Love Grumpy Old Men? You are in the right place.
This guide covers every real filming location from both movies across Minnesota. I will show you exactly where scenes were shot, which places still exist, and how to plan a visit. I have spent time looking into this so you do not have to search all over the internet.
We will cover spots in Saint Paul, Red Wing, Stillwater, Faribault, and more. You will also learn the real story behind the fictional town of Wabasha, the famous homes from the films, and behind-the-scenes facts most fans never hear.
Let's get into it.
Where Was Grumpy Old Men Filmed?
The 1993 film Grumpy Old Men was shot across several real Minnesota towns. The crew picked locations that felt cold, lived-in, and genuinely Midwestern.
Rock Island Depot in Faribault served as a background location, giving scenes a small-town, old-world feel. The historic train station still stands today and sits about an hour south of Minneapolis.
Hyacinth Avenue East in Saint Paul provided the classic winter suburb look. It is a quiet residential street with old homes where you can easily imagine Max and John trading insults from their porches.
Soldiers Memorial Park in Red Wing added outdoor scenery near the Mississippi River. Red Wing is about an hour southeast of Saint Paul and has a naturally cinematic feel, especially in winter.
Lake Rebecca Park Reserve in Rockford was used for the ice fishing scenes. Located west of Minneapolis, the lake freezes over in winter and looks almost exactly as it does on screen.
Half Time Rec on West Seventh Street in Saint Paul played Slippery's Bar. It is one of the most recognizable spots for fans and still operates today. You can walk in, order a drink, and sit where the scenes were actually filmed.
Where Was Grumpier Old Men Filmed?
The 1995 sequel, Grumpier Old Men, brought the crew back to Minnesota with some new locations added to the mix. Here is where the cameras went this time.
Cooper's Foods, Saint Paul
A local grocery store in Saint Paul served as Cooper's Foods in the sequel. The production dressed it up to fit the story, but the building itself was a real working store.
Saint Paul's neighborhoods gave the film an authentic, unpretentious backdrop that no studio lot could fully replicate.
Lowell Park, Stillwater
Stillwater is one of Minnesota's most photogenic small towns, sitting right on the St. Croix River. Lowell Park there was used for outdoor scenes in the sequel.
The park has riverfront views, open green space, and historic charm. It is one of the easiest filming locations to visit and enjoy on its own merits.
Rice Street Bakery Location, Saint Paul
A bakery on Rice Street in Saint Paul appeared in Grumpier Old Men as a key story location. The Italian restaurant plot in the sequel needed a storefront, and this spot fit the bill.
The Rice Street corridor has changed over the years, but the area still reflects the working-class Saint Paul character the filmmakers were going for.
150th Street North, May Township
May Township is a rural area in Washington County, northeast of the Twin Cities. Some exterior and transitional scenes in the sequel were filmed along 150th Street North.
It is a quiet country road that gave the film some of its more open, wide-angle scenery. Not many fans know about this one, which makes it a fun spot for dedicated viewers.
Christ Lutheran Church, Marine on St. Croix
Marine on St. Croix is a tiny historic village along the St. Croix River. Christ Lutheran Church there was featured in the sequel and added to the small-town Minnesota feel the production was building.
The church is a real, active congregation in one of Minnesota's oldest communities. The village itself is worth a visit for its preserved 19th-century character.
The Real Story Behind Wabasha
Wabasha is the fictional town at the center of both films. But the name comes from a very real Minnesota place.
How Wabasha Influenced the Movies
Wabasha, Minnesota is a real river town on the Mississippi, about 90 minutes southeast of Saint Paul. The filmmakers drew on the character of small-town Minnesota river communities when building the fictional Wabasha in the script.
The town has cold winters, tight-knit neighbors, and that mix of stubbornness and warmth that the characters in the film embody. The real Wabasha even leaned into the connection and has welcomed film tourists over the years.
Filming Locations That Stood In for Wabasha
Even though the story is set in Wabasha, most of the actual filming happened elsewhere. Saint Paul, Stillwater, Red Wing, and other locations all doubled for the fictional town.
The production team blended these spots together so seamlessly that most viewers assumed it was all one place. In reality, the fictional Wabasha is a patchwork of real Minnesota communities.
Famous Homes Featured in the Films
Some of the most memorable images from the movies are the houses themselves. Here is what we know about each one.
John Gustafson's House
John Gustafson's house is a classic Midwestern home with a front porch and a layout that feels lived-in and real. The exterior was filmed in the Saint Paul area.
The house looks like something you would find on any older residential street in Minnesota, which was exactly the point. It gave Jack Lemmon's character a grounded, believable home base.
