Where Was A Nightmare On Elm Street Filmed?

The Short Answer

A Nightmare on Elm Street was filmed almost entirely on practical locations in Los Angeles, California. Key sites sit in Hollywood, Venice, Silver Lake, Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights and Bel-Air. They include Nancy Thompson's house, Glen Lantz's house, John Marshall High School, the condemned Lincoln Heights Jail and Evergreen Cemetery, with the fictional Springwood, Ohio existing only on screen.

Wes Craven shot A Nightmare on Elm Street in roughly 32 days in June and July 1984, mostly on real streets rather than soundstages. The tight budget pushed the crew toward practical locations, and that decision is good news for travelers today: many of the film's most recognizable spots still stand and can be seen from public sidewalks.

The filming trail stretches across Los Angeles, from a quiet Hollywood residential street where two of the famous houses face each other, to Venice canals and a historic cemetery in Boyle Heights. Most sites are private property or schools, so viewing is limited to exteriors, but a handful, including the alley behind Tina's house and the Linnie Canal Bridge, are fully public.

Every Location At A Glance

Location	Where	What was filmed	Access
Nancy Thompson's House	Los Angeles	Nancy's house exteriors and interiors, including bedroom nightmare scenes and Freddy attacks	Outside only
Glen Lantz's House	Los Angeles	Glen's house exteriors, including blood fountain death scene	Outside only
Tina Gray's House	Los Angeles	Tina's house exteriors and interiors	Outside only
Alley behind Tina's House	Los Angeles	Creepy alley where Freddy confronts Tina in nightmare	Free to see
John Marshall High School	Los Angeles	High school exterior scenes (Elm Street High)	Outside only
John Burroughs Middle School	Los Angeles	High school interior scenes	Private property
Lincoln Heights Jail	Los Angeles	Boiler room scenes and other interiors	Closed
Cahuenga Branch Library	Los Angeles	Police station exterior (5th Precinct)	Outside only
Evergreen Cemetery	Los Angeles	Cemetery scenes (Rod's funeral)	Free to see
American Jewish University (Katja Institute)	Los Angeles	Sleep disorders institute / hospital scenes	Outside only
Linnie Canal Bridge	Los Angeles	Bridge scene where Nancy and Glen talk	Free to see

Filming Locations Map

11 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

The most visited location for fans. Both the exteriors and interiors were used, including Nancy's bedroom nightmare scenes and Freddy's attacks. The house remains a private residence on a Hollywood side street, so viewing is exterior only. Travelers should stay on the sidewalk, keep noise down and never approach the door or enter the property. It is easy to pair with Glen's house directly across the street.

This Hollywood home supplied Glen's exteriors, most memorably the scene where a fountain of blood erupts from his bed. It sits directly across the street from Nancy's house, so one stop covers both. Like its neighbor it is a private residence, viewable from the street only. Fans should respect the homeowners' privacy and avoid lingering late at night, when the street is quiet and residential.

Tina's house in Venice served for both exterior and interior scenes in the film's early nightmare sequence. The neighborhood has gentrified considerably since 1984, so the surroundings look quite different on screen today. The house is privately owned, so viewing is limited to the street. Visitors can combine it with the nearby public alley and canal bridge, which sit within easy walking distance.

This is the creepy Venice alley where Freddy confronts Tina in a nightmare, and it is one of the few genuinely public locations on the trail. It sits near 612 Milwood Ct. and can be walked freely. Because it is a working residential alley, visitors should be mindful of residents and avoid blocking the passage. Its accessibility makes it a favorite photo stop for fans tracing the film.

The exterior of this public high school in Los Feliz, near Silver Lake, stood in for Elm Street High in the film's school scenes. The building is visible from the street, which is the practical way to see it since the school operates classes and access is limited during the day. Travelers passing through the neighborhood can photograph the facade without entering school grounds or disturbing students and staff.

While John Marshall supplied the exteriors, the interior school scenes were shot inside this middle school in central Los Angeles. Unlike some of the film's other locations, it offers nothing for visitors: the property is private, in active use as a school, and not open to the public. Fans curious about the interiors can appreciate them on screen, since walking onto campus is not an option.

The boiler room scenes, among the most atmospheric in the film, were shot in the basement of this former jail in Lincoln Heights. The building was condemned shortly after filming due to high asbestos levels and remains closed to the public. There is no way to go inside, and attempts to enter would be both dangerous and unlawful. Fans can only view the site's exterior and legacy from a respectful distance.

