Hey Siri, Where was Dirty Dancing Filmed?
Debuting at the box office in August 1987, Dirty Dancing took the world by storm with its perfect blend of summer romance, division of social class, nostalgia, and iconic dance scenes, including that famous dance lift. It was a “small movie” that the actors and writers weren’t sure anyone would see, yet it became the first movie to enter over one million homes through its record-breaking VHS sales.
Many of the film locations are just 10-15 minutes away from Lilly Valley Inn here in Virginia, and many locals are “Dirty Dancing” trivia and history buffs. Many people can quote the movie line-by-line, but did you know these trivia facts about the making of the major motion picture?
10 Facts about Where Dirty Dancing Was Filmed you may not know.
- Baby and Johnny’s story was inspired by Eleanor Bergstein’s life, who grew up spending summers in the Catskills, learning to dance, and entering dance competitions.
- Not only was the movie filmed at Mountain Lake Lodge (just 15 minutes from Lilly Valley Inn), but the cast stayed there as well. To this day, you can still call the lodge and request to stay in Swayze or Grey’s room – but be prepared to be added to a waitlist. The Mountain Lake Hotel still stands in its original splendor, so you may feel like you are taking a trip back in time.
- The movie was filmed during the fall, but the scenes took place in the summer. While they were filming many of the famous scenes, the grass and leaves were dying and changing with the seasons. To try and maintain the fresh, summery look, the crew could be seen painting the brown leaves and grass to a more vibrant green.
- Swayze and Grey only ever performed the well-known lift scene twice. They never practiced the move before filming, as Grey had a fear of being lifted over Swayze’s head. Instead, they waited to perform the move only when the cameras were rolling, and they nailed it on the first try every time. Even when Grey was asked to perform the move for “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010, Grey refused.
- The dance lift scene that took place in the lake was unforgettable for both Grey and Swayze. Miserably so. The water was about 40 degrees, and both actor’s lips had turned blue by the time they left the water. Swayze was known to say in his autobiography that the water was “Horrifyingly, hypothermically cold.” Side note: the dance scene was actually filmed at Lake Lure in North Carolina!
- Swayze wasn’t originally a fan of the line, “Nobody puts baby in a corner.” He tried to push for the line to be discarded but still tried the script how it was written. Once he saw the scene on a screen, he understood the value and purpose of the influential line.
- The scene where you see Baby and Johnny crawling on the ground wasn’t originally meant to be in the original film. That was Swayze and Grey rehearsing. However, the producers thought it was a great fit and decided to include it in the movie.
- Several other big names auditioned for the role of Baby, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Sharon Stone, and Winona Ryder. When Jennifer Grey was selected, Swayze had to convince her to accept the role.
- After watching the movie, before it went to theaters, producer Russo was heard saying, “Burn the negative, and collect the insurance.”
- Swayze and Grey didn’t always get along. This is especially evident in the movie, where Baby and Johnny are rehearsing their dance—Baby is seen laughing while Johnny looks annoyed. Grey thought Swayze was too serious and uptight, while he thought she would laugh too much and was too inexperienced. But together, they sure created some iconic scenes!
This summer, during your stay here at Lilly Valley Inn, take a drive to see Mountain Lake Lodge, or visit for the Dirty Dancing Festival, taking August 16-17th. These 48 hours will be filled with activities, including live performances, trivia, and dance lessons – to name a few. You’ll learn to dance where Baby and Johnny danced, and then compete to see who became the best dancer during the festival. (Perhaps a 1980-s dress-up dance competition?)There will be a showing of the iconic “Dirty Dancing,” and there will be merchandise available for you to purchase for all movie-buffs alike. You can get your tickets to the festival here!
And if you want to continue your “Dirty Dancing” themed tour head to Lake Lure, NC, to check out another the body of water in the Blue Ridge MountainAnd if you want to continue your “Dirty Dancing” themed tour, head to Lake Lure, NC, to check out another body of water in the Blue Ridge Mountains that still inspires annual festivals as well. This notable filming location, where Johnny was seen lifting Baby above his head in the water, will. host their Vintage Vibes weekend, September 6-8. The event will honor Patrick Swayze, his career’s impact on their town, and his legacy. Many other movies have also been filmed if you’re a big cinema fan. There will be several vendors to buy from, dancing, and live music. To find out more about the event, check out this website.
Here in Virginia, Mountain Lake Lodge offers themed weekends all about Dirty Dancing.
Visit for the Dirty Dancing fun, and stay at Lilly Valley Inn for the comforts, peace, and quiet of luxury suites with a view!