Where was Friday the 13th Part 2 filmed?
1981
City Locations
Waterbury, Kent, CT (USA)
Location Types
House, Hospitals/Medical, Retail
Location Styles
Camper, Craftsman, Building Dated/Retro, Dilapidated/Neglected
About Friday the 13th Part 2
Friday the 13th Part 2 is a terrifying plunge into the horror genre. Steve Miner's debut feature picture as a filmmaker was this classic 1981 American horror flick. Actors Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, and Walt Gorney return for the sequel, which picks up right where Friday the 13th left off. Newcomers Amy Steel and John Furey round out the cast.
As the story progresses, you'll be taken to locations close to Crystal Lake, where an enigmatic killer ruthlessly murders a number of naive camp counselors. The horror movie classic Jason Voorhees returns triumphantly in Friday the 13th Part 2 as the franchise's defining adversary. The film begins five years after the horrific events of the first, in which Alice Hardy (Adrienne King), the only survivor, falls victim to an enigmatic murderer. There is fear around every corner of the training camp, but the new group of camp counselors is oblivious to this. At the showdown, Ginny (Amy Steel), the last survivor, must face the murderer head-on to survive.
Friday the 13th Part 2 made $21.7 million in the US on a budget of $1.25 million, despite dealing with the Motion Picture Association of America and censoring certain scenes to avoid an X rating.
Despite receiving a 32% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and mixed reviews from critics, the picture had a lasting impression on horror fans. The Friday the 13th series spawned numerous sequels, all thanks to its success.
Friday the 13th Part 2 Locations
The horror classic Friday the 13th Part 2 took audiences back to the chilling world of Crystal Lake. The film, however, wasn't shot in a Hollywood studio but rather in the picturesque locales of Connecticut. The quaint village of New Preston and the scenic town of Kent were the primary filming locations. Most scenes were beautifully framed against the backdrop of North Spectacle Pond in Kent, which was transformed into the eerie Crystal Lake for the film.
The lodge around this lake, a central location in the movie, has since been replaced with a private residence. New Preston's downtown area also found its way into the frames, showcasing storefronts that now house popular home goods stores. Route 202, a significant roadway passing through New Preston, was used for some of the driving scenes in the film.
One of the more memorable scenes was filmed at an old restaurant and nightclub in New Preston, while the interiors of Alice's apartment, a crucial setting in the narrative, were shot at a High Street home in Torrington. However, the exterior shots of Alice's home were captured at a house on Central Avenue in Waterbury, which a parking lot has since replaced.
Given the significance of these locations to the film and the charm they add to the overall narrative, a trip to these sites would be worthwhile for any hardcore fan of the franchise. It offers a chance to relive the iconic moments from the film and appreciate the picturesque beauty of these places that once served as the backdrop for one of the most successful horror franchises in cinema history.
Alice awakens from a nightmare scene in Friday the 13th Part 2
47 Central Ave, Waterbury, CT 06702, USA
Two months after the gruesome massacre at Crystal Lake, Alice awakens from a nightmare about Mrs. Voorhees' (Betsy Palmer) decapitation. She goes about her morning routine, chatting on the phone with her mother and taking a shower.
This scene was filmed at a house located at 47 Central Ave, Waterbury, Connecticut. While the house and the two neighboring houses were razed in 2018, the location still carries the essence of the movie's atmosphere. Fans can stroll down the streets and immerse themselves in the eerie ambiance that characterizes this iconic scene.
To get to this location, you’ll need to travel to Waterbury, Connecticut. It's almost 2 hours from New York via I-95 N and CT-8 N. Once there, navigate to Central Avenue, where the house once stood. Even though the original structure is no longer there, the site still holds significance for movie fans and provides a tangible connection to this classic horror film.
Jeff's truck gets towed scene in Friday the 13th Part 2
9 E Shore Rd, New Preston, CT 06777, USA
A group of young adults arrive at Crystal Lake to attend a counselor training center near the now-condemned Camp Crystal Lake. On their way to the facility, counselors Jeff (Bill Randolph) and Sandra (Marta Kober) encounter the town's eccentric character, Crazy Ralph (Walt Gorney). Echoing his warnings from the first movie, Crazy Ralph advises them to turn back, reminding them of the fate of the previous counselors who did not heed his caution.
This atmospheric scene was filmed at 9 E Shore Rd, New Preston, Connecticut. Today, fans visiting this location will find it transformed. The telephone booth featured in the scene is no longer present, but some houses that were part of the backdrop still stand, retaining their old charm.
