'Hunger Games' site boosts tourism

While rumors about where the second movie in “The Hunger Games” trilogy might be filmed burn up the internet, the area is still reaping the benefit of the first movie.

Henry River Mill Village stood in for District 12, home of heroine Katniss Everdeen, in “The Hunger Games.” Whether any part of the follow-up movie “Catching Fire” will be filmed at the old village is anyone’s guess at this point.

Rumors swirling are suggesting filming sites in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Some have even guessed Hawaii.

Those whom film officials contacted last time before filming started in the area say they haven’t heard anything.

Ed Phillips, executive director of Burke County Travel and Tourism, said he heard there was a still photographer with the movie company Lionsgate, the maker of “The Hunger Games” and its follow-ups, at Henry River Mill Village last month.

North Carolina Department of Transportation and local fire officials say they haven’t heard anything from Lionsgate.

Before filming for “The Hunger Games started, the company had to get approval and help from transportation officials to close down Henry River Road during filming. Henry River Mill Village flanks both sides of the road. The road was closed for about a week during filming and a detour around the village was set up.

The filming also required a permit from Icard Township Fire and Rescue.

Whether the state will be used for a second film or not, the filming sites for the first movie are still raking in fans and it’s having an economic impact.

Phillips said tourism in Burke County is up 200 percent from last year, with about 75 percent of that increase directly related to parts of “The Hunger Games” being filmed there.