Movie road trip: A cinematic site per state for all 50 states

(Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images for cinema prive)

Missouri: Gone Girl

Gone Girl was a very popular novel. The psychological thriller was transformed into an equally thrilling movie starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. While the city in the novel, North Carthage, Missouri is fictional, the film was shot in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri was founded in the late 1770s. Named after a French soldier, the city was known for the “cape” that jetted out over the Mississippi River. The city has a long, storied history. Subject of a Supreme Court governmental land seizure case, the city embraces its historical heritage and its natural beauty.

During filming, many locals from the area followed film crews as they worked. The area even had a Facebook page. Some of the locations were altered specifically for the film.

The Bar, in Cape Girardeau, is a real restaurant/bar. The location was redesigned for the movie, but the owner decided to keep the remodel. Today, The Bar offers a wide selection of beers, microbrews, and cocktails. Food choices vary from burgers to steaks and larger entrees. Located in the historic area of town, The Bar is open every day and has many daily specials.

One of the area’s historic sites, Common Pleas Courthouse has existed since 1854. Overlooking the area, the courthouse is still a working building today. Protected as a member of the National Register of Historic Places, this courthouse and the surrounding area was featured in the movie.

Cape Girardeau is located about an hour and half Southeast of St. Louis.