This East Hollywood branch library appeared in the film as the 5th Precinct police station exterior. The historic building has since been designated a cultural monument, and its facade can be admired from the street. Unlike many locations on this trail, it sits in a walkable commercial area, making it an easy add-on. Visitors should not expect police drama inside; it functions as a working library.

Rod's funeral scene was filmed in this public cemetery in Boyle Heights. It is open during visiting hours, making it one of the more accessible stops on the trail. As an active burial ground, it demands restraint: stick to the paths, keep volumes low and be respectful of services and mourners. Film fans will recognize the grounds from the mournful sequence midway through the movie.

The Bel-Air campus of American Jewish University served as the sleep disorders institute where Nancy is observed and studied. Access is limited since this is a functioning university, so the exteriors are best viewed from the street or public areas. The campus setting gives the hospital scenes their calm, institutional look. Travelers should not attempt to enter private buildings or wander restricted areas.

This Venice bridge over a canal is where Nancy and Glen share a quiet conversation in the film. It is fully public and accessible on foot, sitting a short walk from Tina's house and the alley. Of all the locations, it is among the easiest to visit and photograph. The canal-side setting remains picturesque, and fans often pair it with a stroll through the surrounding Venice walk streets.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The film is set in the fictional town of Springwood, Ohio, but not a single scene was shot there. Every location used sits in Los Angeles, California, spread across Hollywood, Venice, Silver Lake, Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights and Bel-Air. The Midwest setting was pure screen fiction, created through set dressing and ordinary residential streets that could plausibly pass for Anywhere, America.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Independent visits work well because most locations are simply streets and sidewalks, but a guided option exists for travelers who prefer commentary and context along the way.

Guided L.A. Film Locations Tour

The Movie Guys' L.A. Film Locations Tour

This guided Los Angeles film locations tour includes a stop at Nancy's and Glen's houses, so Elm Street fans can see the two most famous exteriors with a guide who shares production stories en route. With 32 reviews, it suits travelers who want film history beyond horror and would rather not navigate Hollywood's residential streets alone.

32 reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit Nancy's house from A Nightmare on Elm Street?

Yes, but only from the street. The Hollywood house is a private residence and the most visited location from the film. Visitors should view it from the sidewalk, avoid entering the property and respect the homeowners' privacy at all times.

Where is Freddy's boiler room located?

The boiler room scenes were filmed in the basement of Lincoln Heights Jail. The building was condemned shortly after filming due to high asbestos levels and is closed to the public, so the interiors cannot be visited.

Is A Nightmare on Elm Street set in Ohio or California?

The story takes place in the fictional town of Springwood, Ohio, but filming happened entirely in Los Angeles, California, using real neighborhoods including Hollywood, Venice, Silver Lake, Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights and Bel-Air.

Which Elm Street locations are fully open to the public?

The alley behind Tina's house in Venice, the Linnie Canal Bridge and Evergreen Cemetery are publicly accessible. Everything else on the trail is either exterior viewing only, private property or closed altogether.

Why did the production use so many real locations?

The budget was low, so director Wes Craven shot on practical locations over roughly 32 days in June and July 1984 rather than building sets. The rotating bedroom scene was one of the few exceptions, shot on a soundstage at Desilu Studios.

Are the two houses from the film near each other?

Yes. Glen Lantz's house sits directly across the street from Nancy Thompson's house in Hollywood, so visitors can see both exteriors from a single spot on the sidewalk.

Elm Street makes for an unusual Los Angeles itinerary: less about grand landmarks and more about ordinary streets that became cinematic. Pair the Hollywood houses with a Venice afternoon covering Tina's house, the alley and the canal bridge, and finish at Evergreen Cemetery. Keep expectations realistic, since the jail is closed and several sites are private, and the walk between locations reveals a city that Freddy built a studio upon.

Sources

The Short Answer

Every Location At A Glance

Filming Locations Map

Location By Location

Nancy Thompson's House

Glen Lantz's House

Tina Gray's House

Alley behind Tina's House

John Marshall High School

John Burroughs Middle School

Lincoln Heights Jail

Cahuenga Branch Library

Evergreen Cemetery

American Jewish University (Katja Institute)

Linnie Canal Bridge

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

Tours That Visit These Locations

Guided L.A. Film Locations Tour

Frequently Asked Questions

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