The “Tree Hill” Tour (New locations added!)

Tree Hill, North Carolina and its residents are full of drama — but your trip to its filming location (Wilmington, NC) will be nothing but amazing. In the cute coastal spot you can enjoy a leisurely afternoon of shopping, dining, and checking out your favorite “One Tree Hill” locations. And, since the show is currently in production, you have a pretty good chance of running into one of the show’s stars! Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton, and other cast members own homes in and around Wilmington, and are often seen hanging out at local spots.

Welcome to Wilmington! Better known to fans as Tree Hill. (LTM)

 If you fly into Wilmington International Airport, you’ll immediately recognize it from the Tree Hill airport scenes - for example, when Lucas goes to pick up his Mom and Brooke thinks he’s there for her, or when Brooke and Lucas go to the airport to send baby Angie home. When I was at ILM, I ran into Ashley Rickards! (She plays angsty teen Sam in season six.)

Let’s head into town. This fountain, on Market Street, makes an appearance in an episode that takes place in Savannah, Georgia, when Peyton takes Jake’s daughter Jenny for a walk:

Peyton walked by this fountain while checking out the Savannah College of Art and Design. (LTM)

Much of the action on “One Tree Hill” takes place down at the Riverfront, which is a beautiful and historic area.

Wilmington's riverfront serves as a backdrop for countless "One Tree Hill" scenes. (LTM)

Crews often add romantic lighting to set the scene — Nathan and Haley, Peyton and Jake, and Brooke and Chase have all had cute dates down by the Riverfront. The Burning Boat Festival took place down by the river, and a lot of establishing shots are Riverfront footage as well.

This setting has been in the background of several "One Tree Hill" shots. (LTM)

From the Riverfront, you can see the bridge that Lucas dribbles across in the opening credits, and across the way is the River Court that houses the outdoor ball games, most importantly the playoff between Lucas and Nathan in the pilot episode.

"I don't want to be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately..." (LTM)

Several downtown restaurants and stores have been used on the show as well. At 8 Market Street is CD Alley, where Tyler Hilton’s character Chris Keller works. Peyton goes there to put up fliers for Tric and fights with him. They’ve also got a pretty decent music selection, so take the time to shop around a little while you’re there!

Downtown shop-lined streets play a big role on "One Tree Hill." (LTM)

Troublemaker Chris Keller works at CD Alley. (LTM)

At 5 South Water Street is the Water Street Restaurant, which doubled as Leery’s Fresh Fish on “Dawson’s Creek.” For “One Tree Hill,” the open-air patio was used as a market.

This location did double-duty on "Tree Hill" and "Creek." (LTM)

Brooke and Lucas’s tattoo date in the first season took place at Blue Post Billiards, at 15 South Water Street. It’s 21+.

Think twice before you get a tattoo on the first date. Brooke and Lucas didn't. (LTM)

Remember the Swinging Donkey where Nathan visited Haley’s sister Taylor in Season Two? That’s actually Hell’s Kitchen, at 118 Princess Street, which was also used on “Dawson’s Creek”!

Hell's Kitchen doubled as the Swinging Donkey. (LTM)

A special set was built downtown for Karen’s Cafe, at the corner of Grace Street & North Front Street. It’s now Clothes Over Bro’s on the show, but this is what it looked like when we were first there:

Lucas's mom runs this popular café in Tree Hill. (LTM)

While you’re in Wilmington, don’t forget to check out Screen Gems Studios at 1223 23rd Street North. It’s where “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Tree Hill” sets have been housed, and the tour guides do a great job of showing you great “One Tree Hill” sets and telling you fun trivia!

Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington.

You can take a tour for $12 if you’re a student, and when we were there we walked through the halls of Tree Hill High, sat in the gym bleachers and a classroom, poked our heads into the locker room, and even wandered around the kitchen and living room of the Scott mansion. It’s definitely worth the price of admission!

A proud "One Tree Hill" display at Screen Gems Studios. (LTM)

Before you leave Wilmington, find a way to stop by the Reel Café at 100 South Front Street. Though not a filming location itself, it’s supposedly a major hangout for the cast of “One Tree Hill” (and formerly for “Dawson’s Creek” cast members too). It has a Hard Rock Café feel to it, but with film and television memorabilia (including “Creek” and “Tree Hill” posters). It’s a fun place to eat and hang, and who knows who you could run into?

The Reel Café in downtown Wilmington. (LTM)

A "One Tree Hill" poster at the Reel Café. (LTM)

*** UPDATED WITH NEW INFO AND NEW LOCATIONS!

While you’re walking around in downtown Wilmington, check out Cape Fear Community College’s Schwartz Center – if you go around back, you’ll instantly recognize the exterior courtyard of Tree Hill High! It’s at 610 N Front Street.

Tree Hill's courtyard is really behind Cape Fear Community College's Schwartz Center. (LTM)

Where Karen’s Cafe once was, now stands Brooke’s clothing boutique Clothes Over Bro’s at the corner of Grace St and Front St. While you can’t go inside and shop, you can peek in the windows and check out the awnings and exteriors. (Worry not, the exterior door for Karen’s Cafe is still there! You’ll get to see both.)

Clothes Over Bro's! (LTM)

Don’t forget that WB favorite “Dawson’s Creek” was also filmed in Wilmington! Many “Creek” locations are still up and running, and you can get more information about them in our “DC” story here!

- Story and Photos by Christina LeBlanc, Executive Editor