Harlow Texas: A Ghost Town with a Gruesome Legacy

Harlow Texas is a name that might sound familiar to horror fans, especially those who have watched the 2022 version of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. In the movie, a group of young influencers visits the abandoned town of Harlow, hoping to turn it into a trendy new community. However, they soon discover that they are not alone and that a murderous force, Leatherface, lurks in the shadows, ready to unleash his chainsaw on them.

But is Harlow Texas, a real place? And if so, what is its history and location? Today, we will explore the facts and fiction behind this ghost town that has become the setting for one of the most iconic slasher films ever.

The Real Harlow Texas

According to the Texas State Historical Association, Harlow was a small community in central Hunt County, about four miles south of Greenville and west of State Highway 34. The town was named after the Harlow family, who resided in the county. It may have been settled in the late 1800s, and by the 1930s, it consisted of farms and a business establishment. However, there are no records of its population, and by the 1980s, it had disappeared from highway maps.

Thus, it was a real town, but little is known about its history or inhabitants. It seems that it was a sparsely populated rural community that gradually faded away over time.

The Movie Harlow Texas

In contrast to the real Harlow Texas, the movie version is depicted as a completely deserted ghost town with dilapidated buildings and signs of decay. A rusty board claims that the town once had a population of 1,300, but now it is empty except for Leatherface and his twisted family.

The movie also implies that Harlow has a dark and violent past, as the sheriff warns the visitors to respect the town's history. It is suggested that Leatherface is not the only killer that has haunted Harlow, but rather part of a long tradition of bloodshed and madness.

The movie also shows some footage at the beginning and end that appears to be recorded by a home video camera, depicting two police officers investigating a crime scene in Harlow and encountering Leatherface³. However, this footage is not real but a clever editing trick to make the movie more realistic and terrifying.

Where Was the Movie Filmed?

If you are wondering where the movie was filmed, you might be surprised to learn that it was not shot in Texas or the United States. The 2022 Texas Chainsaw Massacre was filmed in Bulgaria, using sets and locations that have no relation to any existing place in Texas.


However, this is not the case for the original 1974 movie, which was filmed in several locations in Texas, mostly around Austin. Some of these locations still exist today and have become tourist attractions for horror fans.

Conclusion

Harlow Texas, is a ghost town that has gained fame and infamy. While it was based on a real town that once existed in Hunt County, there are many differences between the real and fictional versions. The movie portrays Harlow as a deserted and haunted place where Leatherface and his chainsaw reign supreme. However, the real Harlow was a small rural community that gradually vanished from maps and memory.