post !! This is exactly what I plan on doing when I go visit this October !! Do you recommend a particular place to stay ?! Is there anything nearby that I could look into staying almost walking distance?! You’re response is very much appreciated thank you so much !!

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 11:14 am

      You must go Maria! It’s such a fun town to visit in October. You can read more about our trip to Salem here and here. We stayed at a hotel in Peabody and drove in each day, mainly because the hotels in Salem were either booked up or too expensive. There was lots of public parking and we’d just find a central location to park and walk around all day. We also went to the Keene Pumpkin Festival in New Hampshire that weekend and stayed at a B&B in Vermont. It was a great trip!

  15. Lindsay says

    September 10, 2015 at 2:29 pm

    I’m wondering when these tours are, and how to make sure we have a spot on it if we’re taking the trip. Is there a number I can call? I want to make sure to get to Salem and see all of it!!

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 11:10 am

      This is a self-guided walking tour that I put together after our trip to Salem in 2013. Anyone can do it themselves and it’s free!

  16. Erin says

    September 11, 2015 at 4:42 am

    The opening credits is a fly over of Plymouth Plantation. We met one of the staff who had to keep everyone maning the chimney fires so it looked like an active village.

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:58 am

      I love that scene. Until we looked it up, I had always assumed it was a village set that they’d made for the movie, but I love that it was actually a historic reenactment location that you can still visit. I wish we’d been able to go inside while we were there.

  17. Derek says

    September 11, 2015 at 7:56 pm

    How much does it cost to take this tour!?!?

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:56 am

      This is a self-guided tour that I put together after our trip in 2013. Anyone can go to the locations themselves and it’s free 🙂

  18. Amanda Gillam says

    September 11, 2015 at 8:08 pm

    I’m totally interested in this Hocus Pocus tour on October 23. How do I sign up to attend?

    • Amanda says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:55 am

      This is a self-guided walking tour of the locations that I put together after we visited in October 2013. Anyone can visit the locations themselves and learn more about the history at each site.

  19. Ashley says

    September 25, 2015 at 10:12 am

    I went to Salem ad Boston this summer. The interior used for Alison’s was filmed in a mansion in MarbleHead. The outside was used just when they are staring at it and Dani lays on the haybail.

    • Amanda says

      September 25, 2015 at 11:44 am

      Cool! I hadn’t heard that before. I love the interior of the house in that scene. Thanks for sharing!

  20. kate says

    September 29, 2015 at 2:06 pm

    when is the tour????

    • Amanda says

      October 1, 2015 at 12:56 pm

      This is a self-guided tour that I put together after our trip in 2013. Anyone can go to the locations themselves and it’s free

  21. Kara says

    October 11, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    Don’t know if this was mentioned in the comments I didn’t read them all. But the Forest River Park you can only see the village from June through September and its scheduled tours only. We went today without knowing this and were very disappointed we couldn’t go in.

    • Amanda says

      October 14, 2015 at 10:44 am

      Thanks for the update Kara. When we went in 2013 they did have it open on weekends.

  22. bethan says

    February 25, 2016 at 6:02 am

    I love hocus pocus, one of my favourite films! Visiting new York October this year and looking at getting the train to salem for Halloween as I have always wondered what it would be like I’m so excited that you can visit all these places I can not wait, me my sister and best friend dressed up as the sanderson sisters Halloween 2014 it was amazing. I loved ready all these comments fantastic

  23. Paul says

    July 6, 2016 at 9:22 am

    We moved to Salem in April 2015 and our house overlooks Forest River Park. I take my son there nearly every day. I’m writing this because we just had our July 4th block party with our lovely, friendly neighbours right outside the Hocus Pocus house but I had no idea of its history! I walk past the Hocus Pocus house all the time on the way to town and the old couple who live there are usually sitting on the porch. We always say hello to them. My son’s preschool is also right next to the Ropes Mansion. I’ll definitely be renting the movie soon so we can cheer every time we see a location that’s familiar to us now.

    Thanks for the interesting article!

    p.s. I won’t ask when your tour is, how I can sign up, or how much it costs 😉

    • Patti Beauregard says

      September 13, 2017 at 11:46 am

      Paul, that old couple are my parents. They love sitting on that porch and talking with the people who pass by. We moved into that house when I was three months old, 54 years ago already. It was an incredible place to grow up and I am thankful every day that my dad decided to buy it (without even consulting my mother first!).

