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The Truth About Forrest Gump's House: Where Is It Now And What Can You Still Visit?

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The iconic image of Forrest Gump sitting on the porch swing of his dilapidated but charming childhood home is one of the most recognizable in cinema history. For decades, fans have searched for the exact location of the Gump family residence, hoping to catch a glimpse of the boarding house run by Mrs. Gump. As of late 2025, the definitive answer to "where is Forrest Gump's house" is both surprising and a little heartbreaking for movie buffs, as the house you remember from the 1994 classic is no longer standing, but the stunning, historical land it was built on remains a key destination for fans.

The entire film, which follows the life of Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks), is set in the fictional town of Greenbow, Alabama, but the actual filming location for the Gump house was thousands of miles away in the picturesque South Carolina Lowcountry, a region famed for its sprawling plantations and marshland beauty. The house was merely a temporary, purpose-built set, designed to be torn down once the final shots were captured by director Robert Zemeckis. This article will reveal the exact location, the fate of the house, and the other key sites you can still visit today.

The Definitive Location and Current Status of the Gump House

The Gump family's boarding house was not an existing structure but a meticulously crafted movie set. It was designed and constructed in just two months to serve the production's needs, specifically for the interior and exterior shots. The location chosen for this cinematic landmark is a vast, private, and historic property in the heart of South Carolina.

  • Actual Filming Location: Bluff Plantation (also known as Twickenham Plantation)
  • Nearest Town: Yemassee, South Carolina
  • Specific Area: Along the Combahee River, in the South Carolina Lowcountry
  • Fictional Setting: Greenbow, Alabama
  • Current Status of the House: The structure was dismantled and torn down immediately after filming wrapped in 1994. The house was a temporary facade that did not meet standard building codes, necessitating its removal.

The property where the house once stood is a massive, 8,000-acre tract of land, rich in history and natural beauty. While the house itself is gone, the land remains a powerful visual connection to the film, especially the iconic driveway and the surrounding moss-draped oak trees.

Why the House Was Torn Down: The Set Design Reality

Many fans are surprised to learn that the Gump house was a temporary build. In the world of major movie production, this is a common practice, especially for structures that need to look period-specific or are located in remote areas. The house was essentially a large prop. Only a handful of rooms were fully finished for the interior scenes, and the structure was never intended to be a permanent dwelling. Once filming was complete, the production crew followed protocol, removing the set and restoring the Bluff Plantation property to its original state, leaving behind only the natural landscape that provided the film's stunning backdrop.

The Iconic Forrest Gump Filming Locations You Can Still Visit

While the house is gone, the South Carolina Lowcountry is still a treasure trove of Forrest Gump filming locations. Many of the most memorable scenes, from Forrest's childhood run to the Vietnam War sequences, were shot in and around the historic town of Beaufort, South Carolina, near Yemassee.

1. The Famous Driveway and Tree Location

The long, scenic driveway leading to the Gump house is arguably the most recognizable remaining site. This is where young Forrest is chased by bullies in a pickup truck and where he first experiences the advice to "Run, Forrest, run!" The drive is part of the Bluff Plantation property, and the landscape is virtually unchanged.

  • The Drive Location: 3547 Combahee Road, Yemassee, SC
  • The Iconic Tree: Near the drive, the massive, moss-draped oak tree where Forrest and Jenny often sat is still standing. The tree is an essential entity in the film, symbolizing their enduring friendship and connection to the land. A specific address associated with the tree is 2979 Combahee Road, Yemassee, SC.

A Note for Visitors: Bluff Plantation is private property. While the road itself is public, visitors should be respectful of the owners' privacy and view the sites from public access points only.

2. Greenbow, Alabama's Main Street (Varnville, SC)

The fictional town of Greenbow, Alabama, where Forrest attends school and begins his life's journey, was primarily filmed in the small town of Varnville, South Carolina. This town, located about 35 miles northwest of Beaufort, provided the perfect authentic, small-town American backdrop.

  • What to See: Many of the main street shops and buildings in Varnville have retained their cinematic look. Walking through the town offers a genuine feel for the film's nostalgic setting.

3. Forrest's Army Days and Vietnam (Parris Island and Beaufort River)

The film used the real-life Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island for Forrest's basic training scenes. This is a working military installation, but visitors can access certain areas. For the visually stunning, yet terrifying, Vietnam War scenes, the production crew didn't travel to Southeast Asia. Instead, they used the lush, dense marshlands and waterways of the Beaufort River and the surrounding Lowcountry. The dense foliage and winding rivers of the area perfectly stood in for the Mekong Delta, showcasing the versatility of the South Carolina landscape.

The Legacy of Greenbow, Alabama and Bluff Plantation

The legacy of Forrest Gump transcends its temporary filming locations. The film, which won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Tom Hanks, is a cultural phenomenon that continues to draw visitors to the Lowcountry region. The story of Forrest, Jenny, Lieutenant Dan, and Bubba is inextricably linked to the atmosphere created by the South Carolina Lowcountry's unique ecology and historical plantations.

The fact that the Gump house was a temporary set adds to the film's mystique. It reinforces the idea that the true "home" of Forrest Gump is not a physical building but the enduring spirit of the land, the memory of his mother's love, and the enduring friendship with Jenny. While you cannot sit on the porch swing, a visit to the Bluff Plantation area in Yemassee, SC, allows you to stand on the very ground where Forrest's incredible journey began. The sprawling oak trees, the quiet Combahee River, and the long, winding drive remain a powerful, tangible link to one of the most beloved movies of all time.

The Truth About Forrest Gump's House: Where Is It Now and What Can You Still Visit?
where is forrest gump's house
where is forrest gump's house

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