Close Menu
Inside Universal
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube Threads
    Friday, May 9
    Trending
    • The Secret Life of Pets photo op added to New York area in Universal Studios Florida
    • Expanded Universal Studios Store opens in Universal CityWalk; feautring Super Nintendo World & Butterbeer Counter
    • Universal Studios Hollywood announces Universal Mega Movie Summer event; starting June 13
    • What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of May 5, 2025
    Inside Universal
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Threads
    • Home
    • News
      • Hollywood
        • Photo Updates
        • CityWalk Hollywood
        • Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood
        • Events
      • Orlando
        • Photo Updates
        • Universal Studios Florida
        • Islands of Adventure
        • Epic Universe
        • Universal’s Volcano Bay
        • CityWalk Orlando
        • Universal Resorts
        • Halloween Horror Nights – Orlando
        • Events
      • Japan
        • Photo Updates
        • Events
      • Singapore
      • Beijing
      • Other Universal Destinations
      • Outside Universal
        • Walt Disney World
        • SeaWorld Orlando
        • Around Orlando
        • Disneyland Resort
        • Knott’s Berry Farm
        • Around California
    • Forums
    • Inside Universal Podcast
    • Features
    • Merchandise
    Inside Universal
    Home»Universal Studios Hollywood»Whoville Sets from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” demolished on Universal backlot

    Whoville Sets from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” demolished on Universal backlot

    April 21, 2020 Universal Studios Hollywood By Sydney Newman
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Reddit Copy Link

    Amidst construction continuing on various projects throughout the theme park property, the Whoville sets on the Universal backlot from Ron Howard’s 2000 film, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, have been demolished.

    While the theme park remains closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, a new aerial video of the park was shared by Micah Muzio (go to 10:07 of the video) that shows the now-newly-paved area where the sets once stood.

    Though most of the production took place across eleven soundstages on the Universal backlot, one sequence was filmed outdoors in sets constructed on the area near the “Psycho” house, later relocated to the small plot of land adjacent to the Bates Motel that guests became familiar with over the past two decades.

    Frequently quoted by Studio Tour guides as trams passed by Whoville, the production as a whole utilized over “two million linear feet of Styrofoam”, “1,938 candy canes”, and “enough artificial snow to cover nine football fields” to construct its fantastical looking sets. Suffice to say, the outdoor sets used in the film were not built with strong materials to withstand the elements beyond the production timeframe, in turn necessitating frequent paint jobs and touch-ups.

    “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” first made its way to Universal Studios Hollywood when the studio decided to promote the film’s release by holding a brand-new holiday event, Grinchmas, from November 1999 through January 2000, featuring The Grinch’s Cave Maze, a close-up encounter with the sets on the Studio Tour, and an assortment of activities on the Upper Lot.

    Only the sets remained past that inaugural Grinchmas, until a resurgence of the event in 2008. Outside of the Grinchmas festivities located on the Upper Lot, brief performances featuring some familiar characters from the film took place regularly on the Whoville sets for all guests on the Studio Tour to enjoy. However, in 2017, these backlot performances were cut from the event, likely due to complications with the structural integrity of the nearly two-decade-old sets.

    Holiday decorations and other props began to be removed from the Whoville sets following their lack of use during the Grinchmas event, and new paint jobs suddenly became less frequent. Prior to their destruction, the sets lacked much of the charm they once held due to both the film’s waning cultural relevance, as well as their gradual loss of vibrant colors after many days under the heat of the California sun.

    While we’re sure many will miss the Whoville sets and the nostalgia associated with them, we look forward to seeing what Universal has in store in the future.

    Backlot Demolished Grinchmas how the grinch stole christmas Set Studio Tour Universal Studios Hollywood Whoville
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleThe Inside Universal Podcast: Favorite First Memories at Universal Parks
    Next Article Construction on Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe officially delayed
    Sydney Newman

    Related Posts

    Events

    Universal Studios Hollywood announces Universal Mega Movie Summer event; starting June 13

    May 8, 2025
    Features

    What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of May 5, 2025

    May 5, 2025
    Events

    REVIEW: Universal Studios Hollywood Launches the Inaugural Universal Fan Fest Nights

    May 2, 2025
    LATEST POSTS

    The Secret Life of Pets photo op added to New York area in Universal Studios Florida

    May 9, 2025

    Expanded Universal Studios Store opens in Universal CityWalk; feautring Super Nintendo World & Butterbeer Counter

    May 8, 2025

    Universal Studios Hollywood announces Universal Mega Movie Summer event; starting June 13

    May 8, 2025

    What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of May 5, 2025

    May 5, 2025

    REVIEW: Universal Studios Hollywood Launches the Inaugural Universal Fan Fest Nights

    May 2, 2025
    About Inside Universal

    Inside Universal is a website dedicated to covering Universal Parks & Resorts, specifically Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando. Our team of editors is committed to providing fact-based, non-sensationalist content that educates and informs our readers while still focused on having fun.

    Inside Universal aims to maintain a rational perspective, allowing us to offer commentary, news, and analysis about Universal Parks. Our mission is to provide you, the reader, with accurate and in-depth reporting to the best of our ability. This is our goal - nothing more, nothing less.

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Threads
    JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON OUR FORUMS
    If you’re looking to have your Universal-related question answered, or if you’d simply like to chat about the park’s future developments, Inside Universal's forums is the Internet’s leading unofficial forum dedicated to Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando. MEI Travel
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Threads
    • About Us
    • Masthead
    • Contact
    • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    © 2025 All Rights Reserved - Inside Universal is not affiliated with Comcast, NBCUniversal, Universal Parks & Resorts, or Universal Destinations & Experiences. You may not copy, redistribute, publish, sell, or otherwise make the original contents of this website available to third parties unless you have received prior authorization from Inside Universal.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT