10 Locations Fans Can Actually Visit In NYC

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Ghostbusters (1984) became a cult classic film of the paranormal that also lets you have a good laugh. The film was written by Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis. The idea was originally by Aykroyd, inspired by his family and childhood. His family was intrigued by the occult and the paranormal. His father even wrote a book on the paranormal. Ghostbusters was in a sense the family business.

The film has been referred to as a classic with its use of visual effects, its take on ghosts and distant dimensions. Not to mention its cast and script were phenomenal with witty one-liners and comedy. It's a film that inspired a generation. True fans of the film can even visit film locations in New York City.

City Hall (City Hall Park, New York, NY)

In the film, the Ghostbusters are brought in to see the mayor of New York. Mayor Lenny (David Margulies) is a bit apprehensive of the Ghostbusters when they try to convince him of the imminent danger of Gozer. In the end, the mayor sides with them and kicks out Walter Peck (William Atherton) from the Environmental Protection Agency.

New York's City Hall is a hot spot for tourists all year round, no matter the weather. It is located in Lower Manhattan between Chambers, Broadway and Park Row. It was constructed from 1803 to 1812. City Hall is the oldest city hall that houses its original government functions in the United States.

Rockefeller Center (45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY)

While Ghostbusters takes place in New York, there are many scenes that were filmed in a studio in Los Angeles, but there is one iconic location that is seen in the background scene of the film. When the Ghostbusters finally reach a peak point in their business, there is no stopping them. They are constantly running around trapping phantasmal entities all over New York.

At around 40 minutes into the film, the Ghostbusters are seen running through the famous Rockefeller Center. The iconic New York location is nestled between fifth and sixth avenue. It is a large complex consisting of commercial buildings. It's best known for its sunken ice skating rink, its gold statue, and the largest decorated Christmas tree.

Columbus Circle (Columbus Circle, New York, NY)

When Gozer arrives and challenges the Ghostbusters to choose the form of their destructor, Ray (Dan Aykroyd) kind of messed up. The destructor takes the form of a giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. The cuddly and sweet character goes rampant, causing destruction through Columbus Circle.

Fans can visit the location of the destruction in real-life. Columbus Circle is an open- traffic circle located at the intersection of Eighth Avenue, Broadway, Central Park South, and Central Park West. In the middle is a circular landing with a monument of Christopher Columbus. Surrounding it is a mall, stores, an entrance to Central Park, and apartment buildings.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (3 W 65th St, New York, NY)

In the film, Stay Puft Marshmallow man destroys a church in his path of destruction. Dr.Venkman says the line "Nobody steps on a church in my town!" That church happened to be the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The church is located on 65th, and Dana's apartment is located on 55th avenue.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church was built between 1902 and 1904. It was designed by the architectural firm Shickel & Ditmars. The church is a double-height-over-basement stone structure with its own rectory. It is located in the Central Park West Historic District.

Tavern on the Green (67th Street, New York, NY)

If you're a fan of the film, you would recall the scene where Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) is trying to escape a monstrous "dog" that attacked him at his apartment. Tully proceeds to run through Central Park and bangs on the glass windows of a restaurant. That restaurant is Tavern on the Green located just inside the park.

The restaurant originally opened in 1934. It specializes in American cuisine and has since its opening been under many different owners. It closed in 2009 and later opened in 2010 until 2012 under new owners. It opened again in 2014 under the management of Caiola and Salama.

Lincoln Center (10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY)

It's no secret that Dr.Venkmen (Bill Murray) is infatuated with their client Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver). Dana is the main female role in the film. She is a musician in New York and plays the cello in "a major symphony orchestra." There is a scene in the film where Venkman visits Dana after her rehearsal at Lincoln Center and convinces her to go out with him.

Lincoln Center is another New York landmark jewel. It is also referred to as Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The complex houses the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York City Ballet. It is located on 8th avenue one block away from Fordham College and is next to The Julliard School.

Columbia University (Broadway and 116th Street, New York, NY)

At the beginning of the film, when we are introduced to Venkman, Ray, and Egon (Harold Ramis), we find out they work as scientists for Columbia University. Although it is never actually said, it's easy to spot Columbia's unique campus. The scenes take place specifically in the Morningside Heights Campus.

Columbia University is one of the prestigious universities in New York, established in 1754 on the grounds of Trinity Church. The campus itself is known for being Ivy League and for its history, as well as its interesting campus structure. The university is the most open-spaced, enclosed campuses in the city. You can walk by the university and not even notice.

Dana Barrett's Apartment Building (55 Central Park West, New York, NY)

Dana Barrett must have made good money to afford living in an apartment building facing Central Park. The building in the film where Dana lives and also becomes the location of the arrival of Gozer in on 55 Central Park West. In the film, the building is referred to as the Shandor Building at 550 Central Park West. While the building has no actual name, thanks to Ghostbusters, it's often called the Ghostbusters Building or Shandor Building.

The building was designed by Schwartz & Gross in 1929. It sits on the Upper West Side in Manhattan located next to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The building is noted for being the first art deco structure on the street. For the film, editors added eight more floors to the existing height of the building.

New York Public Library (476 5th Ave, New York, NY)

The New York Public library is one of New York's most iconic landmarks. It has hundreds to thousands of visitors every day. The one that is seen in Ghostbusters is the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. It is located right on 5th ave in front of Bryant Park. The library is where the Ghostbusters get their first case of the paranormal and pushes them to go into business for themselves after being fired from the university.

The New York Public Library is the second-largest library behind the Library of Congrees and the third biggest in the world. The main branch of the library is easily recognizable by the two lion statues that guard the front steps, which are also seen in the film.

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and a New York City Landmark in 1967. The library is famous in pop culture seen in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Sex and the City (2008), and John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019).

Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8 (14 North Moore Street, Tribeca)

The most iconic pop culture landmark is the Ghostbusters firehouse. Any fan would know the headquarters of the phantasmal exterminators. The firehouse was built in 1903 and was one of the first firehouses to respond to the attacks on 9/11. In 2011, it was threatened with closure to save money, but the public rallied together to keep it open. For some time, the building went under renovation from 2016 until 2018. The firehose even has the ghostbusters logo from the second film hanging inside.

NEXT: Marvelous Mrs.Maisel: 10 New York Hotspots Fan Of The Show Must Visit