When Hollywood came running
Story by Lance Hanlin
Few films are as beloved as Forrest Gump, but in the Lowcountry, the connection feels personal. Many of the movie’s most memorable scenes were filmed in Beaufort, on Lady’s Island and in Savannah, turning familiar bridges, marshes and historic squares into cinematic landmarks. From shrimp boats to sweeping run sequences, these real-world locations reveal how the Lowcountry helped bring Forrest Gump to life.
Beaufort Filming Locations in Forrest Gump
Beaufort served as a central production hub, with familiar places transformed into cinematic stand-ins. The University of South Carolina Beaufort campus was digitally altered to appear as Gump Medical Center, while scenes of Forrest mowing the football field were filmed at the Basil Green Complex, a baseball field dressed for the role and enhanced with early CGI. Even the lawn mower had local roots. It was supplied by Beaufort hardware store owner Gene DeLoach, who proudly displayed it in his shop for years after the film’s release…