Max Goldman's House
Max Goldman's house sits right next door to John's in the film, reflecting their lifelong neighbor rivalry. Walter Matthau's character needed a home that mirrored John's in size and style but felt slightly different in personality.
The production found that balance in the same Saint Paul neighborhood. The two houses being so close together made the banter and conflict feel completely believable.
Ariel's House
Ariel's house was introduced as the new neighbor's home in the original film. Ann-Margret's character needed a place that felt slightly warmer and more inviting than the two old men's homes.
The house used for her exterior shots fit that description well. It added a visual contrast that worked nicely on screen.
Minnesota Landmarks Seen Throughout the Series
Beyond the main locations, both films are filled with glimpses of real Minnesota character.
Small-Town Streets and Neighborhoods
The films make strong use of older residential streets in Saint Paul and surrounding towns. Wide sidewalks, mature trees, and classic two-story homes fill the background of many scenes.
These neighborhoods have a look that is hard to fake. The production leaned into that heavily, and it gives both films a sense of place that feels completely real.
Parks, Lakes, and Outdoor Settings
Minnesota's lakes and parks are practically characters in these movies.
The frozen lake, the open skies, the bare winter trees:all of it came from real locations around the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota.
Lake Rebecca, Soldiers Memorial Park, and the riverfront at Stillwater all contributed to that outdoor feel. These settings made the ice fishing scenes and outdoor moments feel grounded and authentic.
Visiting the Grumpy Old Men Filming Locations Today
If you want to see these spots in person, it is very doable. Most locations are accessible to the public.
Creating a Twin Cities and Southern Minnesota Road Trip
A well-planned road trip can cover most of the major filming locations in one or two days. Start in Saint Paul, hit Hyacinth Avenue, Half Time Rec, and the Rice Street area.
Then head south toward Red Wing and Faribault. On a second day, go east toward Stillwater and Marine on St. Croix.
If time allows, swing south to the real Wabasha for the full experience. The drive is manageable and the scenery along the way is very Minnesota.
What Visitors Can Expect at the Locations
Most of these are public or semi-public spaces, so access is generally easy. Half Time Rec is open as a bar.
The parks are free to visit. The residential streets are just that, so be respectful of private property if you stop to look at the houses.
Some locations have changed since filming, but enough of the original character remains that fans will still recognize them.
Behind-the-Scenes Facts About the Filming Locations
A few things about the production that most people do not know.
Why the Production Chose Minnesota
The filmmakers wanted real winter. They needed frozen lakes, snow-covered streets, and the kind of cold that shows on people's faces. Minnesota delivered all of that.
The state also has a strong film production infrastructure, which makes logistics easier. And the local character of Saint Paul and the surrounding towns gave the film something no warmer state could have provided.
Locations That Have Changed Since Filming
Some spots look different today than they did in the early 1990s. Businesses have changed hands, buildings have been updated, and some storefronts no longer exist in their original form.
The Rice Street bakery location has changed the most. The residential areas in Saint Paul have stayed more consistent. If you are visiting with specific expectations, it helps to do a quick check beforehand so you know what to look for.
Conclusion
If you grew up watching Grumpy Old Men, visiting these Minnesota spots hits differently. I remember watching those ice fishing scenes as a kid and thinking Minnesota looked like the most real, honest place on earth. Turns out, it is.
These locations are not just film trivia. They are real places with their own stories.
If you plan a visit, start with Half Time Rec in Saint Paul. Order something, sit down, and soak it in.
Have you been to any of these spots? Drop a comment below and share your experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly was Grumpy Old Men filmed in Minnesota?
The film was shot across several Minnesota locations, including Saint Paul, Faribault, Red Wing, and Rockford. Most scenes were filmed in and around the Twin Cities area.
Is Wabasha from Grumpy Old Men a real place?
Yes, Wabasha is a real Minnesota town on the Mississippi River. However, the filming took place in other locations that stood in for the fictional version of Wabasha seen in the movies.
Can you still visit the bar from Grumpy Old Men?
Yes. Half Time Rec on West Seventh Street in Saint Paul is still open and operating. It played the role of Slippery's Bar in the original film.
Is Lake Rebecca the lake used in the ice fishing scenes?
Lake Rebecca Park Reserve in Rockford, Minnesota, was used for the outdoor lake and ice fishing scenes. It is a public park and is open to visitors year-round.
How long does it take to visit all the Grumpy Old Men filming locations?
Most of the main locations can be covered in one to two days. A road trip through Saint Paul, Stillwater, Red Wing, and Faribault will hit the majority of spots from both films.
