Where was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre filmed?

The movie begins with a disturbing scene featuring flashbulbs illuminating the decomposing faces of corpses. The unique sound effect accompanying the scene is the eerie whine produced by running a tuning fork across a piano wire, which is a trademark sound of the franchise. After that, the camera zooms out to show something even more terrifying: bodies have been pulled from graves and arranged into grotesque sculptures. Some of these bodies hang from trees, while others dangle from tombstones or lie sprawled on the ground. It’s a chillingly macabre sight that has stayed with viewers ever since. We are introduced to Sally (Marilyn Burns) and Franklin (Paul A. Partain) as they arrive to investigate whether their grandfather's grave has been desecrated. The Bagdad Cemetery was the filming location for the cemetery scene in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It is situated at 400 N Bagdad Rd, Texas, and still exists today, although it has undergone significant changes since its use in the movie in 1974. To reach this location, you can drive on the road connecting Austin with US-183 Hwy N and Route 183A N. Depending on the traffic conditions, it will take around 30 minutes. It would help if you went to the big building in the middle to find where the "dug-up bodies" were placed at the cemetery. Follow the path until you reach a tall fluted pillar with an angled top taller than the surrounding stones.

The group (Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Allen Danziger, Teri McMinn, and William Vail) makes a stop at the Last Chance Gas Station, where they are warned of the dangers of exploring the area by an old man (Jim Siedow) who runs the station. The old man cautioned the young people against their plan to visit the old Hardesty home by noting that the locals in that area generally do not welcome strangers. This scene has become iconic for its portrayal of rural Americana and its use of a Coca-Cola sign to signify that this gas station is not only the last chance for the group to get fuel but also their last hope for safety in the face of possible danger. The scene was filmed at 1073 TX-304, Bastrop, Texas. The building originally housed a general store which was transformed into the Last Chance Gas Station by Hooper's crew. A sign was added to the facade featuring a Coca-Cola logo. Underneath the logo, another sign reads "We Slaughter Barbecue" to enhance authenticity. The building has undergone restoration, which involved adding the sign, a rusty truck, and a memorial bench for deceased cast members and the Texas Chain Saw crew. The base of the bench now bears the words "The Saw Is Family." To get to this location from Austin: Take Highway 71 east towards Bastrop and then take Highway 304 east for 1 mile. It should be on your left side, and you will see signage marking 1073 TX-304. From Houston: Take Highway 71 west towards Bastrop and proceed as above once you reach Bastrop. The address will be marked with a small metal street sign next to a tree-lined private driveway.

The farmhouse scene occurs in and around the dilapidated rural farmhouse the Sawyer family owns. The house's interior reflects their feral lifestyle and twisted version of "family values," with decorations made up of roadkill and scraps of meat from a local slaughterhouse. It's an eerie setting that gives off a sense of dread as if this could be the last home for any unsuspecting traveler who dares to enter. The film's director Tobe Hooper masterfully combines suspenseful music, tight editing, and disturbing visuals to create a unique atmosphere. The farmhouse symbolizes the grim stagnation that can occur when progress ceases in small towns. Here, cannibalism has taken root instead of economic growth or social advancement. This depiction has become iconic in horror cinema, with many films trying to recreate its oppressive atmosphere. During filming, the Victorian-era farmhouse was located at 1010 King Court in Kingsland, Texas. The location is now known as Hooper's, an homage to Tobe Hooper himself. The Hooper's bar is located within the Antlers Inn resort, originally a railroad inn. It has now been transformed into a complex with distinctive lodging options, such as a red caboose that can be rented for the night. If you're interested in visiting this site, it's within the city limits, so it's easy to find by car or public transportation. To get there from Austin, take State Hwy 71 W. It will take around 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach your destination.

The tension in the scene between Sally (Marilyn Burns) and Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen) in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is palpable. In a desperate attempt to escape the relentless killer wielding his chainsaw, Sally jumps into the back of a passing pickup truck driven by an unknown man. Leatherface still gives chase, and his rage intensifies as he swings his chainsaw around in circles in full sunlight just off the side of Old Country Road 172. The iconic moment has remained in pop culture for decades since its release. In the book "Chain Saw Confidential," Hansen remembers when he was swinging a real chainsaw on a dirt road after a long night of filming. He was exhausted and delirious at the time. During the scene, Hansen used a chainsaw while Hooper was filming him from close range. Even though it was risky, Hooper included the shot in the final movie. The location where this particular scene was filmed is Old Country Road 172, located near Round Rock, Texas. It's an area that's seen significant change since being used for filming over 50 years ago. It has gone from a rural farm area to one of the most populous suburbs in Austin. It remains recognizable despite its transformation, with specific markers still visible such as large trees and wooden telephone poles that have been there for decades. To access this iconic location today, visitors can take I-35 North until they exit 251 onto Old Settler’s Blvd. From there, it's a short drive to Old Country Road 172 on their left-hand side, the same road Sally drives down before hopping into the back of that passing truck, escaping Leatherface's clutches.