Big Fish is one of my favorite movies of all time, so I was more than elated to discover- the day before I left- that the town of Spectre was still setup somewhere near Montgomery and that you just had to get permission to get onto the island in the Alabama River to get to the set.
I had actually talked to my dad on the phone that morning while I ate breakfast, and I told him that when I looked it up, I saw that it was almost a half an hour in the opposite direction of where I wanted to go, so I decided not to go.  Well… That spontaneity kinda came over me again, and I decided Why Not? So, I found this info out on the Roadtrippers App, and it had this random pin in their map and I just followed it.  I missed the turn a time or two, but then I felt really accomplished when I got to a gate and saw it was only $3. My bubble burst a bit, when I realized that the gate had a code.  I almost turned my car around, defeated, but then I decided to knock on a random door and ask about the code, and I ended up knocking on the door of the woman who owns the island!  I told her how I had come from Missouri on this road trip and how this was one of my favorite movies.  Then she told me that she loved sitting and watching them film because the set was so beautiful.  She told me there had been a fire and not a lot was left, and then she told me that since that was the only reason I came that I could go in for free and to have fun!  So sweet!
I crossed the Alabama River, onto the island, and drove for a bit through these beautiful, but kinda creepy trees and all of a sudden… I came up on this beautiful, dilapidated town in the middle of all of it. Â It was so incredible to be a part of Spectre. Â It felt pretty magical to be there!
I could see how, if you weren’t a huge fan of Big Fish, this wouldn’t be worth the drive for the set alone, but being a huge fan, I can’t imagine being so close and not stopping. Â However, the island itself is absolutely beautiful and worth it. Â In fact, when I went back through the gate, I wrote on the money envelope, ‘It’s still worth it,’ and paid her the three dollars!
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59 Comments
The English Professor at Large
April 14, 2014 at 11:43 amA charming, enchanted kind of little settlement, like the movie itself. It looks beautiful still, and I love those magical trees.
PaigeBrown
April 20, 2014 at 4:21 pmExactly! It was really magical, and I am elated to have been able to experience it firsthand. I’m so glad I happened to stumble upon the information to find it! It was so worth it! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Scott Dodson
April 30, 2014 at 7:51 pmCall me please 205 306 2542 my name is Scott. My wife and I are and have been interested in going ad seeing this ourselves I know where it is located but I have a couple of other questions if you don’t mind. Call or text anytime ASAP please
PaigeBrown
April 30, 2014 at 8:29 pmHi, Scott! I would love to answer any questions, currently the best way to get ahold of me is my email- fortheloveofwanderlust@aol.com
Kamila Pala
April 14, 2014 at 11:47 amVery interesting, again! Cheers!
PaigeBrown
April 20, 2014 at 4:21 pmThank you, Kamila! Cheers to you as well!
karenaedwards71
April 14, 2014 at 8:52 pmLove the movie as well. Seeing the pictures made me smile really big…thank you!
PaigeBrown
April 20, 2014 at 4:22 pmI’m glad to bring a smile! Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!
Mysti
May 21, 2014 at 5:39 pmCould you send me directions or any contact information you might have? I would dearly love to go see this in person!
PaigeBrown
May 26, 2014 at 11:10 amI found directions on the Road Trippers App (I know for sure it’s free for iPhones), but on their website you can see it as well.
(<- Click on the link) It was pretty incredible. When you get to the gate, there will be a house to your left, with a porch with a gate on it. That's the owner's house. I knocked on her door and she was very welcoming!
Audrey
October 31, 2014 at 1:49 amWe want to visit, but I’m afraid of driving two hours and the owner not being home. I wish there was a way to contact her ahead of time.
PaigeBrown
November 15, 2014 at 10:54 pmI’m sure if she wasn’t home, that a neighbor could give you the code and you could pay the money like everyone else who visits- in the envelope at the gate. It was truly an incredible experience. I hope you get to go! I’ll try to see if I can find a way to contact her.
