( CNN ) -- The young stars of `` The Hunger Games '' may remember the blockbuster movie as the one that propelled their careers to the next level . But the biggest breakout star of the `` The Hunger Games '' may well turn out to be the state of North Carolina . With $ 152.5 million opening weekend at the box office , the movie based on the New York Times bestseller by Suzanne Collins had the third best opening weekend of all time ( and the best ever opening for a non-sequel ) , according to Hollywood.com . And its frenzied fans are already showing up at movie locations around the state to see where scenes were shot . `` People are obsessed with 'The Hunger Games , ' `` says Marnee Revri , a Raleigh-based travel agent affiliated with Frosch Entertainment , who booked travel for the movie 's cast and crew and blogged about it . `` I think there will be a bigger interest in people coming to visit , the same as the 'Twilight ' movies . Kids are going to want to ( see ) where it was filmed . '' Find Katniss Everdeen 's hidden pond . Many scenes were filmed in the woods of DuPont State Forest , a 10,400-acre wilderness where waterfalls , lakes and fishing streams made ideal settings for the movie 's outdoor scenes . Fans are likely to follow forest trails in search of character Katniss Everdeen 's pond , the bottom of Triple Falls waterfall and the remnants of the fireball sequence . A hike to Hooker Falls , Triple Falls and High Falls is part of the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy 's eight-hike challenge . Rated `` easy , '' the 2.6-mile waterfall hike has an elevation gain of 160 feet . ( Triple Falls also stars in Michael Mann 's movie `` The Last of the Mohicans . '' ) It 's true that the abandoned Henry River Mill Village , about 70 miles from Asheville in the small town of Hildebran , was home to the film 's `` District 12 '' Mellark family bakery and the Everdeens ' shanty . But it 's private property -- so just look as you 're driving by -- and respect any `` No Trespassing '' signs . Party where the stars hung out . Parents of tweens and teens on this movie tour , take note . The movie 's stars spent their after-work hours in Asheville , a town you 'll enjoy independent of your child 's movie obsession . With its funky architecture , independent spirit and thriving restaurant and brewing scene , artsy Asheville did n't need a movie to confirm its tourist appeal . Actors reportedly dined at the Laughing Seed CafÃ© , Lexington Avenue Brewery , Wasabi and the Southern Kitchen and Bar . They also stopped by Malaprop 's Bookstore/CafÃ© , the local independent bookseller . Cast member Woody Harrelson enjoyed the 46-foot rock-climbing wall at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte , which served as the capitol in the film . ( The center will host the U.S. Olympic Trials for canoe slalom April 12-14 . ) Harrelson also enjoyed playing chess with locals at AmÃ©lie 's French bakery in Charlotte . Not a `` Hunger Games '' fan ? You could still be inspired to learn some post-apocalyptic survival skills . If you 're in decent physical shape , learn to survive in the wilderness by taking courses at Nantahala Outdoor Center . Summer programs at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown include courses on cooking over an open fire , cooking with wild edibles , beekeeping and woodworking . If you prefer the work of Patrick Swayze , Kevin Costner or Daniel Day Lewis , you 're in luck . `` Dirty Dancing , '' `` Bull Durham '' and `` The Last of the Mohicans '' were all shot in North Carolina . While your younger family members obsess on `` The Hunger Games , '' you can celebrate the 25th anniversary of `` Dirty Dancing '' this year with the 3rd annual Dirty Dancing Festival at Lake Lure ( August 17-19 ) . Fans of the `` Ironman '' series can expect the third installment of the movie , which is in pre-production in Wilmington , to draw attention to that location . And with North Carolina 's tax incentives for productions filmed in the state , expect more movie and television shows to bring their projects there . Make me a schedule . Do n't want to plan your entire trip yourself ? The North Carolina Division of Tourism has made it easy for movie fans to make their `` Hunger Games '' plans . The office has a four-day itinerary and a list of 12 places to experience the movie .
Movie fans are already visiting North Carolina to see where `` The Hunger Games '' was filmed . But the state is also home to a number of other major film production companies and studios. The film 's stars enjoyed Asheville 's restaurants and culture after shooting .