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The Ultimate Guide To Hocus Pocus Filming Locations: Where To Find Max's House And The Real Salem (Updated 2025)

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For over three decades, the magic of *Hocus Pocus* has defined the Halloween season, and as of late 2025, the fascination with its iconic New England backdrop remains stronger than ever. While the entire story is set in the historic town of Salem, Massachusetts, the truth about the filming locations for both the 1993 original and the 2022 sequel is a fascinating mix of authentic Salem landmarks, a nearby cemetery, and a surprising stand-in state. The original film brilliantly blended on-location exterior shots in Salem with intricate studio sets in California, while the sequel, *Hocus Pocus 2*, made a complete shift to a different New England state entirely.

This guide will take you through every major, verifiable filming location from both movies, providing the exact addresses and details you need to plan your own spooky cinematic pilgrimage. From the beachfront home of Max and Dani Dennison to the real-life high school where the Black Flame Candle was lit, prepare to uncover the secrets behind the Sanderson Sisters' enduring legacy.

Hocus Pocus (1993) Filming Locations: The Essential Salem, Massachusetts Tour

The original movie achieved its authentic New England look by filming key exterior scenes directly in Salem and the adjacent town of Marblehead. These locations are now bucket-list destinations for any dedicated fan, offering a tangible connection to the film's spooky charm.

1. Max and Dani Dennison’s Iconic Beachfront House

  • Location: 4 Ocean Avenue, Salem, MA 01970
  • Entity Details: This private residence is perhaps the most recognizable *Hocus Pocus* filming location. It’s a classic, shingle-style New England home perched on a rocky bluff overlooking the ocean, perfectly capturing the aesthetic of a family who just moved from Los Angeles. The house is situated near the end of Ocean Avenue and is not open to the public, so fans are asked to view it respectfully from the street.

2. Allison’s Majestic House (The Ropes Mansion)

  • Location: 318 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970
  • Entity Details: The elegant home of Max’s crush, Allison, is actually the historic Ropes Mansion. This Georgian Colonial-style building is owned by the Peabody Essex Museum and features beautiful gardens. The exterior is used for the scene where Max and Dani try to get Allison’s attention. It's a key stop on any Salem walking tour.

3. The Schoolhouse (Jacob Bailey High School)

  • Location: 61 South Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970
  • Entity Details: The exterior of "Jacob Bailey High School," where Max and Allison are students and where the Sanderson Sisters famously sing, was filmed at the former Phillips Elementary School. Conveniently for the production, the building was vacant and had closed in 1992, allowing the crew to utilize the space for the school's exterior shots. Today, the building is part of the Salem Common area.

4. Old Burial Hill Cemetery

  • Location: 59 Orne Street, Marblehead, MA 01945
  • Entity Details: The daytime cemetery scenes, where Max has his infamous run-in with the bullies, were shot at Old Burial Hill. This historic site, founded in 1638, is one of the oldest graveyards in New England. It is important to note that this location is in Marblehead, a town just south of Salem, and is often confused with Salem’s Old Burying Point.

5. The Halloween Party (Old Town Hall)

  • Location: 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA 01970
  • Entity Details: The iconic scene where Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy perform "I Put a Spell on You" was filmed inside Salem's Old Town Hall. This historic building, constructed in 1816, is a central landmark in Salem and is still used today for events and performances.

6. The 1693 Opening Scene (Pioneer Village)

  • Location: 98 West Avenue, Salem, MA 01970
  • Entity Details: The sequence showing the Sanderson Sisters' original trial and Thackery Binx’s transformation in 1693 was filmed at Pioneer Village. This living history museum, established in 1930, is a perfect recreation of a 17th-century colonial settlement, providing the ideal authentic backdrop for the flashback.

Hocus Pocus 2 Filming Locations: Why Rhode Island Became The New Salem

A major surprise for fans was the revelation that the 2022 sequel, *Hocus Pocus 2*, was filmed almost entirely in Rhode Island. While the story is still set in Salem, the production chose Rhode Island for its favorable tax incentives, diverse architecture, and availability of large, undeveloped land to build new sets.

