Where was Varsity Blues filmed?
1999
City Locations
Austin, Texas (USA)
Location Types
Schools/Colleges, Restaurant, House
Location Styles
Americana/Anywhere, Craftsman, Rustic, Parking Lot
About Varsity Blues
Envisioned as a '90s rendition of the Tom Cruise teen drama and set against the backdrop of a football-obsessed Texan town, Varsity Blues is a 1999 American coming-of-age sports movie helmed by Brian Robbins. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including James Van Der Beek, Jon Voight, Paul Walker, Ali Larter, Ron Lester, and Scott Caan. The narrative revolves around Jonathan Moxon (James Van Der Beek), the backup quarterback for a high school football team in Texas. When the team's first-choice quarterback Lance Harbor (Walker), suffers an injury, Mox suddenly finds himself in the spotlight.
The film narrates the journey of Mox as he transitions from being a backup to the starting quarterback for his high school football team. Suddenly pushed into the limelight after years spent in Lance's shadow, Mox grapples with his newfound fame. He also has to navigate through Coach Kilmer's (Voight) callous coaching methods, help his teammates Billy Bob (Lester) and Tweeder (Caan) steer clear of self-destruction and manage the complexities of initiating a relationship with Darcy (Larter), Lance's girlfriend.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the movie managed to rake in a domestic box office gross of $52 million, significantly surpassing its estimated budget of $16 million. Over time, the film has developed a cult following. It received nominations at various award ceremonies, such as the Teen Choice Awards and the MTV Movie Awards, where it was nominated for Best Movie Song. James Van Der Beek also won Breakthrough Male Performance at the 1999 MTV Movie Awards.
Varsity Blues Locations
Varsity Blues was filmed almost entirely in Texas. The production team traveled to Williamson County, Elgin, and Austin to take advantage of the state's diverse landscapes. While most of the shooting occurred in Williamson County in central Texas, including pivotal scenes at Georgetown High School Eagle Field and Elgin Elementary School, some filming also occurred around Austin.
The backdrop for Varsity Blues offers an extensive array of natural beauty and landmarks. In Williamson County alone, viewers can catch glimpses of mountains, farmlands, and deserts, all within close proximity. Visitors can also explore iconic locations featured in the film, such as Georgetown High School Eagle Field, while soaking up a bit of local heritage. Those looking for a bit of city life will find a vibrant live music scene in Austin, where blues, country, and rock genres reign supreme.
Did you know?
Despite the character Billy Bob being written as an 18-year-old high school senior, the actor who brought him to life, Ron Lester, was actually 28 years old during the movie's filming.
Jonathan Moxon's house scene in Varsity Blues
380 N Broad St, Coupland, TX 78615, USA
The opening scene introduces us to Mox as he struggles against his father's (Thomas F. Duffy) wishes to have him play football for Bud Kilmer, West Canaan’s legendary coach. His father puts a lot of pressure on him, pushing him to live his life through football and not using his brain for academic pursuits. Although he has friends and a girlfriend (Amy Smart) and is academically successful, he feels unhappy with his life.
Jonathan's house, where this scene was filmed, is located at 380 N Broad St, Coupland, in Texas. The house has a unique architectural style with two stories and a large porch. It also features picturesque views of rolling hills and quiet rural streets, all of which are part of what makes it so iconic from the movie.
If you're traveling from Austin, you can reach this destination by driving northeast from Austin. The 30-mile journey will take around 40-45 minutes to complete.
Austin Filming Locations Search
Lance Harbor's house scene in Varsity Blues
102 N Broad St, Coupland, TX 78615, USA
In the movie, the harsh coaching methods of Kilmer have a negative impact on Lance Harbor, the Coyotes' quarterback who is also Mox's best friend. The film reveals that Lance's knee injury was treated with cortisone shots, causing it to give out during a crucial tackle. In the movie, there is a scene where there is a party taking place at Lance's house. There is also a large poster in front of Lance's house that reads, "Coyotes. Lance Harbor."