      • Brenda says

        September 11, 2018 at 1:55 pm

        Hi Patti! What a wonderful history for your childhood home! I would LOVE to see this house in person, but I doubt I will ever get to visit Salem unfortunately If I ever do, I will definitely walk by and see it! I absolutely love that movie …it has become a tradition in our home to watch it! 😉

  24. Mary says

    September 13, 2016 at 11:13 am

    This movie has been a family favorite ever since it was released! I am looking forward to watching it soon, even if the kids are all grown up and moved away LOL

    Our neighborhood in Bath, ME resembles the opening scene of swarming children trick or treating, where we have over 500 kids that come for treats. Thankfully, very little trickery!

    I am a descendant from one of the judges near the end of the trials. I believe he is the one that stopped them. I also will not ask about a spot on the tour! LOL … Amazing how people don’t read for comprehension anymore ?

  25. Britni says

    September 13, 2016 at 12:31 pm

    Is this an all year round thing or just in October?

  26. Lois says

    September 18, 2016 at 8:29 am

    I’ve been to Salem, Ma many times and didn’t know this until my last trip in 2014 when we got a guide from the Haunted Footsteps tour who took us and told us of it!! I’ve also stayed in Danvers (old Salem) and visited the Bridget Bishop house, which is a must see for Salem history enthusiasts! Unfortunately I am not able to go this year but I can’t wait to go back next year!

  27. Efrain says

    September 18, 2016 at 10:21 pm

    The inside of the school was filmed at East Whittier Middle School located in Whittier, California.

  28. Rosa says

    September 21, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    Did you walk this whole tour and did you go in this order? I am planning on visiting next month and am trying to plan my route. If you could help with any of this it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for sharing your experience!

    • Amanda says

      September 22, 2016 at 3:52 pm

      Hi Rosa! We did the locations in the downtown area while walking around to see Salem, but we drove to the pioneer village and other spots. If you look up the locations on Google Maps using the addresses I’ve provided, you’ll be able to map out a route that works for you!

      • Karen Braica says

        September 23, 2016 at 10:36 am

        My daughter is currently a freshman at Salem State University. She is also a self taught special affects make up artist and looking forward to her first Halloween in Salem. Thank you so much for this awesome post. We love the movie and watch it any time it is on. Maybe if there is a Hocus Pocus 2 she can put her skills to use and show off her KillaKaeSFX make up on set !! 🙂

  29. Joni Koontz says

    July 17, 2017 at 6:39 pm

    I went to Salem in April 2017 and took a picture of Max and Dani’s house. I didn’t notice anybody in the “lookout tower” of the house, but after checking out my pictures, it looks like there is a man sitting up in the window. It’s pretty cool!

    Love Salem!

  30. Doreen says

    September 21, 2018 at 3:04 pm

    This is wonderful. I LOVE this movie and dedicate one night every October to watching it with my family.

    Here’s an interesting fact for those of us who live on the South Shore of Massachusetts. While the bulk of the filming was done north of Boston, the opening credits—which begin with a “witch’s flyover” we’re to believe of the New England village below—is actually Plimouth Plantation in Plymouth MA.

  31. Alexandria Kanellos says

    September 26, 2018 at 10:41 am

    Thank you so much for writing this!! I am going to Salem, MA October 13th – 15th and saw that the Hocus Pocus tours were all booked =/ it is also partly my fault for not looking sooner, but it didn’t occur to me. So this option is second best, and I love all of the detail and history that you have provided us with. Looking forward to hitting these spots while here 🙂

  32. Brenda says

    July 2, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    Wow, This was great I Just was on the page because I’m a huge Fan of Hocus Pocus And I love the movie but I was Trying to find out if the Sanderson sisters house cottage was actually real but sadly it was made at a Hollywood studio but yhea this page helpt me find my search. : D

Trackbacks

  1. Fortnight of Fright | Salem, Massachusetts | Tripping Over Books says:
    October 23, 2015 at 12:01 am

    […] are buried here. For more information about Hocus Pocus film locations in Salem, check out it out here. I have been to a bunch of these locations including Old Burial Hill and it’s fantastic! You […]

  2. A Local’s Guide to Salem, MA – La Vida Vagabond says:
    July 19, 2016 at 5:44 pm

    […] to be respectful of their property! Side note: If you want to see more Hocus Pocus spots, check out this blog that a wonderful woman put together of her “Hocus Pocus Walking Tour” of […]

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