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At Henry River Mill Village you can Step into District 12. The abandoned cotton mill village that appeared in The Hunger Games films still stands along Henry River, frozen in time as a window into Western North Carolina's industrial past.
From the 1900s through the 1970s, this mill town hummed with workers and families who lived in company houses clustered around the textile operation. Today the preserved village lets you walk through history. You can explore the mill buildings, workers' homes, and grounds where generations built their lives around cotton yarn production.
The Hunger Games connection brought Henry River Mill Village back into the spotlight, but the real story runs deeper. This authentic mill town represents the textile heritage that shaped the region for decades. The village sits untouched by modern development, offering a rare glimpse of how mill workers lived and worked in the early 20th century.
The village hosts special events throughout the year. You can also book the site for private events and weddings—imagine your celebration in this one-of-a-kind historic setting.
Explore and Learn
Walk the grounds during general admission hours to explore buildings, learn the village's history, and see where The Hunger Games scenes were filmed. Self-guided exploration lets you move at your own pace.
The village Company Store (pic above) served as Mellark's Bakery in The Hunger Games. The movie, which stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, and Woody Harrelson, filmed nine days in Henry River. One of the mill houses was sacrificed during an explosion for the movie.
Hours & Admission
Winter Hours (through March 19, 2026): Saturday-Sunday: 10 AM–5 PM
Spring, Summer, and Fall Hours (after March 20, 2026): Friday-Monday: 10 AM–5 PM
Admission Adults: $18 + tax Ages 0-17: Free with adult ticket purchase Purchase tickets online or on-site
Tours: Guided tours year-round, see website for info & tickets.
Weddings and Special Events: Book your event their website.
Leashed, friendly pets welcome. The village maintains a 100% tobacco-free policy.
Overnight accommodations: Book your stay their website.
See more things to do in Burke County.
Directions: Henry River is about 75 miles east of Asheville. Take I-40 East to Exit 119. Turn right and head south about a half-mile. GPS Address: 4255 Henry River Road, Hickory. Near the town of Valdese.
Henry River History
The Henry River Mill Village (or "District 12") was built as a planned community with its own textile mill, dam, water and fire-protection systems, and company store. Today most of the village's original buildings remain sited along a small gorge of the Henry River. The abandoned homes are dangerous inside due to collapsing floors. Stay on the main road since the area is closed to visitors except for events and Saturday visits.
In 1904 Michael Erastus Rudisill laid out the mill and village on a 1500-acre tract, chosen for its hydropower potential. The mill was incorporated as the Henry River Manufacturing Company and manufactured fine cotton yarns. In 1905, a 30-ft. reinforced concrete dam was constructed with a three-story brick mill building. The residential area of the village consisted of approximately 35 small worker's cottages. Twenty are standing today. The workers lived in boarding houses or workers' cottages built by the company, which were leased at nominal fees.
Since the loss of the main mill building, the centerpiece of the village today is the two-story brick company store building. This building served as a mill office with the upper floor used as a school room and for church services from 1907-1917. The Henry River Mill originally ran on water power. In 1914, a steam plant was installed and then in 1926, the mill was converted to electric power. In its early years, the mill operated 4,000 yarn-making spindles. By the time it shut down in the late 1960s, the mill had 12,000 spindles and produced fine combed yarn for lace. The mill was closed for several years and was purchased in 1976. Equipment and materials were stored in the mill building when it burned in 1977. The abandoned town began slowly deteriorating.
The Hunger Games Film Locations
The Hunger Games takes place in an unidentified future time period after the destruction of North America, in a nation known as Panem. Panem consists of a wealthy Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts. District 12, where the book begins, is located in the coal-rich region that was formerly Appalachia.
See other movies that have been filmed in the Asheville area.
Since 2017
Calvin Reyes and his family purchased the 72-acre village in fall 2017. He loves to share the history of the village with visitors. We are lucky that he is saving not only the buildings but also the stories of residents that lived and worked there. Items found in the homes are being collected for the on-site museum in house 16, the home of heroine Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games. The Henry River Preservation Fund non-profit group raised money to preserve what is now open to the public as Henry Mill Village.
