Since its release in 1988, Tim Burton’s classic film Beetlejuice has captivated audiences with its quirky horror and whimsical charm. Fans have long been curious about the eerie and picturesque town of Winter River depicted in the movie, often asking: Where Does Beetlejuice Take Place? The answer lies in the charming, real-world location of East Corinth, Vermont. This small town served as the primary filming location for the fictional Winter River, and incredibly, it reprised its role in the highly anticipated sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Production designer Mark Scruton, who also worked with Burton on Wednesday, shared his experience of returning to East Corinth for the sequel. He noted the town’s remarkable preservation, stating, “No one had been back there since the first film, other than the fans. But when I flew there, you could tell it was pretty much unchanged. It was the same town it had always been and you could see why they’d gone there in the first place.” This unchanged quality of East Corinth is key to understanding where Beetlejuice takes place and why it was chosen again.
For Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Scruton and his team spent twelve weeks in East Corinth meticulously recreating the iconic Winter River sets. This included the recognizable hilltop house of the Deetz family and the town’s quaint main street. While the exterior shots brought the authentic Vermont atmosphere, the interior sets were constructed in Leavesden Studios in London. In total, a staggering 77 sets were built, many designed to accommodate the film’s signature practical effects. This combination of on-location filming in Vermont and studio work in London highlights the detailed production process behind bringing the world of Beetlejuice to life.
The sequel’s narrative further cements Winter River as the central location. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sees the return of Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), along with her stepmother Delia (Catherine O’Hara) and her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega), all drawn back to Winter River for a funeral. This return to Winter River is the catalyst for the chaotic events of the film, as Lydia’s presence reawakens Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), plunging the family into another supernatural adventure. The story expands upon Tim Burton’s fantastical vision, exploring more of the afterlife and the eerie charm of Winter River’s graveyard, further solidifying where Beetlejuice takes place as a crucial element of the film’s identity.
Reflecting on the filming experience, Scruton described the atmosphere as uniquely immersive: “Every day was bonkers,” Scruton says. “And because everything was real, you just roamed around in this bananas world and it just made you smile. Everybody enjoyed the frivolous craziness of the whole thing.” The real location of East Corinth, Vermont, truly became the tangible, whimsical world of Winter River, making it the definitive answer to the question, where does Beetlejuice take place.