Audrey
November 15, 2014 at 10:59 pmWe actually got to go yesterday! When we drove up to the gate, a couple of workers were going in. They gave me change for my $20.00 and told me the code. Tonight, my Mom watched “Big Fish” for the first time, and she said it made it so much more exciting for her, since we had been to “Spectre.” 🙂
PaigeBrown
November 15, 2014 at 11:03 pmOh my gosh that’s so incredible, Audrey! I’m so glad that you made it! I would love to see your photos of it! I got chills stepping onto the little road through town! How cool that your mom got to see Big Fish after already being a part of it!
equinoxio21
January 15, 2015 at 5:34 pmA great “tour” Paige. I assume the big fish is one of your ten favourite movies! 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Brian
equinoxio21
January 15, 2015 at 5:35 pmPS. Loved the movie too.
🙂
PaigeBrown
January 18, 2015 at 9:13 pmIsn’t it phenomenal?! It is one of my top ten favorites 🙂 I think they change from time to time, but this is consistently in my top three! It’s so good!
Lisa
July 18, 2015 at 5:38 pmHow do you get in contact to see if it’s still available to tour?
PaigeBrown
July 19, 2015 at 9:06 amTo be honest, I’m not sure how you would do it. I just drove up and when I saw it was gated, I knocked on doors- luckily finding the owner first. The address is 1060 Cypress Lane I hope that’s helpful. Someone emailed me about 1.5 months ago and went and did essentially the same method. Sorry I’m not of more help.
Audrey
July 19, 2015 at 4:35 pmWe went 8 months ago, and it was the same. While I was at the gate, reading the instructions, a truck drove up and the guys gave me the code to get in. As far as I know, there is no way to check in advance. Someone always seems to be around.
Ruben Arribas | Gamin Traveler
August 24, 2016 at 4:36 amI love the movie too 🙂 Great post!
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:13 pmThanks! It’s definitely in my top three movies of all time so visiting here was pretty special to me!
klipdrifters
August 24, 2016 at 9:24 amWow like a complete ghost town! Absolutely love visiting places like this and so many awesome photo ops too! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:14 pmIt is a bit like a ghost town, although someone said they’re trying to revamp it! It’s such a cool spot!
Jaimee Nicole
August 24, 2016 at 9:48 amThis is so cool – I’ve never been to a place like this. I love the shots you got of it – it looks so empty and pretty.
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:15 pmThank you! I’ve been to some ghost town places in the SW, but this had more of an aura to it for me even though it wasn’t ever actually a place of residence.
Anamika Ojha
August 24, 2016 at 10:52 amI’d love to visit place like this and your pictures are amazing!
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:15 pmThank you so much!
Audrey
August 24, 2016 at 12:47 pmI recently learned that the buildings are being repaired. You can learn more on the Facebook page for Jackson Lake Island. https://www.facebook.com/JacksonLakeIsland/
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:15 pmHow cool! That makes me really happy! Thanks for sharing that with me!
Tess Andrade
August 24, 2016 at 12:58 pmI must admit….I have never seen the movie….but clearly need to rectify this as soon as possible!! 🙂 Beautiful pictures and beautiful blog too!
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:17 pmIt’s such a beautiful movie! It’s one of my very favorites. I hope you enjoy it too. And thank you so very much! I really appreciate that.
Maja
August 24, 2016 at 1:00 pmOoops I did not see the movie! I will need to check it out, this is so cute.
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:17 pmYou’ll definitely have to check it out. It has a really beautiful story, a dreamy sense of adventure and just makes my heart swell every time I watch it!
Naomi
August 24, 2016 at 1:52 pmI love how you went anyways! No matter the detour or the obstacles, you did what you wanted to see!
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:19 pmThank you! I definitely did! It always feels good when that spontaneity pays off and doesn’t leave you in the middle of nowhere looking at a something incredibly disappointing… That’s happened to me before too. haha
everyfootstepanadventure
August 24, 2016 at 4:00 pmOooh this town looks so interesting! I haven’t seen the movie but I may have to now 😀
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:19 pmIt’s one of my top three favorites of all time, so I would highly recommend it. Hopefully you enjoy it too!
