<P> Ben Chapman portrayed the Gill - man for the majority of the scenes shot at Universal City , California . Many of the on - top of the water scenes were filmed at Rice Creek near Palatka , Florida . The costume made it impossible for Chapman to sit for the 14 hours of each day that he wore it , and it overheated easily , so he stayed in the back lot 's lake , often requesting to be hosed down . He also could not see very well while wearing the headpiece , which caused him to scrape Julie Adams ' head against the wall when carrying her in the grotto scenes . Ricou Browning played the Gill - Man in the underwater shots , which were filmed by the second unit in Wakulla Springs , Florida . </P>
<P> Ben Chapman portrayed the Gill - man for the majority of the scenes shot at Universal City , California . Many of the on - top of the water scenes were filmed at Rice Creek near Palatka , Florida . The costume made it impossible for Chapman to sit for the 14 hours of each day that he wore it , and it overheated easily , so he stayed in the back lot 's lake , often requesting to be hosed down . He also could not see very well while wearing the headpiece , which caused him to scrape Julie Adams ' head against the wall when carrying her in the grotto scenes . Ricou Browning played the Gill - Man in the underwater shots , which were filmed by the second unit in Wakulla Springs , Florida . </P>
where was the creature from the black lagoon filmed at
where was the creature from the black lagoon filmed at
Universal City , California Rice Creek near Palatka , Florida Wakulla Springs , Florida
Universal City , California Rice Creek near Palatka , Florida Wakulla Springs , Florida