The “Real Life” Ebbing Missouri – and Five more Fictional Places You Can Visit
Rewind a couple of months and there wasn’t much to lure visitors to the unassuming mountain town of Sylva, North Carolina. But that is all set to change as the local tourist board hopes to cash in on the success of the hit film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” by branding itself as the real-life version of the town.
With a population of less than 3,000, Sylva is where director Martin McDonagh shot much of his Oscar-nominated film, prompting the North Carolina tourism wizards to list a three-day sightseeing tour around notable filming locations.
They state: “In Sylva, travellers can walk in the shoes of Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) as she battles with her community to dig deeper into her daughter’s violent death.”
The itinerary includes the public library, the Sylva Convenient Market and General Store and Dixon’s house (which, they warn, is a private residence) as things to see in the town.
Some might be disappointed to learn that the three billboards themselves are nowhere to be seen. The itinerary reads: “Though the billboards created by the production team are no longer there, the scenic road is worth the drive.”
Sylva isn’t the first place to latch onto a fictional film or TV location to attract tourists.
Five more fictional locations you can visit:
Downton Abbey: Highclere Castle, Hampshire
Twin Peaks: Seattle, USA
King’s Landing: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Middle Earth: New Zealand
Hundred Acre Wood: Ashdown Forest, East Sussex
Vocabulary:
rewind a couple of months – to think back or go back to a time a few months ago, “Rewind a couple of months, and I didn’t even know how to use this computer program.”
lure – to attract, tempt, or invite someone to go somewhere or do something, “The clear blue water of the pool began to lure the guests outside on the hot day.”
unassuming – quiet, simple, modest, and not drawing attention to itself, “He was a rich man, but he drove a small, unassuming car.”
cash in on – to take advantage of a situation or event in order to make money or gain a benefit quickly, “The shop tried to cash in on the heavy rain by selling expensive umbrellas.”
branding itself – creating a specific identity, image, or reputation for oneself or a place to attract people, “The quiet coastal village is branding itself as a paradise for surfers.”
notable – important, interesting, or remarkable enough to be noticed or remembered, “The tour guide pointed out several notable statues in the park.”
itinerary – a detailed plan or list of routes, places, and activities for a journey or trip, “Our travel itinerary includes visiting a museum on Tuesday and a castle on Wednesday.”
residence – a person’s home; a building or place where someone lives, “The governor’s official residence is a beautiful historic mansion.”
scenic – having beautiful, lovely, or impressive natural scenery or views, “We took a scenic train ride through the snowy mountains.”
latch onto – to attach oneself strongly to an idea, trend, or success and use it for one’s own advantage, “Many clothing brands latch onto popular movie trends to sell t-shirts.”