Laura
August 24, 2016 at 6:59 pmWow, I had no idea! This is awesome and certainly somewhere I’d love to visit. It still looks like the movie set – so picturesque and a bit magical. I love that charm of the south. Thanks for sharing!
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:21 pmOh and the feel of it was pure magic. I would highly recommend a visit, especially if you’re a fan of the movie!
wanderingwagarschristina
August 24, 2016 at 7:54 pmI have not seen the movie but now I am very intrigued. It is great that the lady let you in and your spontaneity paid off in the end.
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:22 pmIt’s a great film! I’ve been really surprised by the number of commenters who haven’t seen it! It was really great that my spontaneity paid off because that doesn’t always happen.
Cori Carl
August 25, 2016 at 9:59 amI haven’t seen the movie either, but I love the idea of getting to explore an abandoned movie set. So cool!
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:22 pmIt was really cool and extra-cool since it was from one of my all-time favs!
Natasha G
August 25, 2016 at 4:36 pmHow cool is this? I love going to places where books and movies take place. My favorites so far were the Christmas Story house (lol) and Hobbiton. Thanks for sharing this experience with us!
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:23 pmThat is too funny – do they have a leg lamp in the window?! And I would LOVE to visit Hobbiton!
Kerri
August 25, 2016 at 4:47 pmI’m so not a movie fan so have never even heard of this movie. But the area looks really nice, and interesting. It would be a place that I would stumble upon, think it’s cool, hang out there, and walk away without ever knowing it had another connection 🙂
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:25 pmIt’s a really great film, and an equally amazing book if you’re more of a book person.
Sally E
August 25, 2016 at 6:03 pmMaybe I totally live under a rock or something but I’ve never even heard of Big Fish before! Either way this town looks super cool and quaint and that’s awesome that you got a chance to visit!
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:26 pmClearly, I think the Big Fish lovers live under a rock because I think only two people who’ve recently commented on this have seen the movie! Haha! It’s more of an indie movie, but it’s so worth watching if you’re a movie-lover!
abcdeghizzy
August 25, 2016 at 7:37 pmI always wonder what happens to in situ movie sets! I know that Hobbiton in New Zealand has stayed in tact but that was a million-dollar enterprise so to see something out of an almost indie film like Big Fish still erect, that’s just pretty awesome. I loved Big Fish too! It was so whimsical and adventurous, makes sense that you would like it too 😛
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:28 pmIt was really incredible. Especially as a Big Fish lover – I’m glad you love it too! It’s a movie that inspired me the first time I saw and continues to each and every time that I revisit it! It’s actually the first movie Matt & I ever watched together. Someone else commented on here that they’re actually working on revamping the island and set, which is interesting. I almost wonder something happened to the lady who owned the land…
The Thought Card
August 25, 2016 at 7:45 pmI love your spontaneity! Sometimes its worth a try to see what happens and knocking on the random door and meeting the owner was really special!
Paige Wunder
August 25, 2016 at 9:29 pmThank you! It was really special, especially since I got to hear her describe the filming and how proud she was of her property and what they made with it. Thanks for reading!
Fern Coll
August 25, 2016 at 10:53 pmWow, that town looks so cool. I didn’t know there were places like that in Alabama
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August 26, 2016 at 9:17 amIt’s an old movie set, but even the island in the river is something to be seen! The south has a lot of really amazing places if you take the time to look!
Janna
August 26, 2016 at 2:04 amI love visiting places where my favorite movies have filmed! I loved Big Fish too and I would be so excited to check this place out for myself. Thanks for sharing!
Anne
August 26, 2016 at 7:33 amThis looks such a cool place and I love the southern states
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August 26, 2016 at 9:18 amI do too! They really have a special place in my heart.