Woodstock, set of Groundhog Day
by Arthur
Posted on Friday, December 30th, 2005 at 10:57 pm CET
Today we visited Woodstock, IL, to see the set of one of my favorite movies, Groundhog Day (1993), featuring Bill Murray. Groundhog Day was filmed here 13 years ago, but everything still looks just as in the movie. You can retrace Bill Murray’s footsteps from Ned’s Corner to Tip Top Bistro to the place where he stepped into the puddle, then across the street toward Gobbler’s Knob in Square Park.
The movie Groundhog Day was filmed in Woodstock because of its quaint and old-fashioned town square. The beautiful Square Park is where the Groundhog Day ceremony takes place in the movie.
Gobbler’s Knob (south-west corner of Square Park)We had lunch at the Tip Top Bistro. The food was delicious.
From a recent review in the Chicago Tribune:
The restaurant used in the 1993 movie was called the Tip Top Cafe, but the movie’s fictional “Cafe” was actually an empty storefront used for the film’s restaurant scenes. The spot on the square has continued to change its identity over the years, and the new Tip Top Bistro has been open for about six months.
Tip Top BistroIn front of the Tip Top Bistro is a small plaque on the ground where Bill Murray (as Phil Connors) stepped into the puddle.
Bill Murray’s puddleUnfortunately the Chamber of Commerce was closed. We could see lots of Groundhog Day souvenirs inside through the window.
The beautiful Opera House on the south side of Square Park was Pennsylvania Hotel where Andie MacDowell (as Rita) was staying:
Opera HouseOn our way out we drove by the Cherry Street Inn, which is the bed and breakfast where Bill Murray was staying. This is actually a private residence:
Cherry Street InnHere’s a Google Map with some of the Groundhog Day movie locations. For a full list check this PDF map from the Woodstock website (also available for free from the Chamber of Commerce).
Today we visited Woodstock, IL, to see the set of one of my favorite movies, Groundhog Day (1993), featuring Bill Murray. Groundhog Day was filmed here 13 years ago, but everything still looks just as in the movie. You can retrace Bill Murray’s footsteps from Ned’s Corner to Tip Top Bistro to the place where he stepped into the puddle, then across the street toward Gobbler’s Knob in Square Park.
The movie Groundhog Day was filmed in Woodstock because of its quaint and old-fashioned town square. The beautiful Square Park is where the Groundhog Day ceremony takes place in the movie.
Gobbler’s Knob (south-west corner of Square Park)
We had lunch at the Tip Top Bistro. The food was delicious.
From a recent review in the Chicago Tribune:
The restaurant used in the 1993 movie was called the Tip Top Cafe, but the movie’s fictional “Cafe” was actually an empty storefront used for the film’s restaurant scenes. The spot on the square has continued to change its identity over the years, and the new Tip Top Bistro has been open for about six months.
Tip Top Bistro
In front of the Tip Top Bistro is a small plaque on the ground where Bill Murray (as Phil Connors) stepped into the puddle.
Bill Murray’s puddle
Unfortunately the Chamber of Commerce was closed. We could see lots of Groundhog Day souvenirs inside through the window.
The beautiful Opera House on the south side of Square Park was Pennsylvania Hotel where Andie MacDowell (as Rita) was staying:
Opera House
On our way out we drove by the Cherry Street Inn, which is the bed and breakfast where Bill Murray was staying. This is actually a private residence:
Cherry Street Inn
Here’s a Google Map with some of the Groundhog Day movie locations. For a full list check this PDF map from the Woodstock website (also available for free from the Chamber of Commerce).
February 2nd, 2006 at 9:21 am
[...] Today is Groundhog Day, and this reminds me to our visit to Woodstock IL in December, where the film Groundhog Day was filmed. There are events today in Punxsutawney PA and Woodstock IL for the event. [...]
February 4th, 2006 at 12:46 am
I spent most weekends for about three years in Woodstock, IL. Love the Opera House and town square. The Woodstock Jewelers is visible in the background in the movie behind Ned’s first entrance.
What fun! thanks.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
My friends live in Woodstock next to the town square. Bill Murry while filming was going to stay at my grandmother’s house in Marengo, but she said no. Also the lady I work with is Bill Murry’s 2nd cousin. Small world huh?
February 27th, 2006 at 4:50 am
i live on the same street as that of bill murray’s home in the movie. i have childhood memories of watching the movie being filmed from my front porch. who would have thought it would become so famous?
April 23rd, 2006 at 5:11 pm
AFTER LIVING MY ENTIRE LIFE IN WOODSTOCK I REALLY WHISH HOLLYWOOD WOULD FILM ANOTHER MOVIE THERE SO THAT PEOPLE COULD GET OVER THIS WHOLE GROUNDHOG’S DAY THING.
December 28th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
[...] Another year has passed. The year started in Deerfield visiting Amy’s parents, where on 1 January we went to Illinois Beach State Park and later that week visited Woodstock where Groundhog Day was filmed. Then in March we went to India for 18 days where we toured around Rajasthan and saw tigers and palaces and played Holi. Throughout the summer we did a lot of hiking and going to bird hides in the Netherlands. In May we did a long excursion at Zwanenwater with Natuurmonumenten. In June we drove to Brittany in France where we canoed in Brière nature park, saw prehistoric megaliths in Carnac, walked along the coast in Amorique nature park, and visited the medieval town of Guérande. We also made some practise dives in Nemo 33 in Brussels and at Oostvoornse Meer. In August Amy took me to Madrid for my 30th birthday, which was my first time in Spain, and two months later we went to South Florida where we hiked in the Everglades and dived off the Florida Keys. Here is my personal best and worst of 2006 in the categories adventure, discovery, hotel, experience, buy and surprise. [...]
June 5th, 2007 at 4:31 am
I just finished watching the film ‘GROUNDHOG DAY’ on TV (even though we own a video). All the family walked through the room as the movie progressed; they would pause, laugh or say a few lines in unison with the characters. WE LOVE THIS PICTURE! This is no longer a mere film, it is a ‘Classic’ and has become endeared to all generations.
This little community ought to host a week-long series of events. Have all kinds of activities to compliment the scenes and characters in the film. It would be a boost to the local economy and make GROUNDHOGS DAY special all over again!
June 11th, 2007 at 6:10 am
I loved that movie and I wish I visit this town some day. Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.