Where Are Woodstock’s 15 Groundhog Day Filming Site Plaques?

Woodstock offers a fantastic opportunity for “Groundhog Day” movie enthusiasts to retrace their steps of this beloved, iconic film. On an easy walking tour, fans can look for the metal plaques that pinpoint scenes from the movie. However, those with a meticulous eye for detail may notice a strange caveat—the walking map does match up with the number of plaques in the city. No worries! We’ll walk you through the confusion to ensure you see all of the official 15 “Groundhog Day” filming site plaques.

Before you set out on your “Groundhog Day” walking tour around Woodstock, be sure to download a map. It will serve as a supplementary guide as you hunt for the metal plaques around town.

If you haven’t booked accommodation yet, we’ll also recommend a nearby budget-savvy accommodation for those interested in visiting these sites and overnighting.

How Many “Groundhog Day Plaques” Are in Woodstock?

As confirmed by the City of Woodstock, there are 15 total engraved metal plaques highlighting “Groundhog Day” filming sites around town. Visitors often get confused because there is a mysterious filming location plaque that is not listed on the self-guided walking tour.

Another anomaly about the “Groundhog Day” movie plaques is that they aren’t uniform in design. It is unclear why, but the colors, materials, fonts, and layouts are all slightly different and unique.

“Groundhog Day” Filming Site Plaques

Listed below are the sites of Woodstock’s 15 “Groundhog Day” filming plaques and where to find them. For those who enjoy scavenger hunts or mystery games, don’t peek at the photos below until discovering the plaque at each filming site.

1. Pennsylvanian Hotel (Woodstock Opera House)
2. Gobbler’s Knob (Historic Square)
3. Band Stand Dance (Historic Square)
4. Bar Scenes (Public House)
5. Bill Murray’s Puddle
6. Tip Top Cafe, 108 Cass Street
7. Alpine Theater
8. The Crash, 131 East Calhoun Street
9. Gas Station, 131 Washington Street
10. Bowling Alley (Wayne’s Lanes)
11. The Dance (Woodstock Moose Lodge)
12. Old Man’s Alley
13. Ned’s Corner
14. Piano Teacher’s House, 348 South Madison
15. Cherry Tree Inn, 344 Fremont Street

1. Pennsylvanian Hotel (Woodstock Opera House)

Interestingly, the Woodstock Opera House was never used for any inside footage, only for exterior shots. However, the iconic bell tower is a memorable backdrop for Gobbler’s Knob and Bill’s infamous sad jump.

2. Gobbler’s Knob (Historic Square)

Woodstock’s historic square serves as the location for Gobbler’s Knob. Upon arriving at Gobbler’s Knob, Phil always hears the “Pennsylvania Polka.” Woodstock lovingly embraces its correlation to the 90’s movie. So much so, that the speakers in the town’s square play various polkas and the movie’s token song, “I Got You, Babe.”

The Gobbler’s Knob plaque is one of two plaques that lay flat on the ground. It may be difficult to see if snow is on the ground.

Well, that’s it. Sorry, you couldn’t be here in person to share the electric moment. This is one event where television really fails to capture the excitement of thousands of people gathered to watch a large squirrel predict the weather, and I for one am deeply grateful to have been a part of it. Reporting for Channel 9, this is Phil Connors.

3. Band Stand Dance

The magic of Phil and Rita’s romantic snow dance took place in the historic square gazebo. The snow dance scene was not a part of the original script but the structure was too perfect not to be used in the film and thus, it was later written in.

4. Bar Scenes (Public House)

This was the bar depicted as being within the Pennsylvania Hotel. It’s the place where Phil shared a Sweet Vermouth on the Rocks (with a twist) with Rita. The reason this drink was chosen was because it was Harold Ramis’ wife’s favorite drink. The plaque commemorating the location is situated inside near the bar, so why not stop to enjoy a celebratory drink? It’s a good opportunity to ponder life.

I think people place too much emphasis on their careers. I wish we could all live in the mountains at high altitude. That’s where I see myself in five years. How about you? -Phil Connors

5. Bill Murray’s Puddle

Want to walk in the steps of Illinois-born actor-comedian Bill Murray? This plaque celebrates one of the most memorable scenes of “Groundhog Day” where Phil repeatedly steps into a puddle. During filming, four cobblestone blocks were removed from the street to create the puddle which had to be reinserted back into place by the end of the day.

