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What do Hollywood stars Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick, Jr., Sean Penn, Ryan Reynolds, Brad Pitt and Jon Gries have in common? They’ve all filmed movies in Smithville, Texas—a small town of roughly 4,000 residents, located 29 miles southeast of Austin.
Smithville has plenty of sights for movie buffs. And with shopping, parks, and dining—it’s a great place to visit, even if you’ve never seen any of the movies filmed there.
The town was established by Thomas Gazeley, who in 1827 settled near the present site. Gazeley operated a store there until his death in 1853, and the community that sprang up around the store was named after another early settler, William Smith.
Hope Floats in Smithville
The 1998 film Hope Floats starred Sandra Bullock as Birdee Pruitt and Harry Connick, Jr. as Justin Matisse.
Birdee Pruitt's house in Hope Floats
The McCollum-Chapman-Trousdale House at 201 E. Eighth St. was used as Sandra Bullock’s home in Hope Floats. This large Neoclassical-style home was built for J.H. McColllum in 1908. McCollum was the local undertaker, buggy and carriage maker, and had a large store on Main Street. In 1917, Dr. Phillip Chapman and his wife, Mamie Trousdale Chapman, purchased the home. It was inherited by his nephew Gordon Trousdale, and is now the home of his son. The house has a swimming pool in the back yard that the movie crew covered up because they didn’t want a pool in the film.
Star Biscuits Ghost Sign on Main Street
This ghost sign at the northeast corner of 2nd and Main Streets was created for Hope Floats.
Tree of Life with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn
Filming Location for The Tree of Life, Starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn
The Tree of Life was filmed in Smithville. We were fortunate enough to meet some neighbors who walked us to the house they used for filming. The house is a different color in the film, but this is it!
Swimming Pool in Tree of Life
Someone below asked me about the filming location of the swimming pool in Tree of Life. I finally saw the movie today. The swimming pool is Barton Springs Pool in Austin.
Other Movies Filmed in Smithville
- The Dentist 2, 1998
- The Breakdance Kid, 2004
- Fireflies in the Garden, 2008
- Martha, 2008
- Artois the Goat, 2009
- Five Time Champion, 2009
Zimmerhanzel’s Bar-B-Que
You definitely can’t go wrong with the barbeque at Zimmerhanzel’s. The brisket is moist and tender, and the tasty cole slaw, potato salad and beans are home-made daily.
Zimmerhanzel's Bar-B-Que
Other Smithville Sights
The Law – Texas Rangers, by Minnie Teichmueller
This mural in the Smithville post office was painted by WPA murialist Minnie Teichmueller in 1940. Learn more about post office murals.
Smithville Railroad Museum
The first railroad depot was built in Smithville in 1887 and burned a few years later. In 1893, the MKT completed its tracks linking Houston with Smithville. The second Smithville depot was built in 1895 at the “Y” in the tracks further west. The large Railroad YMCA building was on this site from 1899 to 1926. The Smithville Railroad Park was developed on land donated by the railroad and contains the Chamber of Commerce building, a gazebo and the Railroad Museum, a small depot moved from West Point, TX.
Honey's Diner and Pines Hotel, 113-117 E. Second Street
This large hotel building was built in 1910 by the Hill family to accommodate railroad workers and traveling salesmen. It included a 16-car garage on the first floor. On the west side of the building is a single-story cafe where Dan Rather spoke to the Lions Club in 1967. The hotel was in use until 1968.
Smithville Links
- Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce
- Handbook of Texas Online
- Wikipedia Article on Smithville
- Texas Escapes – Smithville
- Smithville Blog – Small Town, Big Ideas
Thanks for the great article about our little town! Let me know when you are headed back again and I’ll be happy to give you the Chambermaid’s tour!
Adena – I forgot to say that everyone we met in Smithville was extremely friendly. The Chambermaid’s tour sounds like lots of fun! Thanks!
I loved your article about our town, Smithville. We are “Texas Film Friendly.”
I understand more small production companies are planning to come our way. During the filming of “Hope Floats”, we had the catering company and the still photographer stay at our B&B, the Katy House. It was lots of fun to hear about filming each day. We are all waiting to see “Tree of Life.”
What a neat article. Thanks for sharing your photos and information about Smithville. Sounds like a may have to stop by there sometime.
I’m so excited to find this! I’m researching a blog post about “Hope Floats” and was wondering where it was filmed. Thanks so much for your help. Great photo of the house. I’d like to use it in my post and link back here to yours if that’s okay.
I have family in Smithville. This town is as quaint and charming as you can get. A wonderful place to raise a family and a great place to visit.
Most of my family lives in Smithville… Every one is very friendly, and yes Zemmerhanzel’s probalby does have the BEST bbq. I would HIGHLY recomend it for vacations, touring, and of coarse, filming movies!
I mut also brag about another food place in Smithville, Pockets. Pockets has just about every single food BUT barbeque:).
Ok this is the last one i HAVE to brag about…. Mexico Lindo. Obviously it has mexican food…. But it is delicious!!!!
It is great to know that Smithville is being reconized as somthing much more than just a small town!!!
Thank you!!!!!!!
Hi Blue Eyes,
I just need to tell you that original settler Thomas GAZLEY’s name is misspelled on your blog. I work with Smithville Heritage Society and am very sure of this! His original land grant is spelled “Gazley”, as is the street in Smithville which is named after him. You can Google “Thomas Gazley Smithville” and get a number of references to support the spelling.
Other than that, I LOVE your blog and website!! Thanks for “selling Smithville”! My husband and I retired here in 1999, and have never looked back! You should come live here!
Thanks for your great blog!
I loved this, I grew up in Smithville, my childhood home is one block from the main set of Tree of Life, I have to say, spending many years of my life traveling between Smithville and Austin, it is certainly not 29 miles away, I could only wish. More like a minimum of 43 miles.
Was the huge swimming pool in “The Tree of Life” also shot in Smithville?
Frako – I haven’t had a chance to see the movie yet, so I don’t know about the pool. If it was an indoor pool, it could have been the Lee and Joe Jamail Swim Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
Was the neighborhood at the beginning of the movie “The Tree of Life” where they find out there son is dead, is that in Smithville as well?