The Nights In Rodanthe Film Trail
The Warner Brothers film, Nights In
Rodanthe, based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, couldn’t resist the unique
flavor of the Outer Banks. In May of 2007, much of the movie was
shot in and around the Village of Rodanthe, giving Outer Banks visitors
a chance to experience some of the adventure and romance in the
movie for themselves. Come along on this two-day itinerary and see
the scenery the movie captured so well. You might even meet one of
the locals who was in the film!
With so much to see and do in the area, we recommend the following
2-day itinerary. Enjoy your visit by mixing and matching events to
your particular interest.
Please see our recommendations for the best places to stay eat at the bottom of this page!
2-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Explore Manteo, Hatteras Island, and of course, Rodanthe, and take a
few pictures of the beach house that plays such a prominent role in
the film. Talk to a local who plays a small but crucial role in the film,
and maybe hear one of the local musicians featured in a celebration
scene.
Day 2
Travel like Richard Gere’s character and take the NC Ferry off the
Outer Banks, then drive to Wilmington to see where some of
Rodanthe, as well as many other movies and television shows, are
made.
Please see our recommendations for the best places to stay eat at the bottom of this page!
Detailed Itinerary
Day One
Start your movie trail in the town of Manteo, where some scenes
were shot at the boat slips downtown. Both Richard Gere and Diane
Lane were spotted here often during filming, as both stayed at the
Tranquil House Inn on Manteo’s waterfront. Treat yourself like a
movie star by dining at the Inn’s restaurant, 1587, or explore the
town’s rich history and boutique shopping.
From Manteo, cross the US Highway 64 Bridge and head south on NC
Highway 12. You will immediately enter the Cape Hatteras National
Seashore and be drawn in by the amazing wind-swept coastal
scenery. You may want to consider stopping at the 156-foot Bodie
Island Lighthouse on your way.
About fifteen miles further, just before you get to Rodanthe, you will
start to encounter a set of twists in the road. In the movie, on the
ocean side of Highway 12, a scene was filmed with Diane Lane and a
herd of ‘wild’ Outer Banks horses. While there are indeed wild ponies
on the Outer Banks, the ones in the movie were imported. However,
this particular stretch of beach is very real and very popular, thanks to
its dynamic shore and natural beauty.
Continue south for a few miles, and shortly after entering Rodanthe,
turn left on Beacon Road to see the home that stood in for the "Inn
at Rodanthe," where Lane's and Gere's characters meet. Called
Serendipity, this vacation property no longer has the dramatic
proximity to the ocean that made it a star. Despite relocation to safer
ground, Serendipity still affords a romantic view of the sea. Decked
out in its star-turn trim, the six-bedroom house is available for
rent (reservations might be competitive), but even if you stay
someplace else, you'll want to snap a picture.
An interesting story about the filming here: although a big storm (a
nor’easter in the book, a hurricane in the movie) plays a major role in
Nights In Rodanthe, the filmmakers were not happy when a real-life
nor’easter (which eventually became Subtropical Storm Andrea) blew
in while filming was about to get underway, and did minor damage to
the Serendipity. The crew almost gave up and went somewhere else,
but decided to wait it out. Ironically, however, the fierce rain you see
pounding the Inn in the movie came not from Mother Nature but from
a fire hose.
After getting some photos at the Serendipity, head a little further
down the road to the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station. No
filming was actually done here, but the woman who will likely greet
you at the Station, Linda Molloy, played the small but pivotal role of Jill
Torrelson in the film. Linda will be happy to tell you about her
experiences during the making of the film, and she might even show
you the picture of her with Richard Gere in hospital scrubs!
Continue south on Highway 12 to two more film stops in Rodanthe:
JoBob’s General Store, where exteriors of residents buying storm
supplies were filmed, and the Hatteras Island Fishing Pier, which
was the scene of the ‘We Survived The Hurricane’ party the villagers
throw themselves after the storm passes. The scene was shot with
about 400 extras and most of the principal cast. The wind speed on
the night of the filming was between 25-30 miles per hour, and filming
lasted until four in the morning. It was a night that won’t soon be
forgotten by the locals here.
Further down Highway 12, enjoy a dinner at The Captain’s Table or
Diamond Shoals restaurants located in the heart of Buxton Village,
and as you decide where to stay for the night, check around with
locals to see if Katy Mitchell, Jules Garrish, or the band Coyote are
playing music anywhere nearby. All appear in the Nights In Rodanthe
movie, and all regularly perform on Hatteras or Ocracoke Islands.
Day Two
Begin your second day of the movie trail by driving on board the free
Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry which departs every half-hour from May
through October. Scenes with Richard Gere were filmed on this route,
as Gere’s character Paul Flanner arrives on the island after driving in
from Raleigh.
After the 45 minute ferry ride, enjoy your 16-mile drive on Ocracoke
Island. A few scenes for the movie were also shot in Ocracoke
Village, so take some time here and enjoy sights such as the
Ocracoke Lighthouse, the Banker Pony Pens, and Teach’s Hole
Blackbeard Exhibit and Pirate Specialty Shop.
Then, it’s time to get on board another ferry, this time, a 2-hour and
40 minute ride across Pamlico Sound to Cedar Island. Enjoy your
time on the ferry by gazing out at the views of Hatteras Village, the
pristine beaches at the end of the island, and the various wildlife on
the Sound. After you exit the ferry at Cedar Island, enjoy your drive
through Beaufort, Morehead City, and Jacksonville on your way to
Wilmington.
Once in Wilmington, visit the EUE Screen Gems Studio, located at
1223 North 23rd Street. Several of Rodanthe’s interior scenes were
shot here, lncluding a ‘dingy bar’ scene and some hospital scenes. The
creek and the woods behind the studio even became the jungles of
South America in the movie.
If you’re here on the weekend, you can take a tour of the facility that
has essentially become the headquarters of filmmaking in North
Carolina. You’ll see the set of the television series One Tree Hill, which
is filmed here, and discover how and why Wilmington became
“Hollywood East” for movie producers and directors, including the ones
that came all the way to the Outer Banks to make “Nights In
Rodanthe”!
Where To Eat:
1587 (Manteo) – dinner
The Captain’s Table (Buxton) – lunch, dinner
Diamond Shoals (Buxton) – breakfast, lunch, dinner
Find