Shutterstock, still from 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'Shutterstock, still from 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'
Shutterstock, still from ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’

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As Halloween season unfolds, it is undeniably the perfect time to rewatch our favorite slasher films. And while horror movie screenings are happening all over the city, what’s better than immersing yourself in the real-life L.A. filming locations of a cult classic like A Nightmare on Elm Street?

Four decades have passed since Freddy Krueger first haunted America’s dreams, cementing his place as an undisputed pop culture icon. And although Wes Craven’s horror masterpiece is set in suburban Springfield, Ohio, the movie was actually filmed right here in Los Angeles.

Here are a few of the A Nightmare on Elm Street L.A. filming locations you can visit (for free!)

1. Nancy’s House A two-story white colonial-style house with green shutters, famously known as the filming location for Nancy Thompson’s home from A Nightmare on Elm Street.A two-story white colonial-style house with green shutters, famously known as the filming location for Nancy Thompson’s home from A Nightmare on Elm Street.Shutterstock

The most iconic location, and Freddy Krueger’s main hunting ground. In fact, the exterior of Nancy Thompson’s house is one of the most recognizable movie homes in the world. After being sold in 2022 for $2.9 million, it still remains a popular destination for horror fans, making it one of L.A.’s most visited movie pilgrimage sites, even though it is a private residence.

📍Location: 1428 North Genesee Avenue, West Hollywood.

2. Glen’s House

Right across the street from Nancy’s house, Johnny Depp (in his film debut) meets his infamous fate in the movie’s bed scene. Because of their proximity, fans often visit both houses together to experience the full Elm Street effect.

📍Location: 1419 North Genesee Avenue, West Hollywood

3. John Marshall High School

Used for the exterior school scenes in the movie, you’ll recognize it from Nancy’s daydreams and hallway nightmares. The school boasts an array of famous alumni, including Leonardo DiCaprio, and has served as a filming location for many other productions, from Grease to Pretty in Pink and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

📍Location: 3939 Tracy Street, Los Feliz.

4. Cahuenga Branch Library Cahuenga Branch Public Library, a historic library building in used as an L.A filming location for 'A Nightmare in Elm Street'Cahuenga Branch Public Library, a historic library building in used as an L.A filming location for 'A Nightmare in Elm Street'Courtesy of Matthew Field, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The building served as the exterior of the Springwood Police Department, where Nancy’s father works and Rod is held. Its vintage architecture and historical feel make it one of the notable A Nightmare on Elm Street filming locations in L.A. In fact, the Cahuenga Branch earned designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument in 1986 and still functions today as a public library.

📍Location: 4591 Santa Monica Blvd, East Hollywood.

5. Evergreen Cemetery “Ivy Chapel, a historic chapel at Evergreen Cemetery.“Ivy Chapel, a historic chapel at Evergreen Cemetery.Courtesy of jondoeforty1, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr
and Wikimedia Commons

The cemetery where Rod’s funeral takes place. All of the film’s scenes occur near the Ivy Chapel, which appears behind Nancy when she sits on the steps. In fact, it is one of L.A.’s oldest cemeteries and, as a result, has become a popular filming location for Halloween-themed horror movies as well as classic noir films.

📍Location: 204 N. Evergreen Avenue, Boyle Heights