My Trip to Tree Hill: Pt. 1

On a recommendation from a coworker, I began watching the TV show One Tree Hill, which would quickly capture my heart in the summer of 2016. After finishing all 9 seasons in the span of a few months, I found myself yearning for more. Little did I know that I would soon travel across the country to visit the place where they filmed the show: 

Wilmington, North Carolina.

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I was on Instagram one day (@kelsey.beth.miller if y'all wanna follow me) and came across a post from a company called Eyecon Conventions (@eyecon3000 on Instagram and Twitter). I had only really ever heard of Comic Con, so finding out that there was a convention for One Tree Hill had me completely floored. I wanted to learn all that I could, and soon, I found myself buying tickets to the convention. 
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Keep in mind, I had only been on a plane once prior to this, a 45 minute flight for a work meeting from Boise, ID to Portland, OR. So, needless to say, flying across the country solo sounded pretty daunting. But, I didn't care. This was something I needed to do for myself. 

I ended up joining the Eyecon Return to Tree Hill Convention Facebook group, and through there, found myself in a group chat with some pretty amazing people who have become some of my closest friends. The shy girl who doesn't talk to strangers? Yeah, that's me. And I flew over 2500 miles to meet up with people I'd met on the internet. 
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Am I sounding crazy yet? Just bear with me!

Wednesday, March 14th, 2018. 
I woke up at 3 am and started out on my 1 hour drive to the airport. Two layovers in Seattle and Atlanta later, I finally made it to Wilmington!

Wilmington, NC Airport

Thursday, March 15th, 2018
This was when my time in Tree Hill truly began. I went on the Tree Hill Tour, run by a couple amazing tour guides named Gina and Amy (and Alex!) We visited a ton of filming locations of the show. Check out the pictures below! (I included the addresses of the locations in case anyone decides to take their own self-guided tour!)

The Rivercourt:
USS Battleship Park, 1 Battleship Road, Wilmington, NC 28401

LOVE this view!

The tree that everyone always parked by at the Rivercourt

Tric/Red Bedroom Records:

1121 South Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 (Corner of Front St. and Marstellar St.)

Keep in mind, that although fans sign this building, it is private property and defacing it is against the law!

Brooke Davis' House:

2314 Tattersalls Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403

The girl in front of the red door ;)

The Scott House:

1621 Country Club Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403

Lucas And Karen's House:
1829 Wrightsville Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403

Haley James' House:
1811 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28405 (to the left of Peyton's House)

Haley James is my spirit animal :)

Peyton Sawyer's House:
1901 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28405

Keith Scott Body Shop:

19 Covil Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403 (Now Performance Auto Specialists)

They did repaint the shop black, but in this lighting, it almost looks blue ;)

Screen Gems Studios/One Tree Hill Way:

1223 N. 23rd Street, Wilmington, NC 28405

And now for my favorite stop of the tour...THE BRIDGE!

Opening Credits Bridge:

6th Street Bridge, N. 6th St & Hanover St (Also known as the Harry Forden Bridge)

Loved that Gina had basketballs for our pictures on the bridge!

There's only one Tree Hill...and it's your home.

Our tour group!

Riverwalk:

Along Water Street

You can see Battleship Park (the Rivercourt) across the river!

The Naley Bench:

Along the Riverwalk

Karen's Cafe:

The corner of Front Street and Grace Street

Tree Hill Cafe/Baker Man:

300 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 (Now Port City Java)

We also visited Java Dog (303 N Front Street), a local cafe that "transforms" into Karen's Cafe during the Eyecon Convention weekend!

Thursday night was the BBQ on the Rivercourt, where they showed two episodes of the show, and you were able to mix and mingle with some of the celebrities and what not. I didn't really get any pictures at the BBQ, but I did enjoy it, even if it was super cold!

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Stay tuned for my next post, continuing to talk about my experience in Wilmington, North Carolina at the Eyecon One Tree Hill convention!