The Small Town in New Hampshire That Feels Straight Out Of ‘Jumanji’

We live in a world addicted to remakes, reboots, and sequels. It's basically Hollywood’s way of saying, “Original ideas? Nah, we’re good.” Jumanji from 1995 somehow dodged that trap. I first saw it as a kid, partly for Kirsten Dunst (obviously), partly because nothing screams “movie night” like a board game that unleashes a jungle apocalypse on a sleepy town. Her brother Peter? Yeah, he was basically my little sibling incarnate: panicky, impulsive, and somehow perfect at accidentally inviting total chaos into the living room. The plot? A cursed board game throws lions, monkeys, stampedes, and general mayhem at an unsuspecting town while Robin Williams’ Alan Parrish deals with decades of trauma, jungle dirt, and bad life choices. It’s absurd, brilliant, and hilarious: the cinematic equivalent of tipping over a jungle on Main Street, and everyone clapping because it’s exactly what they ordered.

The town that played Brantford in the film is Keene, New Hampshire. If you walk its streets today, you can almost see why the filmmakers chose it. Central Square, Roxbury Street, and the Colonial Theater hosted the chaos, and locals were drafted as extras, wandering around while lions and monkeys allegedly ran rampant (or at least, that’s what they told the insurance company). Keene recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of filming, which is both a triumph of nostalgia and a reminder that Jumanji is officially older than most of the furniture in your parents’ basement. The Parrish Shoe sign still stands, hinting at the chaos that once roared through these streets and serving as an unofficial Robin Williams shrine.

Keene is a city that balances history with unpredictability. Its population hovers around 23,000, supplemented by students from Keene State College and Antioch University New England, who provide enough energy to convince you that a stampede could plausibly happen any day. The town’s history is layered: settled in 1736 as Upper Ashuelot, burned during King George’s War, rebuilt, and eventually renamed for Sir Benjamin Keene: a man whose real-life drama could have qualified as a board game hazard in its own right. Bridges, brick streets, and Colonial-era architecture give the place a cinematic texture that made it perfect for Jumanji.

For visitors, Keene doesn’t just look like chaos; it encourages it. The Historic Cheshire Railroad Stone Arch Bridge spans the Ashuelot River with a kind of stoic elegance, perfect for imagining an elephant sprinting across it in slow motion. Festivals like the Keene Ice and Snow Festival transform streets into frozen landscapes full of carved sculptures, hot food, and locals navigating slippery sidewalks like miniature heroes in a winter-themed board game. It’s delightfully chaotic, in the best way.

Dining in Keene is equally cinematic. The Stage Restaurant serves inventive, playful dishes from a variety of cuisines that feel adventurous without requiring you to outrun a stampeding rhino. Elm City Brewing Company reminds you that even in a town famous for fictional lions and monkeys, the real star might actually be a well-poured pint. Whether you’re grabbing coffee before a stroll down Central Square or lingering over dinner, the town’s mix of historic charm and unexpected flavor keeps the adventure alive.

Walking around Keene today, you can feel the Jumanji pulse. Central Square has the openness where chaos could plausibly erupt at any moment, while Roxbury Street’s alleyways suggest hidden surprises behind every door. The Colonial Theater quietly stands as a monument to the absurd: a place that once hosted a jungle apocalypse disguised as a family film. The combination of bridges, historic streets, vibrant college energy, and quirky local events gives Keene the rare ability to feel both grounded and unpredictable.

So here’s your next move: visit Keene. Explore Central Square, see the Colonial Theater, cross the Cheshire Railroad Stone Arch Bridge, and sample Machina Kitchen and Art Bar. Time your trip for the Ice and Snow Festival if you can. Let yourself imagine a board game come to life, let the town surprise you, and enjoy the perfect mix of small-town calm and cinematic chaos. And when someone asks why you went to New Hampshire, tell them the truth: you were chasing a jungle, a board game, and maybe just a little magic... and in Keene, that’s exactly what you’ll find.

Make some magic of your own using our new Travel Planner!