The scene was filmed at 102 N Broad St, Coupland, Texas, and has become an iconic location for fans of Varsity Blues. Lance's house is located close to Mox's house, allowing fans to visit both locations within the same city conveniently. However, it's important to note that the property is privately owned, meaning that visitors are only permitted to view the house's exterior.
You can get to this location by traveling about 30 miles northeast of Austin. Allow about 45 minutes of travel time to get there by car.
Austin Video Shoot Locations Finder
High school scenes in Varsity Blues
Elgin Elementary School, 1005 W 2nd St, Elgin, TX 78621, USA
Viewers might recall a comical moment in the film when a health teacher (Tonie Perensky) attempts to navigate through the subject of sex education with her class. There are several other school scenes featured throughout the film, showcasing the complexities of surviving high school as a teenager.
A substantial portion of scenes, especially those set in "West Cannan High School," were filmed within Elgin. The high school scenes occurred at Elgin Elementary School, located at 1005 W 2nd St, Elgin. The exterior of the building remains unchanged from its depiction in the film. Visitors can also check out the parking lot and catch a glimpse of the water tower, both of which were featured in the movie.
Those traveling from afar can reach the location by taking the US-290 E route from Austin. It’ll take around half an hour to get there by car.
Mox visits Jules at work scene in Varsity Blues
Top Notch Hamburgers, 7525 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757, USA
Mox drops by to see his girlfriend, Jules, at her workplace. Jules provides him with some hard love when the spotlight of being the lead quarterback starts to influence him. She understands that Mox has greater aspirations beyond football and keeps reminding him to chase his dreams rather than trying to fit into the mold that Coach Kilmer and his football-focused father believe he should conform to.
The historic venue where this scene was filmed can be found at 7525 Burnet Road, Austin. It opened in 1971 and remains unchanged, serving up classic fried chicken, burgers, and onion rings. The drive-in was also featured in the 1993 movie Dazed and Confused, directed by Richard Linklater.
The most convenient mode of transportation to Top Notch Hamburgers is by car. From downtown Austin, a car journey via TX-1 Loop N and Burnet Rd will take around 15 minutes.
Access Austin Film Shoot Locations
Strip club scene in Varsity Blues
The Landing Strip, 745 S Hwy 183, Austin, TX 78741, USA
Fans will undoubtedly recall a standout scene from the film that is set in a strip club. Lance, Mox, Billy Bob, and others visit the strip club to enjoy free drinks and unwind. Billy Bob's memorable line, "It's a strip club, man. I'm here to work," is still remembered by many.
This iconic scene was filmed at Austin's renowned gentleman's club, The Landing Strip, which has also featured in productions such as Grind House and Friday Night Lights.
To get to The Landing Strip from downtown Austin you can take E 7th St. The trip will take approximately 15 minutes and on-site parking is available.
The final game scene in Varsity Blues
Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex, 2275 N Austin Ave, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA
Mox confronts Coach Kilmer, stating that they will only return to the game if he's not involved. Faced with the prospect of forfeiting the match, Kilmer becomes enraged and lashes out at Mox. The other players intervene, breaking up the altercation and subsequently refusing to step onto the field.
Recognizing that his outburst has undermined his authority, Kilmer makes a futile attempt to rally the team and reignite their trust in him, but not a single player joins him as he leaves the locker room. The coach retreats to his office, but despite his absence, the team triumphs in the game without his leadership.
The away game for the Coyotes was filmed at Georgetown High School's football stadium (2275 N Austin Ave), which was demolished in 2010. That location now appears as Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex, where you can still feel the atmosphere of the big game that took place here in Varsity Blues.
To reach the destination, visitors need to take a private car along Interstate 35 N from downtown Austin, and it takes approximately 35 minutes to get there.
Conclusion
Varsity Blues is an exciting exploration of the high school football scene in West Texas. The movie stars James Van Der Beek as the outcast quarterback who would instead get an academic scholarship than play football.
Varsity Blues has been credited for bringing a unique outsider’s perspective to sports movies. Despite its flaws, it is still an entertaining watch with some memorable scenes and performances that will stick with you after viewing it.
Best of all, if you’re a fan of this much-loved sports film, it’s easy to check out some of its most memorable filming locations in person.