Driving Through Henry River Mill: Where HUNGER GAMES was filmed

Last week, I talked hubby into riding with me past the filming location of The Hunger Games. It's close to home and over the years (ahem - decades!) I've spent some time there exploring the property, drooling over the old buildings and imagining their history.

There were once about 34 homes in the Henry River Mill Village.

Since it closed in the 60's or 70's many of the houses have been stuffed with boxes left over from the hill's former life as a sock factory village. If you want more pics go to my guest post at Carol Baldwin's blog.  There's also a link there for a great Henry River Mill website.

I was curious about the filming but not so curious that I would make a fool of myself looking for movie stars. I do love behind-the-scenes operations though and would loved to have seen a little movie making in action. But I didn't expect that. I wasn't sure I'd see anyone since I half expected the road to be closed.

But it 's a public road so after filming for the day they opened it.   Mostly we saw equipment and trucks blocking our view!  I'm sure that was purely accidental! : ) 

They probably thought people like me come by looking for a glimpse of famous people but honestly, I don't even know who's starring. I've seen the names somewhere but it's all Greek to me!

Not the usual abandoned and beautiful sight we're used to around here. Most days you might see an occasional car go by but never will you see them lined along the road like this.

There were people milling about after hours including a policeman - smiling and motioning us on. I did not take his picture! Or anyone's.



The Old Company Story photo by my sister, Joanne Hunsberger

Rumor has it that the company store became The Bakery for the film.

They added a roof to the lower front section.

Photo by Joanne Hunsberger

And yet another view of the store because it is so gorgeous and intriguing. I read (online) that there used to be a school upstairs for the children of the village.

At one time there were dozens - or maybe hundreds - of mill villages scattered across North Carolina.  I can think of three such villages within ten miles of my home. They each had their own personality.  And of course each held its own share of human drama - love and heartbreak, moonshine and murder.  Obviously a mill village would make a great setting for some historical fiction.

Photo by Joanne Hunsberger.  Love the lighting in this pic!

I've met a few North Carolina authors who are working on stories about mill villages. My fingers are crossed for each of them!

And now I see that Kim Church is writing about the 1929 Textile Strike in Gastonia, NC.  (speaking of murder!) She blogged about Henry River Mill Hill recently.  Her work in progress is called Mill Mother's Song.  So if you are intrigued as I am about mill village life - you might want to follow her blog.  And I will definitely be watching for that novel!

If you'd like to see what I saw driving through Henry River Mill hill take a look at this video. I di d not film this - just grabbed it off YouTube.  The author of this movie drove through 3 times so you might want to hop out of the car after the first pass.  Nothing much changes on the second and third times.  But if you're feeling obsessive about Hunger Games, well then enjoy the ride!