1. The 1653 Salem Village Set

  • Location: Chase Farm Park, Lincoln, Rhode Island
  • Entity Details: To recreate the 17th-century village where the young Sanderson Sisters are introduced, the production built an entire custom set at Chase Farm Park in Lincoln, Rhode Island. This massive undertaking transformed the park into a historical colonial settlement, complete with dirt roads, wooden structures, and a witch's cottage. The park’s nearly 400 years of history made it a fitting, if not geographically accurate, stand-in for Salem.

2. The Modern-Day Salem Streets

  • Location: Benefit Street and Washington Square, Providence and Newport, RI
  • Entity Details: Several modern-day street scenes, including the girls' walk through Salem, were filmed on the historic streets of Providence and Newport. Specifically, Benefit Street in Providence, known for its mile of history and beautiful colonial architecture, was used to mimic the look and feel of Salem’s picturesque downtown. Washington Square in Newport was also utilized for exterior shots.

3. The Witches' Retreats and Shops

  • Location: Cranston Street Armory and LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI
  • Entity Details: The Cranston Street Armory, a massive historic building in Providence, was used extensively for large interior sets and sound stages, including the mysterious apothecary shop. Additionally, LaSalle Academy, a private Catholic school in Providence, served as another key filming site, likely for interior school or town hall scenes. The use of these diverse Rhode Island locations allowed the sequel to create a fresh, expansive look while maintaining a New England aesthetic.

The Studio Magic: Where Was The Sanderson Sisters’ Cottage Filmed?

One of the most common questions among fans is the location of the Sanderson Sisters' cottage, the spooky, smoke-filled house where the Black Flame Candle is lit. The simple answer is that the cottage, as seen in the 20th-century scenes, does not exist as a real, permanent structure in Salem.

  • The 1693 Cottage: The exterior of the original 17th-century cottage was a set piece constructed at Pioneer Village for the opening scenes of the first film.
  • The 1993 Cottage: The vast majority of the interior shots of the cottage, where the witches are resurrected and the cauldron boils, were filmed on a sound stage in Burbank, California, likely at Walt Disney Studios. The elaborate set design, with its detailed wood beams, dusty cobwebs, and magical props, was too complex to film on location.
  • The *Hocus Pocus 2* Cottage: For the sequel, the 1653 cottage was part of the custom-built set at Chase Farm in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

The magic of cinema allowed the production to seamlessly blend a few real-life Salem exteriors with the fabricated world of Hollywood studios to create the perfectly spooky, fictional town. The combination of these authentic and manufactured locations is a testament to the film's lasting production design.

Topical Entities and LSI Keywords: A Guide for Hocus Pocus Fans

For fans planning a trip or simply looking to deepen their knowledge of the *Hocus Pocus* universe, understanding the key entities and locations is essential. The film's enduring popularity has cemented these places into the pop culture lexicon.

Key Locations & Addresses:

  • 4 Ocean Avenue (Max and Dani's House)
  • 318 Essex Street (Allison's House / Ropes Mansion)
  • 32 Derby Square (Old Town Hall)
  • 61 South Washington Square (Phillips Elementary School)
  • 59 Orne Street (Old Burial Hill, Marblehead)
  • Pioneer Village (1693 Salem Set)
  • Chase Farm Park, Lincoln, RI (Hocus Pocus 2 1653 Set)
  • Cranston Street Armory, Providence, RI

Relevant Entities & LSI Keywords:

  • Sanderson Sisters' Cottage
  • Black Flame Candle
  • Thackery Binx
  • Burbank Studio Set
  • New England Filming
  • Salem Witch Museum (often confused with filming)
  • Marblehead, Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island Filming Incentives
  • Old Burying Point (the other Salem cemetery)
  • Max Dennison
  • Dani Dennison
  • Allison Watts
  • Billy Butcherson
  • Halloween Comedy-Drama
  • Walt Disney Studios

The search for "where was *Hocus Pocus* filmed" ultimately leads to a dual-state adventure: the authentic, historic charm of Salem, Massachusetts, which provided the exterior magic for the original, and the fresh, expansive landscapes of Rhode Island, which stood in for the sequel. Whether you're a purist of the 1993 classic or a fan of the 2022 sequel, the real-life locations offer a unique opportunity to step into the magical world of the Sanderson Sisters.

The Ultimate Guide to Hocus Pocus Filming Locations: Where to Find Max's House and The Real Salem (Updated 2025)
where was hocus pocus filmed
where was hocus pocus filmed

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