‘Bull Durham’ one of the most famous movies shot in NC. Tour the places it was filmed
“Bull Durham” ranks among the most famous movies filmed entirely in North Carolina. Well, almost entirely. Texas grabs a few short scenes.
Ron Shelton’s 1988 classic is playing as a musical theater show, including at Duke starting Friday, reviving interest in the original film shot around the Triangle.
Nearly all of the sets still exist, from the home plate where Crash Davis called an umpire a nasty name to the pool room where he busted a mirror in frustration.
Around the Triangle, those places celebrate their piece of movie history. Here’s how you can do the same.
Durham Athletic Park
500 W. Corporation St., Durham
The “lollygaggers” portrayed onscreen have played in the larger, flashier Durham Bulls Athletic Park since 1995. But the movie that made them famous came out in 1988, when they played a few blocks away at historic Durham Athletic Park on West Corporation Street downtown. It’s still open and available to rent.
Mitch’s Tavern
2426 Hillsborough St., Raleigh
This longtime, well-loved, second-floor watering hole on Hillsborough Street in downtown Raleigh served as the scene where Crash, Nuke and Annie first meet, leading to a fist-fight and boyfriend tryout. Movie fans will instantly recognize the bar furnishings and see that little has changed inside — except nobody dances there.
The Green Room
1108 Broad St., Durham
This gaming hall on Durham’s Broad Street hosted the second fistfight between Nuke and Crash, this one coming as a young pitcher dismissed as “meat” heads off the major leagues. The gaming hall offers pool tables, shuffleboard, darts and more than 100 kinds of beer.
The Manning House
911 Mangum St., Durham
The Queen Anne-style house where Annie Savoy applied her lipstick, danced to “60 Minute Man” and took an invigorating bath still stands in Durham. As recently as last summer, The Manning House, built in 1880, sold to a new buyer.
Par Golf
5715 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh
The scene where Crash and Annie share some batting cage time and cat-and-mouse banter took place at Par Golf, a longtime driving range on U.S. 401 south of Raleigh, also known as Fayetteville Road. It has only recently closed.
This story was originally published September 13, 2024 at 5:30 AM.