The quirky 2004 film, Napoleon Dynamite, became one of the biggest comedy hits of the year. For the next several years, it was impossible not to hear a quote or see a costume from the movie.
Filming for Napoleon Dynamite was done entirely in the small town of Preston, Idaho, which is north of Salt Lake City. Preston has a population of about 5000 people.
Napoleon’s House
The house where Napoleon and his brother Kip live with their grandmother is located on the outskirts of Preston. The house is surrounded by farmland, just as seen in the film. The field next door to the house is where Napoleon fed his llama Tina, and the pasture across the street is where the farmer shot the cow.
Pedro’s House
Pedro’s house is located right in town, and looks exactly the same. Other than the tree out front which is a lot bigger, there hasn’t been any changes. The owners also keep a “Vote for Pedro” sign in the window.
Summer’s House
Summer’s house is where Pedro delivers a home made cake, in hopes of asking Summer to the school dance. Pedro leaves the cake at the front door and then hides behind a bush to watch.
Preston High School
The Preston High School is also located right in central Preston. The school was used for both interior and exterior shots in Napoleon Dynamite. You can sit on the steps of the front of the school, right where Napoleon and his friends sat.
When visiting a school, remember to be respectful of the property and the student’s privacy. You can read my suggestions for visiting schools here.
Thrift Store
The thrift store in Preston is where Napoleon and Pedro shop for outfits for the school dance. This is where Napoleon finds his crazy retro tuxedo.
Bowling Alley
The town’s bowling alley is also featured in the film. This is where Kip and Uncle Rico come up with some business plans while bowling.
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