Hocus Pocus is a favorite fall film every year and has been since the early ’90s. With the newly released sequel, the buzz for the original film and the famous filming locations is hotter than ever. If you’re planning to make a visit to Salem, Massachusetts, here are some of the sites you can see from the film (some are on private property, so make sure you aren’t trespassing).
Making a weekend of your visit? We’ve got a weekend guide filled with great places to eat, see and stay here. If you’re looking for haunted sites or maybe some not-so-haunted areas, we’ve got you covered too.
Hocus Pocus Filming Locations in Salem, Massachusetts
Allison’s House
The Ropes Mansion on 318 Essex Street is one of Salem’s widely recognized buildings. While it’s operated by PEM, the Peabody Essex Museum, it also acted as Allison’s house in the movie. Built around 1727, the house was renovated and well preserved. Both the mansion and the garden are open to the public.
Ropes Mansion (Courtesy Ashley L Yelp)
Home of Max and Dani Dennison
The house where Max and Dani lived is located on 4 Ocean Ave, Salem, MA. The house is not open to the public since it’s a private home; however, according to different sources, the owner doesn’t mind respectful visitors taking pictures outside.
Pioneer Village
Pioneer Village at 98 West Avenue portrayed life in Salem during the 1600s with its colonial architecture. It was built in 1930 and was a living history museum. It is open on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Max and Allison’s School
Phillips Elementary School near the Salem Common was featured as Max and Allison’s high school. It ceased being a functioning school before filming started. You’ll likely recall one of the first scenes of the film, where the classes learned about the Salem Witch Trials. If you’re especially interested in the history of the events, consider making a visit to the Salem Witch Museum.
Salem Witch Museum (©John Andrews/Courtesy Destination Salem)
The Town Cemetery
Old Burial Hill Cemetery in nearby Marblehead is where the town cemetery is located in the film and is a short distance from downtown Salem. This cemetery is the site where Max lost his shoes to the bullies. Though not used for filming, The Burying Point in Salem is one of the oldest cemeteries in the country and the final resting place for numerous historical figures.
The Burying Point (©Melanie Lee)
Salem Common
Salem Common is located in downtown Salem and is a public park, so you can wander freely here. The park was used as a filming location for some of the film’s outdoor scenes. It can be seen outside of the high school scenes.
Salem Common (Courtesy Jill O Yelp)
The Town Halloween Party
The Town Halloween Party was taken place at the Old Town Hall. The Sanderson Sisters were also there and put a spell on the whole town with the song “I Put a spell on you.”
Old Town Hall Salem (Courtesy Nicole V Yelp)
