Locations for Every Look

Tampa Bay is a hidden gem. Not because it’s always sunny and evergreen, or because living here is second to living in paradise. When you think of Tampa, Florida, you might think of beaches, Spanish architecture, and coastal properties. But Tampa Bay has a special trait that sets it apart: visual diversity. Bringing a production to Tampa Bay means having countless options for every story.

Need an urban cityscape? Try Downtown Tampa. Rural farmsteads? Try Plant City. Need a location that’s too far away for the budget? We have locations RIGHT HERE that could easily masquerade as Cuba, Savannah, Chicago, New Orleans, Texas, the Amazon Rainforest, and so much more. 

Tampa Bay has filming locations so breathtaking that they become their own characters in your story.

Need Urban? Try Downtown Tampa. 

Downtown Tampa can camouflage as any major city, with its skyscrapers, museums, performing arts center, luxury restaurants, and storefronts. It also has ample parking for equipment and crew vehicles. Downtown Tampa is a staple filming destination for national commercials and is equipped to handle film productions of any size.

Need a beautiful forest or a spooky swamp? Try Hillsborough River State Park.

Just a few miles away from Tampa’s major attractions lie hidden swamps and nature preserves. Hillsborough River State Park flows from beautiful natural landscapes, open water, and blue skies to overgrown, mossy swamps encased in Spanish moss canopies in every shade of green.

Need a farm, ranch, or rural small town? Try Plant City.

Plant City is home to strawberry farms, old Main Street, a preserved train station, and acres upon acres of silent, reflective fields. The quaint small town neighbors beautiful landscapes that will take you back to yesteryear. The area is so versatile that the upcoming A Land Remembered series will film the area as historic Florida during the pioneer era. The series can tell the origin story of our home state as a cattle-ranch settlement just a stone’s throw away from modern amenities. 

What about a ghost town? Try Fort Lonesome. 

Like Plant City, Fort Lonesome is a place frozen in time. You’ll find long country roads, old barns, and a recreated General Store, complete with antique decor, cash registers, gas pumps, and vintage furniture.

Need a high-end, luxury neighborhood? Try Hyde Park or Channelside. 

The Hyde Park and Channelside neighborhoods have evolved into thriving luxury destinations. The areas are flush with Michelin-recognized restaurants, brand-new apartment buildings, and high-end stores. The location is perfect for shooting an affluent cityscape with picturesque, manicured landscaping. The neighborhoods are also perfect for housing your top talent during the project.

Need an authentic 1800s factory? Try El Reloj Cigar Factory.

Tampa is home to the oldest and longest-running cigar factory in the United States. El Reloj and the J.C. Newman Brand have been rolling cigars since 1910, and it’s evident in the perfectly preserved factory – only ten minutes from Downtown Tampa! J.C. Newman Cigar Company is a film-friendly location and has served as the backdrop for numerous Tampa Bay projects.

How about a hotel from the same timeframe? Try Historic Plant Hall.

The Tampa Bay Hotel opened in 1891 and hosted some of the most influential people in our country’s history! The hotel is now Plant Hall, a major part of the University of Tampa system, and a museum filled with preserved decor, furniture, clothing, and more. Plant Hall has previously hosted productions such as Lady of the Manor.

Need a hospital? UTampa has that too.

The University of Tampa is one of Tampa Bay’s most versatile and film-friendly locations. In addition to the historic Plant Hall, the university has a hospital simulation center that is available for film shoots during the university’s off-season. Lifetime’s “Don’t Breathe a Word” filmed a pivotal hospital scene in the facility last summer.

Need a theme park, zoo, or aquarium? We’ve got you covered.

Within a quick 30-minute drive, you can find Busch Gardens, Zoo Tampa, and The Florida Aquarium. These destinations have previously hosted projects such as Fear of Rain, Secrets of the Zoo, and major Super Bowl commercials.

Need an old-school, Cuban neighborhood that still reflects Old Florida? Try Ybor City. 

Ybor City is so full of culture and history that our writer is tearing up as she types. With cobblestone streets, Ybor’s iconic streetlights, and cigar factories left and right, Ybor City feels like a moment frozen in time. Plus, it can pass for the French Quarter of New Orleans!

Need a filming location that’s so breathtaking and perfectly matched that it becomes its own character in your story? Try Tampa Bay.