COLORADO NEWS

A bunch of the movie ‘Christmas Vacation’ was filmed in Colorado – Here’s where

Dec 3, 2024, 4:33 PM | Updated: Dec 4, 2024, 8:42 am

I’ve always kept the Christmas movies going for that week between Christmas and New Years. Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation are just a couple that’ll be on repeat in my house this week. However, until just now, I had no idea that a bunch of Christmas Vacation was actually filmed in Colorado!

Although the movie was set in Chicago, much of the filming happened in the Colorado high-country in the spring of 1989.

According to the Breckenridge Tourism Office, the movie begins with a tree-cutting scene as the family heads out to the country to pick the perfect Christmas tree. That happened near the Breckenridge Golf Course near Tiger Road. The subdivision nearby hadn’t actually been built yet.

This wasn’t the only “Chicago”-oriented situation that was filmed in Breckenridge.

The sledding scene was filmed at Breckenridge Ski Area’s Peak 8. When Clark is dodging traffic on the slick saucer, that was on Frisco’s Summit Boulevard.

According to GoBreck, Clark’s sled eventually ends up in a Toys For Tots bin in front of the Walmart in Frisco.

GoBreck said local crew was also involved in filming and a producer did everything they could to keep money in town. In fact, the shopping scenes with Clark and Eddie were shot at the Frisco Walmart.

Meanwhile, Summit High School in Frisco was converted into a cover set for the throwback home video scene.

Now I cannot wait to get home with this new knowledge to watch the movie for the 20th time this season!

Colorado News

(Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)...

Shawn Patrick

A spiraling observation tower taller than the Space Needle proposed for Downtown Denver

The Denver skyline isn’t the most recognizable. Sure, we have the “Cash Register Building” but that’s it really. Well, that could be changing in a big way! A spiraling 673-foot […]

5 hours ago

(Photo by Wang He/Getty Images)...

Shawn Patrick

Popular Colorado campground bans tents after bear swats one full of kids

A popular campground in Colorado’s mountains has banned all tents and soft-sided shelters after a black bear scratched at a tent with two young children sleeping inside. The U.S. Forest […]

6 hours ago

(Photo by Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty Images)...

Shawn Patrick

WATCH – Colorado lawyer refers to judge as “honey” during trial

I know very little about law, and I certainly would’ve flunked out of law school, but I do know that calling a judge honey is likely frowned upon. A lawyer […]

6 hours ago

(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ABA)...

Shawn Patrick

Tim McGraw out, Cross Canadian Ragweed in at an upcoming Colorado bull riding event

Tim McGraw has pulled out of the upcoming Professional Bull Riders (PBR) “Last Cowboy Standing” event in Fort Collins, Colorado, but fans of Red Dirt country music are pumped because […]

6 hours ago

ENGLEWOOD, CO - AUGUST 20:  Denver Broncos running backs, including Melvin Gordon #25, LeVante Bell...

Big Mic

Broncos training camp dates announced with limited attendance

The Denver Broncos training camp facility is currently undergoing construction to set up their new headquarters, and while this will not prevent the public from attending training camp, it will […]

1 day ago

FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 06: An exterior view of a Del Taco restaurant on December 06, 2021...

Big Mic

Del Taco returns to Colorado

After months of all of the Denver Metro Del Taco locations being closed, Del Taco has made its return. Even if it’s only one restaurant so far. After abruptly closing […]

3 days ago

A bunch of the movie ‘Christmas Vacation’ was filmed in Colorado – Here’s where