"Where The Red Fern Grows" To Be Re-Shot in NE Oklahoma

Tuesday, July 27th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The producers of the film "Where the Red Fern Grows" plan to return to Oklahoma for the remake. The original movie was filmed 25 years ago in eastern Oklahoma. Several scenes of the movie were shot in a park called "Dripping Springs" but today it's known as Natural Falls State Park.

The grotto was one of the backdrops for the film, which was the story of a coon hunting young man and his dogs. The 1974 film still draws visitors to see the park, which made up only 10 minutes of the movie. When the children's literary classic was first made into a film, the producers chose locations in Tahlequah and Watts. Several scenes were also lensed near Natural Falls. "When the main character of the film spends the night coming back from Tahlequah with his coon dogs, he names both dogs while he's down here and carves their names into a tree," said Lanny Landrum, Park Manager.

The new movie will use many of the same locations as the original. Filming is scheduled to begin sometime in September. Stars of the film have not been announced, but producers plan to cast several local actors as extras and background players.

Natural Falls State Park (formerly Dripping Springs State Park) is located in Southern Delaware County on US 412 near West Siloam Springs, OK. Call (918)422-5802 for more information.