This year marks the 25th anniversary of The Blair Witch Project, which premiered in July 1999 and launched the iconic Blair Witch franchise. Though we’ve covered it plenty, some might not know is that this groundbreaking film was primarily shot right here in Montgomery County.
In this indie supernatural horror film, three film students set out to camp in the fictional Black Hills Forest of Burkittsville, Maryland, in October 1994 to document the local legend of the Blair Witch. Mysteriously, the trio disappears, leaving behind hours of footage that are discovered a year later by anthropology students from the University of Maryland. The audience is presented with what appears to be authentic home video footage, enhancing the film’s chilling realism.
Filming took place over just eight days, wrapping up on Halloween in 1997. Although the narrative is set in the village of Burkittsville in Frederick County, the majority of the film was shot in the wooded areas of Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, with some scenes also filmed in Wheaton.
The film’s MoCo connection extends to Eduardo Sánchez, a graduate of Wheaton High School and Montgomery College, who co-wrote, directed, and edited the movie alongside Daniel Myrick. Sánchez has cited the eerie ambiance and adventurous spirit of Long Branch Creek, located behind his childhood home, as a key inspiration for the fictional Blair Witch legend.
The Blair Witch Project stands as one of the most successful independent films in history, grossing over $250 million worldwide and spawning a popular franchise that includes films, television specials, books, and video games. It is often credited with revitalizing the found-footage genre, influencing later hits like Paranormal Activity.
For Gaithersburg residents, the film is a point of local pride—“Blair Witch Heritage Hikes” have been organized in past years at Seneca Creek State Park to honor the film’s legacy. Now is a perfect time to explore the park yourself and visit iconic movie locations like “Coffin Rock” to get into the spirit of the season! A new Blair Witch project may also soon be on the horizon– read more here.