Sling Blade

There are a couple of clues, in the movie, that reveal the location of the house used in the film.

First, when Carl and the boy (Frank) are toting laundry from the Econ-O-Wash to the boy’s house, you can see a street sign that says “VINE ST” (see the photo below).

Later in the movie, you can see the house number.

By driving virtually, in Google Maps, you can find that the house is located at the corner of Vine and South Main at 522 South Main Street, Benton, AR 72015.

As you can see, there is no longer a deck on the left side of the house (where Doyle’s band played) and the left-neighbor’s house is no longer standing. Last, you can’t see any beer bottles sitting on top of a window-unit air conditioner (as in the movie), but that’s the house!

You can see, in the still below, how Bill Cox’s Repair Shop looked in the movie. I set out to find its location on Google Maps, and here’s how I found it.

Right before they arrive at Bill Cox’s Repair Shop (for the first time), the movie shows them passing through the intersection in the scene-still below. You can see several businesses on the right side of the road (many of which are no longer there). I was able to find that same intersection by virtually driving down Military Road past the businesses from that scene that remain today.

Right after their car passes through this intersection, they take an immediate left into Bill Cox’s Repair Shop. After they get out of the car, we get a close-up of the mailbox (see here), which reads “1111.” So Bill Cox’s Repair Shop was located at 1111 Military Road, Benton, AR 72015.

Today the property is occupied by a bank (see image). Google Maps marks an Auto Zone right about where Cox’s used to be — perhaps there was an Auto Zone there after Cox, but before the bank.

I found the Econ-O-Wash using the “Search nearby” feature in Google Maps. I searched for “laundry” near the house’s location. I find it interesting that the Econ-O-Wash was actually within practical walking proximity (0.7 miles) — just as portrayed in the movie.

If you look really closely at the menu sitting in the background at their table, you can see they were eating at Gary’s.

With a little help from Google Maps, I was able to find Gary’s Drive-In at 673 Cox Ave, Benton, AR 72015.

Cox Ave.? Could this street have been named after Bill Cox (or someone in his family)?