RALEIGH, N.C. (April 9, 2015) ? North Carolina settings frame intertwined love stories in the new 20th Century Fox film “The Longest Ride,” which arrives in theaters Friday. The movie, based on best-selling author Nicholas Sparks novel, was shot on locations across North Carolina.
The story follows a dashing rodeo rider (played by Scott Eastwood) and a Wake Forest University art history major (Britt Robertson) as they fall deeply in love against a backdrop of blue-rimmed mountains and rolling Piedmont hills. An equally passionate story, largely told in flashback by a World War II veteran (Alan Alda), draws energy from the historic Black Mountain College, an experimental school with a renowned artistic legacy.
To experience places encountered in the film and the novel, link to Visit North Carolina’s four-day trip across the state. Explore Asheville’s River Arts District, where creativity and romance flow. Hike or ride a horse on the trails at Pilot Mountain State Park, whose 2,421-foot quartzite dome is a National Natural Landmark. Saunter along Wake Forest University’s lush-green campus in Winston-Salem, where Sophia was studying art history when she fell in love with cowboy Luke at a local rodeo. Travel to Wilmington, a charming coastal city and busy film hub known as Hollywood East.
“Nicholas Sparks, who makes his home in New Bern, N.C., finds endless inspiration in the history and beauty of North Carolina,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit North Carolina. “By using the natural landscapes to bring ‘The Longest Ride’ to the screen, the filmmakers have created a special invitation to explore the state’s scenery, heritage and an artistic streak that extends from the mountains to the coast.”
Filming destinations included Wilmington, Winston-Salem, Jacksonville and the Yadkin River Valley, home of North Carolina’s largest wine area. Learn more and access everything you need for planning a trip at VisitNC.com, or call 1-800-VISITNC (1-800-847-4862).