Jeepers Creepers

Jeepers Creepers was released on August 31st, 2001.

 Filming locations include Dunnellon, Ocala, Lake Panasoffkee and Reddick, FL.

Despite your personal feelings towards anyone associated with the film, there's no denying Jeepers Creepers' originality. I instantly liked it, mostly due to the desolate feeling it conveyed, the freshness of a not so fresh new horror villain and having Gina Philips didn't hurt either. The film's score was average but the overall soundtrack was good thanks to a couple golden oldie's in Paul Whiteman's Jeepers Creepers (1938) and Henry Hall's Hush, Hush, Hush, Here Comes the Bogeyman (1932) which really seemed to fit the tone of the film.

Opening and most of the driving scenes - SW 180th Avenue Rd. Dunnellon, Fl. 34432

In this shot they're driving North.

In this shot they're driving South. The filmmakers really utilized this stretch of highway.

Director Victor Salva must've loved the look of this tree because it's shown repeatedly in various shots throughout the film.

And here...

And here...

As a matter of fact he liked it so much that he even had Darry (Justin Long) urinate next to it, 

which my friend Joe diligently reenacted in my 'Now' photo.

Church - formerly* 3602 SW 110th Ave. Ocala, Fl. 34481

This was an authentic former church named the St. James Church but it was closed down and sat abandoned for quite some time prior to filming. A few years after the film's release the church burned down. Some people suspect it was the doing of former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who had a horse farm just to the south of the church property, allegedly because he was tired of fans of the film coming to visit the church so frequently. Many of the trees that surrounded the church also burned down along with it.

This pipe is possibly all that remains from the church.

The Creeper runs Trish and Darry off the road - Just north of the SW 180th Avenue Rd. and SW County Hwy. 484 intersection

Opper's Diner - 4629 FL-44 Lake Panasoffkee, Fl. 33538

The diner was named after producer Barry Opper. The road in front of the diner was just a two lane highway 

at the time of filming but has since been converted into a four lane split highway.

Poho County Sheriff's Dept. - 15150 NW Gainsville Rd. Reddick, Fl. 32686

Formerly Reddick High School. The school was in operation from 1927 to 1964. Exteriors and most of the interiors, 

with the exception of the holding cell's and the room where the Creeper crashes out the window with Darry, were filmed here.

Ending - 315 NE 14th St. Ocala, Fl. 34470

Formerly White's Meat Packing, operations ceased in the early 80's. Both exterior and interior shots were filmed here. The structure seen in the film was demolished no more than two years after filming and in 2006 iGlobal Logistics & Technology Center was erected in it's place. This was one location I would've loved to visit before it was demolished.

Here's an aerial photo of the building before it was demolished.

The Creeper's truck. 

As far as I'm concerned the truck is as important as any location in the film, it's absolutely menacing. A huge thanks to Tom for unleashing "JC" for a bit and allowing me to photograph and even do a ride along.

BEATNGU          www.thecreepertruck.com          FB/thecreepertruck

"Purchased in October 2008, the creepers truck was delivered from Ocala, Florida where the filming of Jeepers Creepers took place. Restoration began in 2008 starting with sheet metal repair and replace. Time and care was the focus to maintain the original character and charm of the truck as well as preserve as much of the original structure as possible. A more driven restoration started in 2011 with the replacement of the box sides and top to remove cancerous rust. A 383 small block Chevy motor was chosen for power, backed by a 700R4 4 speed automatic transmission. Power steering and power disc brakes were added. It was repainted with hardened automotive paint. An enormous amount of time was taken when painting the truck to insure all of the movie patina choices were preserved. Everything is now new or rebuilt. The restoration was finished in late 2016. BEATNUG was shipped to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and worked for the franchise filming Jeepers Creepers 3."