Exploring the Forgotten Movie Sets of Hollywood: From “Planet of the Apes” to “Psycho”

Hollywood is known for its glitz and glamour, but what about the forgotten movie sets that have been left to decay over time? These movie sets once stood as grand pieces of art, serving as backdrops for some of the greatest movies ever made. However, many of these sets have now been abandoned and left to deteriorate. Urban explorers have taken notice of these forgotten locations and are documenting their findings on their websites.

One such location is the set from “The Planet of the Apes” (1968). The set was built in Malibu Creek State Park in California and was used for several scenes throughout the film. The iconic Statue of Liberty scene where Charlton Heston’s character discovers he has landed on a post-apocalyptic Earth was filmed here. The set consisted of several large structures including a dam, a bridge, and an underground tunnel system.

Unfortunately, after filming wrapped up, the set was not properly dismantled or maintained. As a result, it slowly began to fall apart due to natural weathering and vandalism. Today, all that remains are crumbling ruins covered with graffiti and broken props scattered around.

Another famous Hollywood movie set that has fallen into disrepair is from “Gone with the Wind” (1939). This classic film starred Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler during the Civil War era in America. Tara plantation served as one of the primary settings throughout this epic tale.

After filming finished up in 1939, Tara plantation remained standing until 1959 when it caught fire during reconstruction efforts by new owners who had purchased it with plans to turn it into a museum. Although much of Tara burned down during this fire, parts still stand today including columns at its entrance gate.

More recently abandoned are remnants from “Waterworld” (1995), which starred Kevin Costner in a post-apocalyptic world submerged underwater after global warming causes the polar ice caps to melt. The set was built in Hawaii and included an entire floating city made up of recycled materials, including oil rigs.

Unfortunately, the movie was a box office failure and the set was left to decay. Today, only a few pieces remain standing such as large metal structures that served as part of the floating city’s infrastructure. However, it is still an impressive sight for anyone who comes across it while exploring.

One of Hollywood’s most famous film sets is from “The Ten Commandments” (1956). This epic biblical tale starred Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Pharaoh Ramses II during ancient Egypt times. The set consisted of over 20 Egyptian-style buildings with towering statues of gods and kings.

After filming wrapped up, the set remained untouched for several years until it was purchased by a theme park owner who turned it into an attraction called “The Lost City.” Unfortunately, this venture proved unsuccessful due to its remote location in California’s desert region. As a result, today all that remains are crumbling ruins covered with sand dunes.

Another iconic movie set left abandoned is from “Blade Runner” (1982), which starred Harrison Ford in a dystopian future Los Angeles where human-like robots known as replicants exist alongside humans. The set included giant neon-lit skyscrapers with flying cars zooming past them through misty streets filled with rainwater pools.

Although some parts of this iconic sci-fi film were shot on soundstages inside studios, much of it was also filmed outside on location in downtown LA at night when businesses were closed down for shooting purposes. After filming wrapped up, these areas were quickly forgotten about since they had been used only temporarily for one specific purpose – making movies!

Lastly but not least – we have the infamous Bates Motel from Alfred Hitchcock’s classic horror thriller “Psycho” (1960). The movie tells the story of a young woman who stops at a motel on her way to meet her boyfriend. This is where she meets the disturbed owner of the motel, Norman Bates.

The set was located on the backlot of Universal Studios in Hollywood and consisted of multiple buildings including the iconic Bates Motel, which had become synonymous with horror films for years to come. Unfortunately, after filming wrapped up, it was not maintained properly and eventually fell into disrepair.

Today, all that remains are crumbling ruins covered with graffiti and broken props scattered around – but there’s still something eerie about walking through this abandoned place where so much terror took place.

In conclusion, these forgotten movie sets serve as a testament to Hollywood’s history and its legacy in creating some of the greatest movies ever made. Although they have been left to decay over time due to neglect or disinterest by those responsible for maintaining them – they remain an important piece of our cultural heritage that deserves recognition. Urban explorers have taken notice and are documenting their findings on their websites for everyone who loves movies or historical sites alike!