Where was The Misfits filmed?

When Roslyn decides to end her marriage, she goes to the courthouse to get a divorce along with her landlady, Isabelle, as her witness. Then they meet Raymond, who tries to talk to her and reconcile. But Roslyn is determined to file a divorce, saying, “I’m not blaming you. I never looked at you any different; I just don’t believe the whole thing anymore.” As you watch this scene, pay attention to the building where Raymond is standing while waiting for Roslyn. This sequence was filmed at the Washoe County Courthouse in Reno, Nevada. It was established in 1861 and was the third courthouse for Washoe County. It’s a Classical Revival with an influence of Beaux-Arts architecture, completed in 1911. The building boasts decorative features in terra cotta, a grand stairway, and an elegant copper dome. Due to the state’s liberal divorce laws, the courthouse became a symbolic monument for people who wished to end their marriages in a timely way. It also housed the County Clerk’s Office, where marriage licenses can be purchased. The Washoe County Courthouse has undergone several renovations over the decades, including additions to the courthouse made in 1946, 1949, and 1693. Today, it is listed in the Reno Register of Historic Places, the Nevada State Register of Historic Places, and the National Register of Historic Places. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) RIDE is the public bus system serving the greater Reno/Sparks area. You can take bus one or VRGN bus with stops close to the courthouse.

“If you throw in your ring, you’ll never get another divorce,” Isabelle says as she and Roslyn stop by the bridge and look down the river after coming from the courthouse to end Roslyn’s marriage. In the end, she decides to keep her ring. Isabelle probably made up that statement, but when she said, “Go ahead, honey; everybody does it,” she’s speaking a bit of truth there. Legend has it that after exiting the courthouse, newly divorced women would stand on the bridge and toss their wedding bands into the Truckee River below. This iconic bridge you’ll see in this scene is the Virginia Street Bridge in downtown Reno. It was built in 1905 and was the first reinforced concrete bridge in Nevada. It’s also the oldest functioning bridge in the city, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But because it’s susceptible to flooding, the old bridge was replaced, unveiling a new design in 2016 with plenty of room for floodwater. Walking across the Virginia Street Bridge should be part of your adventure while exploring the Riverwalk District in Reno, Nevada. It features wide sidewalks and offers lovely river views and the surrounding cityscape. It’s only a short walk from the courthouse and is accessible by public transportation.

From the bridge, we follow Roslyn and Isabelle to Harrah’s Club, where they decide to have some drinks. But Roslyn is obviously feeling dejected, so Isabelle tries to cheer her up, saying, “Well, you’re free. Maybe the trouble is you’re not used to it yet.” But Roslyn disagrees. She argues, “No. The trouble is I always end back where I started.” The now-defunct Mapes Hotel served as the Harrah’s Club in this scene. It was a hotel and casino in the center of downtown Reno, next to the Virginia Street Bridge. It became the state’s tallest building when it opened in the city in 1947. The primary feature of this twelve-story hotel was the Sky Room on the 12th floor, overlooking the Truckee River. It also offered floor shows, dining, dancing, cocktail lounges, and gambling areas on the top and main floors. Financial struggles led the Mapes Hotel organization to file for bankruptcy, and the building eventually closed in 1982. Then in 1996, it was sold to the Reno Redevelopment Agency. The site had been paved with concrete by 2008 and now functions as a plaza and an outdoor ice rink during winter. To get here, you can take bus 7, with stops at North Virginia Street, just a short distance from the site.

The group, including Guido, Gay, Roslyn, and Isabelle, travels to the countryside to Guido’s home. It was a nice change of environment for Roslyn, with open space, gorgeous nature views, and fresh air, allowing her to relax and start fresh after her divorce. At first, she isn’t sure if she wants to stay there for long, but Gay encourages her, saying, “There’s no better place to be, and you couldn’t find a better company either.” The production headed to the Quail Canyon Ranch and built The Misfits film set to capture the openness of the area and the beautiful landscape needed for Guido’s home scenes. The ranch is located south of Mullen Pass, close to Jackass Peak. It has expansive areas of dirt roads you can explore and nature trails for all hikers and skill levels. It would be hard to get to Quail Canyon Ranch via public transportation, so driving a car is your best bet. Hiring a taxi can be costly, so it’s ideal to rent a car and drive to the site.

Finally settling in her new home in the Nevada countryside with the cowboys, especially with Gay, the couple goes out for a horse ride and enjoys the rural area. Then, they reach the beautiful lake where Roslyn is seen swimming and playing with Gay’s dog while he happily watches them. To shoot this scene, the cast and crew moved to the south shore of the gorgeous Pyramid Lake to film Monroe swimming. The white salt flats of the lake were also featured in the roping of the stallions scene in the film. Surrounding the lake are treeless hills and a sandy desert you’ll also see in the movie sequence. The area is part of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation in Nevada, including a 5-mile-wide strip of land around the lake's edge and a narrow section to the south along the Truckee River. Spanning around 120,000 acres, Pyramid Lake is one of Nevada’s largest natural lakes today. It’s also the largest remnant of ancient Lake Lahontan, an inland sea that once covered most of the state. It’s a fantastic place for swimming, camping, boating, bird-watching, sightseeing, fishing, and more. While there, you can also check out the Pyramid Lake Paiute Museum and Visitors Center. It features several displays and exhibits about the lake’s natural history and the tribe’s past and culture. The Pyramid Lake is located north of Reno, Nevada. All visitors are welcome here to visit and enjoy recreational activities. To get there, take I-80 eastbound and get off on exit 18. Then head north about 35 miles, and you’ll arrive at Pyramid Lake.

On their way to the local rodeo to hire a third man to round up wild mustangs with them, the group runs into Perce Howland (Montgomery Clift). He is Gay’s cowboy friend who stays in Dayton to compete in the rodeo. When Gay asks if he signed up for the competition, Perce replies, “I aim to be if I can get me a ride to town and if I could raise ten bucks for the entrance.” However, he just spent his last $2 for the phone booth. So he becomes the third man while Gay helps raise the amount he needs to compete. The wild horse roping took place in Misfits Flat. But the part where they meet Perce was filmed at the northeast corner of Dayton Valley Rd and Lincoln Hwy in Dayton, Nevada. It is close to several historical landmarks, including the historic Carson & Colordao Depot, which was constructed in 1879 but destroyed in the 2020 fire. Due to its central location, this filming location is easy to spot and accessible. Though there’s nothing much to do here, you can visit the cultural attractions and sights near the area during your tour.