The Hitcher, a remake of the 1986 original, was released in theaters on January 19, 2007. It was filmed in both New Mexico and Texas, with the Texas locations all being in the Austin area. I found this out shortly after I went to Texas in 2019, and I kicked myself for not getting any pictures for The Hitcher as well. So when I returned in 2024, this was at the top of my list!
A couple of fun connections to other horror movies: the gas station in this movie is only about 15 minutes from the gas station in the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and the motel is right next door to the slaughterhouse seen in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003).
Movie Location: Grace’s College/Dorm
Filming Location: University of Texas at Austin
110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, TX 78712
Date of Photos: October 2024
Jim is parked right in front of the Main Building at UT Austin, on the south side. The lawn and Grace’s dorm are right there as well.
Movie Location: Leaving the School
Filming Location: Robert Dedman Drive & Deloss Dodds Way, Austin, TX 78712
Date of Photos: October 2024
Movie Location: Bathroom Break
Filming Location: 5403 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78723
Date of Photos: October 2024
The Grandy’s has become a Mattress Firm but otherwise still looks very similar. It’s still right next door to a McDonald’s, though the McDonald’s has been rebuilt.
Movie Location: Buford’s Convenience Mart
Filming Location: Rockne Grocery
1777 FM 20, Bastrop, TX
Date of Photos: October 2024
Rockne Grocery is only about 15 minutes from the gas station in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974).
Movie Location: Luxury Motel
Filming Location: 2003 W 2nd St., Taylor, TX 76574
Date of Photos: October 2024
This was the Sunrise Hotel according to the sign and Luxury Inn & Suites according to Google at the time of my visit. It was remodeled pretty soon after filming, as Google Street View in February 2008 shows it with the new look. Almost directly next door to this, just across a small vacant lot, is the Blair Meat slaughterhouse from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003).