6. Tip Top Cafe, 108 Cass Street

Initially, the Tip Top diner was a vacant storefront. The design team created an entire fake restaurant inside the space. After filming wrapped, the town wanted to maintain it as an operational diner. However, their attempt to sustain it ultimately proved unsuccessful.

In the above image, look closely to see the rectangular plaque near the doorway entrance. Today, the iconic Tip Top Cafe is now a Mexican restaurant.

7. Alpine Theater

This location is where Phil and his girlfriend adorned costumes to attend a movie. He opted for a Clint Eastwood look, while she chose to dress as a cocktail waitress.

The small movie theater typically features “Groundhog Day” around the holiday. It has since been refurbished and the oldtime ticket counter in the front has moved inside. Screen 1 is now known as the Harold Ramis Auditorium. Not only is there a “bonus plaque” with the dedication. There is also a thoughtful letter from director Harold Ramis to the city of Woodstock inside.

8. The Crash, 131 East Calhoun Street

Location 8 on the official walking tour takes visitors to the Mural Pedway. However, since this is not an actual filming site, there is no plaque here. To view all 15 plaques, fans will have to veer off the route to some sites located beyond the square.

In place of the pedway should technically be the site of “The Crash.” This scene depicts Phil and his bowling alley drinking buddies crashing into the large groundhog-shaped garbage can and getting pulled over by a police officer. Fans report seeing the garbage can, the actual movie prop, at the local library.

Likely the plaque commemorating “The Crash” was installed later because, during the time of filming, the space was an empty parking lot.

9. Gas Station, 131 Washington Street

This is where Bill Murray makes his phone call outside the gas station. In 2021, the decrepit building was remodeled into an insurance broker which now features the plaque on their property.

10. Bowling Alley (Wayne’s Lanes)

Conveniently located near the historic square, this is where Phil drank with two companions before they all left, engaging in a high-speed chase through town with the police in pursuit. Fans of Bill Murray can bowl on the same lanes he did at this old-fashioned bowling alley.

11. The Dance (Woodstock Moose Lodge)

In the film, the scene is set at the Pennsylvania Hotel, but in reality, it’s the interior of the Moose Lodge. No alterations were made to the interior, preserving the same setting as depicted in the movie. It is typically closed to the public unless open for a Groundhog Day celebration. There is movie memorabilia inside.

12. Old Man’s Alley

The alley where Bill Murray tries to save the old homeless man from dying. The representatives from the studio seemingly had reservations about the segments involving the elderly homeless man whose death is inevitable, regardless of Phil’s attempts to prevent it. Ramis, rightly so, believed that this element was crucial to Phil’s character development and his realization that he is not a god, nor God.

13. Ned’s Corner

Ned’s Corner is a favorite stop on the “Groundhog Day” walking tour.

Located at the northeast corner of Woodstock’s Town Square, specifically where Cass Street meets Benton Street, is where Phil encounters insurance salesman Ned Ryerson (played by Stephen Tobolowsky) each morning. There are technically two plaques honoring this scene: the Ned’s Corner plaque and the plaque on the ground along Cass Street, indicating the spot where Connors consistently steps into the puddle.

14. Piano Teacher’s House, 348 South Madison

This is the house where Bill Murry went to get his piano lessons to learn to play. If you look a few feet down the street, you’ll see where Bill Murray catches the boy falling from a large tree.

15. Cherry Tree Inn

While exploring beyond the city center, take a short drive through the surrounding neighborhood to see the Cherry Tree Inn. This is the historic B&B featured in the movie, where Bill Murray stays while living his Groundhog Day. One of our favorite lines from the movie in this exchange:

Phil: Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?
Mrs. Lancaster: I don’t think so, but I could check with the kitchen.

At the time of filming, the property was a private home and was used for external scenes only. Thus, no filming was done inside the house. Today, the inn embraces the movie’s contribution to the city. It is a great example of Victorian architecture prevalent in the region.

Mural and Groundhog

This is where things get confusing! While the Mural Pedway is a stop on the walking tour, it is not a filming site. Therefore, there is no plaque here. However, it is fun to stroll down the little alley. It offers movie murals and informational signs from Illinois film history. Woodstock is also home to Dick Tracy cartoonist Chester Gould and actor Orson Wells.

We Need Your Help

Did you find this article helpful? If so, bookmark it and when you’re planning your next vacation click on any of the links below before finalizing reservations. You’ll get the best price, we’ll earn a small commission, and you’ll help support future articles.

Thank you!