Here’s Why Groundhog Day Filming Almost Didn’t Happen In Illinois

It's a Groundhog Day scenario, folks - what if Groundhog Day was filmed in Baraboo, Wisconsin instead of Woodstock, Illinois? Let's dive into this time loop of a topic!

Woodstock, Illinois became a top hog in movie history as the setting for the classic 1993 film Groundhog Day. The movie starred Bill Murray as a weatherman stuck in a never-ending cycle of the same day, and it was a hog-wild success! But did you know that the film almost took place in a different Midwestern town?

According to NBC15, the producers of the film were considering filming in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The town is just an hour away from Madison and has a similar small-town charm to Woodstock. But in the end, the producers dug Woodstock's charming historical downtown and proximity to Chicago.

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If Groundhog Day was filmed in Baraboo, the town would have been the star attraction! Visitors from all over the world would have come out of their burrows to visit the famous movie locations. The small businesses in Baraboo would have seen a significant rise in sales, just like Woodstock. Baraboo would have forever been linked with the classic film, and we wouldn't be having this what-if discussion!

But fate had other plans, and Groundhog Day was filmed in Woodstock. The town has since become a major tourist destination, with visitors coming out of hibernation to visit the sites from the film and experience the charming small-town atmosphere.

While we'll never know what could have been if Groundhog Day was filmed in Baraboo, it's interesting to think about the impact the film could have had on the Wisconsin town.