Almost Nobody Knows That Parts Of The Iconic Movie Planet Of The Apes Were Filmed Near This Tiny Arizona Town
By Katie Lawrence|Updated on April 05, 2024(Originally published March 28, 2023)
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
There are so many small towns in Arizona where huge things happened. One of our favorites is Page, a nature lover’s paradise known as the “gateway” to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It’s a stunning area and something quite cool happened here over 50 years ago. If you’ve ever asked yourself, where was “Planet of the Apes” filmed? you’ll be interested to know that scenes from the iconic 1968 film were shot in the Page area. If you’ve seen this celebrated classic, prepare to be fascinated beyond belief.
Known as "The Center of Canyon Country," Page, Arizona is a small and quaint community with a population of just over 7,000 (as of the 2010 census).
The town is absolutely surrounded by natural beauty, making it one of the most popular vacation spots in the state - especially during the warmer months.
The town itself is rather sleepy for much of the year.
Between the quiet streets and charming shops and restaurants, you'd never know you're in the unofficial gateway to a place that sees upwards of two million visitors annually.
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Some of the most notable landmarks and natural wonders in and around Page include Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam and National Recreation Area...
...and the eponymous Lake Powell, which is part of Glen Canyon NRA. The second-largest artificial reservoir by maximum water capacity in the nation, Lake Powell offers a staggering 2,000 miles of shoreline to explore and enjoy.
Starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Maurice Evans, and Kim Hunter, among others, was a smashing success, grossing over $30 million despite having a budget of less than $6 million.
Set in the year 3978, the science-fiction film is about astronauts who crash into an unknown planet inhabited by an advanced society of talking apes (which actually turns out to be Earth after an apocalyptic nuclear war) who reign supreme over a race of primitive humans.
If you've seen the film, do you recognize any of these locations?
How does it feel knowing scenes from such a successful film were shot right here in Arizona? Is there any other small town in Arizona with impressive claims to fame? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our previous article for more things to do in Page, Arizona.
If you want to see more small towns in Arizona, you can take a delightful AZ road trip to ten of the cutest little towns in our state. Just be sure to check out our ultimate road trip packing list before you head out!
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