To get to this location, it’s about a one-hour drive northwest from New Haven.
Campfire scene in Friday the 13th Part 2
164 Kenmont Rd, South Kent, CT 06785
At the campfire, Paul (John Furey), the head counselor, shares the chilling tale of Jason Voorhees (Steve Daskewisz) with his team. He recounts how Jason drowned in the nearby lake, how Jason's mother turned out to be the infamous killer of "Camp Blood," and how Alice, the sole survivor of the massacre, mysteriously disappeared shortly thereafter. Paul also mentions that residents believe Jason is still alive and fiercely guard the area around Crystal Lake.
This memorable scene was filmed at 164 Kenmont Road, South Kent, Connecticut, with the serene North Spectacle Pond as the backdrop. However, the original structures used in the film were demolished in 2009, and a house now stands in their place. While fans cannot visit the house, they can still walk near the North Spectacle Pond.
To reach this location, your journey will begin with a trip to Litchfield, Connecticut. Upon arrival, embark on US-202 W and CT-341 W, and after a drive of approximately 30 minutes, you will arrive at your destination.
Jeff and Sandra explore the lake scene in Friday the 13th Part 2
North Spectacle Pond, Kent, Ct. 06757
The following day after the campfire story, Jeff and Sandra (Marta Kober) explore the now dilapidated Camp Crystal Lake. As they approach one of the cabins, they are stalked by an unseen figure who subsequently reveals himself to be a local policeman (Jack Marks), catching them trespassing. He escorts the two counselors to their camp, where Paul suggests only a mild punishment.
The scene was shot near North Spectacle Pond. This picturesque lagoon, located close to the quaint hamlet of East Kent and the historic Flanders District, spans 130 acres and has a maximum depth of 33 feet. North Spectacle Pond offers all the attractions of a large lake while retaining the charm and intimacy of a smaller one. Visitors can enjoy swimming and fishing in the lake, with abundant large and smallmouth bass populations adding to the appeal for anglers.
For those interested in activities beyond the waterfront, the town of Kent, Connecticut, offers several attractions. Kent Falls State Park is a popular destination, providing visitors with a tranquil journey through the stunning wilderness.
You would need to travel to Litchfield, Connecticut, to reach this location. Once there, take US-202 W and CT-341 W; within about half an hour, you will arrive at your destination.
Bar scene in Friday the 13th Part 2
47 W Shore Rd, New Preston, CT 06777, USA
A group of counselors, looking for respite, decide to party at a local bar. Amid the revelry, Ginny sparks a chilling conversation about the legend of Jason. She hypothesizes what Jason might be like if he were alive, suggesting he witnessed his mother's brutal murder and would now be a vengeful entity, oblivious to the concepts of life and death. Concurrently, back at the camp, the counselors who remained are being stalked and gruesomely murdered by the notorious villain of the film.
This intense scene was filmed at the Lake Waramaug Casino on West Shore Road. This establishment, which had been operating since the 1930s, served as a restaurant and nightclub. Interestingly, it closed its doors in 1981, coinciding with the movie's release.
To visit the location where this iconic scene was filmed, one would need to travel to New Preston, Connecticut. From downtown, it's a 3-minute drive by car via E Shore Rd. Unfortunately, the original Lake Waramaug Casino no longer stands, as it burned down years after the film was shot.
Conclusion
Part 2 of Friday the 13th may have started out with mixed reviews, but it has since become an iconic horror film and the basis for a successful franchise.
The cast delivers strong performances, capturing the story's inherent tension and fear, and Jason Voorhees is now a legendary villain. The writing may be light on plot twists, but it more than makes up for it with a terrifying atmosphere and a plethora of horrifying moments.
The movie expertly utilizes its surroundings, the lovely Connecticut towns of New Preston and Kent, to heighten the general feeling of terror. The eerie setting of this horror story is the tranquil North Spectacle Pond in Kent, which has been turned into the notorious Crystal Lake. The disturbing atmosphere is intensified by the film's bleak storyline set against such breathtaking natural scenery.
Friday the 13th Part 2 is a terrifying and entertaining horror film despite its lack of complexity. For fans of the horror genre who are curious about the background of an iconic villain, this film is a must-see. Furthermore, fans could have a more immersive experience by touring the filming sites to investigate the locations used for these renowned horror sequences.