Is the Sanderson Sisters' House Real? All About theHocus PocusFilming Locations (Including the Ones You Can Visit IRL!)

Mar. 15, 2025

Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ 2022.Photo: Matt Kennedy/Disney

Turns out theSanderson sisters' cottage is not just a bunch of hocus pocus!

First released in July 1993,Hocus PocusstarredBette Midler,Sarah Jessica ParkerandKathy Najimyas a familial witch trio. For decades, fans of the beloved Halloween flick were itching for Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson to return to the screen again.

Those wishes came true in September 2022, when the sorceress siblings reunited to enchant a new generation of Halloweeners in Disney+’sHocus Pocus 2. Even more excitement has been brewing since the sequel’s arrival, as Disney confirmed in June 2023 thata third installment is in the works.

Hocus Pocuslovers’ obsession with the films has inspired many to take spooky trips to Massachusetts, where the first movie was shot, or Rhode Island, where the sequel called home. But is the Sanderson sisters' lair actually a real place? The answer is… sort of.

Read on to learn where you can actually visit most of the real-life locations used to filmHocus PocusandHocus Pocus 2.

Locations in the originalHocus Pocus

Salem in the 1600s

Pioneer Village in Salem, Mass.Pioneer Village: Salem 1630/Facebook

Location: Pioneer Village in Salem, Mass.

Known as America’s “first living history museum,“according to its website, Pioneer Village is home to Thackery Binx — a.k.a. everyone’s favorite black cat — and all exterior shots of the Sanderson sisters' ominous cottage. Perfect for history buffs, the village recreates what life was like for settlers during the 1600s in Salem. Though it was built in 1930, the museum reflects an accurate representation of the thatched-roof cottages people lived in at the time.

Max and Dani Dennison’s House

Max and Dani Dennison’s house from ‘Hocus Pocus,’ located at 4 Ocean Ave. in Salem, Mass.Google Maps

Location: 4 Ocean Ave. in Salem, Mass.

Speaking with Boston.comin 2018, Destination Salem Executive Director Kate Fox advised that although the current owners of the property are “really good sports” about people stopping to take pictures of their home, visitors should still make sure to be respectful of the private space.

Max and Allison’s School (Phillips Elementary School)

Max and Allison’s school (formerly Phillips Elementary School) from ‘Hocus Pocus,’ located at 56 South Washington Sq. in Salem, Mass.Google Maps

Location: 56 South Washington Sq. in Salem, Mass.

Now an apartment complex, the former elementary school is known for the dramatic scene where Max, Dani and Allison tried (and failed) to burn the Sanderson sisters alive in the school’s furnace. While no longer a school after its closure in 1992, lovers of the film can still gawk at the property’s exterior and even take a few pictures while they’re at it!

Allison’s House (Ropes Mansion)

Allison’s house from ‘Hocus Pocus,’ a.k.a. Ropes Mansion, located at 318 Essex St. in Salem, Mass.Getty

Location: 318 Essex St. in Salem, Mass.

You canbook a tourof the mansion and enjoy the surrounding gardens on the property.

Town Halloween Party (Old Town Hall)

Visitors beware! This location might just put a spell on you.Hocus Pocusfanatics will recognize Salem’s Old Town Hall from the infamous party scene where Bette Midler performed “I Put a Spell on You” to distract the townspeople from Max’s witchy allegations. Enjoy aguided walking tourto hear more about the history of this Salem treasure.

Locations inHocus Pocus 2

Salem in the 1670s

Chase Farm, located at 667 Great Rd. in Lincoln, R.I.Backgrid

Location: Chase Farm, 667 Great Rd. in Lincoln, R.I.

To some fans' dismay, the cast and crew ofHocus Pocus 2did not return to Salem to continue the Sanderson sisters' story. Instead, Salem in the 1670s was built as a set in Lincoln, R.I., on Chase Farm,The Providence Journalreported. While the temporary set no longer stands,fans can still visit the farmto enjoy a leisurely hike or take in the lush green landscape.

La Salle Academy

La Salle Academy, located at 612 Academy Ave. in Providence, R.I.John Phelan/Wikimedia

Location: 612 Academy Ave. in Providence, R.I.

Some interior and exterior shots of the high school inHocus Pocus 2were filmed atLa Salle Academy, a private Catholic school founded in the early 1870s. For this reason, anyHocus Pocusenthusiasts looking to walk the same halls as the sequel’s characters should be mindful not to enter without permission.

Cranston Street Armory

Cranston Street Armory, located at 310 Cranston St. in Providence, R.I.Kenneth C. Zirkel/Wikimedia

Location: 310 Cranston St. in Providence, R.I.

Built in 1907, the Cranston Street Armory is a historic Rhode Island landmark that Disney reportedly paid $70,000 to film in,according toThe Providence Journal.Due to its tall ceilings and vast space, the armory is the perfect place for special effects involving flying witches.

Benefit Street

Elegant, wooden clapboard period houses on Benefit Street in Providence, R.I.Tim Graham/Getty

Tim Graham/Getty

Location: Benefit Street in Providence R.I.

Benefit Streetboasts a “mile of history” paved with beautiful Colonial homes, churches and museums, making it the perfect setting in the film. This gorgeous, tree-lined area of Rhode Island is where Salem was recreated in the sequel and where Cassie (Lilia Buckingham) calls home. It’s not just a must-see pit stop for anyHocus Pocus 2tour but an autumnal escape for those who appreciate the town’s historic charm.

The Witch House

Jonathan Corwin House, as seen in ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ located at 310 1/2 Essex St. in Salem, Mass.Google Maps

Google Maps

Location: 310 1/2 Essex St. in Salem, Mass.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the setting of the Salem Witch Trials, you’ll want to add theJonathan Corwin House(a.k.a. the Witch House inHocus Pocus 2) to your list of places to visit. Not only is the monument the only living structure with ties to the actual witchcraft trials, but it also serves as the Reverend’s home in a flashback scene in the 2022 sequel.

Lakeside–Carpenter Cemetery

Lakeside-Carpenter Cemetery, located at 150 Newman Ave. in Rumford, R.I.Google Maps

Location: 150 Newman Ave. in Rumford, R.I.

Residing in the Rumford region of East Providence, R.I., the Lakeside–Carpenter Cemetery was used to film various nighttime cemetery scenes inHocus Pocus 2. If you visit the cemetery, check out the historicNewman Congregational Church, which can also be seen in the background.

source: people.com