The construction of the film set began in June 1979. A construction crew of 165 working four months was needed to build the village, which consists of nineteen wooden buildings. Hundreds of logs and several thousand wooden planks were imported from the Netherlands, while wood shingles used in the construction of the roof tops were imported from Canada.[1] Eight tons of nails and 7600 litres (2,000 US gal) of paint were also used in construction.

In addition, a 60–75 m (197–246 ft) breakwater was built around Anchor Bay's mouth to protect the set from high seas during the filming.

The set was completed in seven months, and filming commenced on January 23, 1980 and wrapped later that year on June 19. The film, based on the comic strips by E. C. Segar, is set around the fictional village of Sweethaven, where Popeye the sailor arrives in an attempt to find his long-lost father.[2]

Although the film had mixed reviews, Popeye Village remains a popular tourist attraction.[3]