Play movie star in homes and hotels that were famous film settings

“Pink is my signature colour.”

There may be no better ‘chick flick’ than the 1980s comedy-drama Steel Magnolias. Released over 28 years ago, this heartwarming and witty film featured some of Hollywood’s leading ladies, including Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and then-newcomer Julia Roberts.

But you may not know that you can experience a big part of the film, plus some true southern charm and hospitality, at the Eatenton family’s historic home, which was featured in the movie.

In 2003, the Southern-style home Natchitoches, Louisiana, was transformed into a bed and breakfast named The Steel Magnolias House. While it’s changed hands a few times since then, the exterior and interior of the home on Jefferson Street hasn’t changed a bit. 

And it only gets better – inside, visitors can stay in six suites named after the characters in the film. As an example, The Shelby Room is decorated in Shelby’s (Julia) ‘signature’ pink. Plenty of antiques and Steel Magnolias memorablia are also on-site, including costume sketches and behind-the-scenes-photos.

And if the stay isn’t already enough, you can also book a tour and experience the full Steel Magnolias experience in Natchitoches, including a glimpse of Truvy’s (Dolly) Beauty Shop and a visit to St. Augustine Catholic Church where Shelby’s wedding took place.

The ’80s classic, a film adaption of a play written by Robert Harling of Natchitoches, was based on the true story of his family’s experiences during the life and death of his sister, Susan Harling Robinson, who was played by Julia. 

If Steel Magnolias wasn’t your thing, however, there are plenty of other film settings that now offer accommodation in the US.

The fictional Kellerman’s Resort that was the setting for 1987’s Dirty Dancing is actually the Mountain Lake Hotel in Pembroke, Virginia, while the setting for 1990’s Pretty Woman was the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California – and there’s even a chance to choose the Pretty Woman Suite. (The hotel also hosted Escape from the Planet of the Apes in 1971, according to Mental Floss, but that may be less of a lure for a stay there!)

If Bond is more your style, the Fontaineblue Miami Beach in Florida was the setting for 1965’s Goldfinger – BYO gold bodypaint – as well as 1960’s The Bellboy starring Jery Lewis.

From the same era was Some Like It Hot, which starred Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, in the setting of the Hotel Del Coronado in Coronada, California.

For real old-style glamour, however, Mental Floss notes that the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, which opened in 1923, has long fascinated movie-makers, and was a setting for The Sting in 1973, Ghostbusters in 1984 and many more films.