Best North Carolina Interactive Vacations - See Where the Hunger Games Were Filmed - Train and Compete

The Hunger Games earned $155 Million in its first weekend in American and Canadian theaters, placing third for all-time high total first weekend take, and first in non-sequel openings.The box office was about $214½ Million worldwide.

Scores of articles and media news reports have discussed the fun and the dark truth of the story, but an unexpected event happened. Hundreds of people are traveling to North Carolina to see the on-location filming sports for the movie. property owners are stunned, but Hunger Games Fan Tours offers day-trip and weekend excursions to the waterfalls and other places relevant in Transylvania County NC. These tours include movie foods, Tribute Training, the Games and actual prizes for winners. The North Carolina State Division of Tourism is offering 4-day package tours.

Filmmakers and media pundits did not expect the film to hit home with so MANY teens and adults, not did they plan on the added economic boost to North Carolina. The Hunger Games are a big hit all around, especially if, after the hubbub dies down, kids and adults look at the serious aspects of the dangers preying on preteens and teenagers every day and take action against these issues with the help of parents and others who care.

I love North Carolina because of its climate and attractions, as well as for the awesome people I have met there. Another favorite memory is purchasing my first set of arrows and a bow manufactured by the Cherokee Nation in that state. given the rise of The Hunger Games, I am moved to stop thinking about purchasing another set and to actually do it. Regardless, nearly two dozen other films have been shot in North Carolina, from Forrest Gump to the sinister Hannibal.

Charlotte NC is the Capitol

North Carolina has lent of other things to see related to the on-location filming spots for the film. Charlotte NC was used as the capital city of the North American Continent that is renamed Panem (from the Latin for "bread and circuses") after humanity has nearly destroyed the Earth. Many scenes with the Tributes of the movie were shot in Charlotte at the Knight Theater.

Hildebran NC Is District 12

Another location in the film is Henry River Mill Village near Hildebran, east of Asheville NC on Interstate 40. This village was used as District 12, the poorest coal mining district in Panem and home to Katniss Everdean. It is reminiscent of the Ozarks-Appalachian type of setting of Winter's Bones, in which Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) starred. Approximately two dozen buildings at the village from a ghost town complete with Company Store that looks very much like the West Virginia coal mining towns I have seen in my travels. Lonely, desolate and always in disrepair, these towns are made up of smaller pole buildings or trailers, with a school, a bar, and a church each housed in its own trailer -- Sad and forlorn, creepy and full of poverty.

DuPont State Forest in the Asheville Watershed Is the Arena

This watershed is the location of the types of old growth forest trees that were needed for the filming. Additional prop trees were built, "planted" and blown up for the film. Much of the watershed is blocked to visitors, but you may be able to get close enough for pictures, and other forests nearby that are similar are open to the public. Bridal Veil Falls and Triple Falls in this Park are relevant. Travel packages are available from the references links below and include Zip Lines training, competitions, and many more options.

Shelby NC

This is the town in which the Reaping scenes were shot.

References

• City of Asheville NC at www.ashevillenc.gov
• Explore Asheville NC at http://www.exploreasheville.com/ -- win a Hunger Games Vacation Package. Seven (7) different travel packages are offered. Learn about the films shot in NC and the ghost stories still told in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
• NC Division of Tourism -- 12 Ways to Experience The Hunger Games. http://www.visitnc.com/journeys/articles/what-s-new-in-nc/1/12-places-to-experience-the-hunger-games
• Reuters, Inc. at http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/03/26/boxoffice-idINDEE82O08420120326