Ben Chapman portrayed the Gill - man for the majority of the scenes shot at Universal City, California. Many of the on - top of the water scenes were filmed at Rice Creek near Palatka, Florida. The costume made it impossible for Chapman to sit for the 14 hours of each day that he wore it, and it overheated easily, so he stayed in the back lot 's lake, often requesting to be hosed down. He also could not see very well while wearing the headpiece, which caused him to scrape Julie Adams ' head against the wall when carrying her in the grotto scenes. Ricou Browning played the Gill - Man in the underwater shots, which were filmed by the second unit in Wakulla Springs, Florida.
where was the original creature from the black lagoon filmed
Universal City, California Rice Creek near Palatka, Florida Wakulla Springs, Florida