Halloween fun: ‘Ghostbusters’ remake was filmed in Waltham

Who you gonna call this Halloween season for a family friendly film and a fright-tastic spook-tacular time? Consider 2016’s comedy reboot “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call”! Directed by Paul Feig, who also directed episodes of the television series “Freaks & Geeks” and “Arrested Development” as well as the movies “Bridesmaids” and “Spy,” this reimagining of the 1984 classic film “Ghostbusters” features actress Melissa McCarthy as well as SNL Alums Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones as a rag-tag team of paranormal investigators.

While most of the story unfolds in a fictionalized New York City, principal photography took place primarily in Massachusetts. Boston and its suburbs provided urban backdrops, but it was our own quaint city of Waltham, specifically the historic Robert Treat Paine Estate, that played a role in bringing this movie to life. Invisible from the street, the estate (sometimes simply referred to as “Stonehurst”) rests on a secluded hilltop that boasts a serene natural landscape. 

Filming began in September 2015, transforming Waltham into a bustling hub of cinematic activity. The production team probably chose the area for its blend of historic architecture and modern facilities, as well as avoiding the higher costs of shooting in actual New York.

Located at 100 Robert Treat Paine Drive, Stonehurst became a stand-in for scenes set at Columbia University. An article on the estate’s website from 2016 states, “talented set designers completely transformed four rooms in the house to simulate senior staff offices and the alumni hall of Columbia University. Fitted with carefully selected furniture and drapery, the warm and welcoming house became grand and imposing.” 

This 113-acre property, which is nestled beautifully on a rocky ridge, offers panoramic views and an authentic academic ambiance that enhanced the film’s early narrative where the main characters were facing professional setbacks. The Great Hall and Summer Parlor were dressed as Columbia University’s alumni hall where Kristen Wiig’s character, Erin Gilbert, pleads her case before being dismissed. The estate’s elegant, wood-paneled dining room served as a perfect stand-in for the dean’s office.

The film was released amid controversy over its gender-swapped protagonists but overcame those obstacles to gross more than $229 million worldwide by blending supernatural spectacle with lighthearted fun, humor and themes of empowerment and friendship. “The interaction among Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones offers a fresh take on the basic story and sets it apart from the original,” film critic and film historian Leonard Maltin wrote in a 2016 review,

Although Stonehurst’s eerie, castle-like presence was perfect for the filmmakers to amplify the ghostly theme of the movie, the estate is not haunted and there are no actual ghosts on the premises. But if there were, we would know exactly who to call. Stonehurst’s architectural legacy cements its place as a cultural treasure, bridging past and present in spectral style.