Forget the usual fall-famous towns. These unexpected American destinations become ridiculously cinematic when October arrives.
Some towns are pretty in October. Others make you wonder if you’ve accidentally wandered onto a movie set. We’re not talking about the usual fall celebrities, either. Stowe and Woodstock are gorgeous, but they’ve had plenty of screen time. These seven American towns deliver historic streets, dramatic scenery and enough October atmosphere to make you expect someone to yell, “Action!”
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
If a slightly eccentric romantic comedy needed a fall location, Eureka Springs could audition without changing a thing. Victorian buildings seem to tumble down the hills of the Ozarks, streets curve in unexpected directions and stone stairways connect different levels of town. Add October color to the surrounding mountains and the whole place becomes wonderfully theatrical.
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
With mountains rising behind ornate Victorian buildings and an old railway station anchoring downtown, Jim Thorpe looks suspiciously like a production designer got an unlimited autumn budget. The surrounding Lehigh Gorge bursts into color in October, and scenic train excursions make the illusion even better.
Thomas, West Virginia
Tiny Thomas once thrived as a coal and railroad town. Today, historic buildings along Front Street house galleries, cafés, shops and music venues, while the surrounding Allegheny Mountains provide the scenery. In October, it feels like the setting for an indie movie you haven’t seen yet but already know you’re going to love.
Nevada City, California
California gets autumn, too. Nevada City’s Gold Rush-era downtown is packed with historic buildings, balconies and narrow streets that feel remarkably intact. When fall color arrives in the Sierra foothills, the town takes on the appearance of a very polished period-film set—with considerably better coffee.
Silverton, Colorado
Then there’s Silverton, where subtlety goes out the window. The former mining town sits at more than 9,000 feet in the San Juan Mountains, surrounded by enormous peaks. Golden aspens, historic storefronts and the possibility of early snow make October here look almost unreal.
Lanesboro, Minnesota
For the small-town movie where everybody knows everybody—and somebody inevitably owns an adorable bakery—there’s Lanesboro. Historic storefronts sit near the Root River, while wooded bluffs and farmland surround town. October supplies the color; Lanesboro supplies the charm.
Hermann, Missouri
Finally, Hermann looks as though a little piece of Germany landed among the hills and vineyards of Missouri. Its brick buildings, German heritage, wineries and Missouri River setting give it a completely different autumn personality.
Did you know?
None of these places needs fake leaves, strategically positioned pumpkins or a Hollywood lighting crew. October already handled production.
A little history:
Many towns weren’t designed to look historic—they simply are. Jim Thorpe grew from Pennsylvania’s 19th-century coal and railroad boom, Silverton and Nevada City were shaped by mining rushes, Thomas developed around coal and railroads, and Hermann was founded by German immigrants in the 1830s. Eureka Springs rapidly developed in the late 1800s, boasting elaborate Victorian architecture that still defines much of the town today.
