Almost Nobody Knows That Parts Of The Cult Classic Drop Dead Gorgeous Were Filmed In This Tiny Minnesota Town

Drop Dead Gorgeous is a 1999 cult classic movie that used a Minnesota film location. Most of the action was centered in the friendly town of Waconia and surrounding Carver County, however, several other Metro-area locations were also featured in the film.

The charming town of Waconia stood in for the film's town of Mount Rose, Minnesota.

Unlike the fictional Mount Rose, however, Waconia is a vibrant community full of friendly people and thriving businesses.

It stretches along the shores of its eponymous lake - Lake Waconia - which, as the second largest lake in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, offers plenty of recreational opportunities to residents and visitors, alike.

Every year, Waconia hosts several community events, like parades, the popular Waconia Rodeo, and the Carver County Fair.

All of these happenings in Waconia tend to have better results and considerably less carnage than the fictional community events that take place in Drop Dead Gorgeous.

The film brought a star-studded cast - including Allison Janney, Ellen Barkin, Kirsten Dunst, Kirstie Alley, Brittany Murphy, Denise Richards, and a young Amy Adams - to the central Minnesota town. Adams, in fact, auditioned for the movie while she was a member of the acting company at the nearby Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, a renowned regional theater, and the largest dinner theater in the United States.

We recommend watching the movie and then visiting Waconia to get a better feel for what the real town is like - you won't be disappointed. Walk along the lake or stroll through one of the city's many parks. You can even cuddle with llamas in Waconia. Go early enough to grab breakfast at Egg-Cetera Cafe, a local favorite and Waconia institution.

Have you seen Drop Dead Gorgeous and visited Waconia? How do you think the real town compares to Mount Rose? Can you think of another small town that's been used as a Minnesota film location?