If there’s one location that should someday be converted into a tourist attraction, it would probably be the house from Home Alone. A truly iconic film spot, it seems an exercise in futility to try to manage a private life at the residence, yet to this day, it does indeed remain private. The house can be found in the quiet neighborhood of Winnetka, IL, a bit north of Chicago. A fence has since been built around the property.
LOCATION: 671 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, IL 60093
They left the garage door open, just like in the film. The garage has since been demolished.
The church from the film can be found over in Wilmette, IL. This is the Trinity United Methodist Church, which was used as the exterior location for the film. The interior of the church was actually an entirely separate location; the Grace Episcopal Church (924 Lake St., Oak Park, IL 60301).
LOCATION: 1024 Lake Ave, Wilmette, IL 60091
Some props from the film and it’s sequel can be found on display at Planet Hollywood in Florida.
LOCATION: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Tucked away in an industrial section of Los Angeles is the former Fantasy Factory of Rob Dyrdek. It’s long since closed, with construction crews demolishing and removing all elements of the show, short of the building itself. However, you can still see where the Dyrdek sign used to be at the top of the building. The area is not one of the more flattering parts of L.A., so beware that visiting in person nowadays might blemish your memories of the show a little.
As time has passed, appreciation for Michael Mann’s crime saga masterpiece “Heat” has continued to grow. Few films have ever captured Los Angeles so magnificently as Mann did here. Even after all of these years, a few locations remain secret, but most have surfaced.
The opening shots of the film show Neil McCauley, played by Robert DeNiro on the Metro Green Line, arriving at the Redondo Beach Station. Director Michael Mann would return to this same station for the closing scenes of “Collateral.” If you plan to visit this station, the only way to access the platform is by purchasing a fare.
LOCATION: 2406 Marine Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Neil steals an ambulance from the St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach. The same hospital shows up again later in the film, when Vincent Hanna, played by Al Pacino, rushes his step-daughter Lauren, played by Natalie Portman, to the emergency room.
LOCATION: 1050 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813
Chris, played by Val Kilmer, purchases explosives from a company in Whittier. However, the building seen in the film was later demolished. Here is how the area appears now.
LOCATION: 10006 Rose Hills Rd, Whittier, CA 90601 (demolished)
Vincent and his wife Justine live in what is known as the “Sixth Street House” in Santa Monica. A famous architectural piece, the house has the designation of historical landmark. Much of the front of the home is obscured by a wall and shrubs, making it a bit inconspicuous. The side of the home offers better visibility. In the film itself, only the interiors of the house are seen.
LOCATION: 2634 6th St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
The Mexican food stand where Waingro gets picked up has since been demolished. This is what the area looks like now.
LOCATION: 1233 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006 (demolished)
What matches up better is the plaza across the street, seen in the background as Waingro walks to the truck.
The robbery of the armored truck takes place on Venice Blvd, exactly as Hanna states in the film. It’s near the Los Angeles Convention Center, just underneath the interchange of the 10 and 110 freeways. The detention center scenes from “Scarface” were filmed nearby as well.
LOCATION: Venice Blvd / Convention Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90015
The robbers emerge from underneath this split overpass for the collision.
This is where Vincent arrives to investigate the aftermath.
McCauley’s crew torches the ambulance here.
LOCATION: W 22nd St / Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90007
McCauley meets with Nate, played by Jon Voight, at a parking garage in Downtown L.A. They are seen on the ninth level, which is now private and monitored by a security guard. Here is a view of the same area a couple levels down, which is public.
LOCATION: 333 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
McCauley’s crew takes Waingro to the former Johnie’s Broiler in Downey, where they attempt to kill him in the parking lot, but he ultimately escapes. The restaurant has a unique history, having appeared in many other films, such as “Short Cuts,” “License To Drive,” “The Game,” “My Stepmother Is An Alien,” “One Hour Photo,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and many more. In 2007, the building was demolished. However, Bob’s Big Boy purchased the property years later and rebuilt it based on the original blueprints and even some of the same materials. So what stands now closely resembles what was seen in the film.
LOCATION: 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241
The location of Neil’s oceanfront home, where Chris sleeps off a domestic spat, has long been subject to debate. The house most commonly believed to be the correct location can be found on Malibu Cove Colony Drive, a private road just off the Pacific Coast Highway. Old real estate listings showing the interior of the home match closely with what was seen in the film, down to fixtures and appliances. The same house was also featured in the film “Less Than Zero,” where Jami Gertz tells Andrew McCarthy she’s not going to college. However, since then portions of the home have been remodeled, making it a difficult task to match up in person.
The entrance to Malibu Cove Colony Drive has a gate and guard on duty, preventing any public access (most beachfront roads in this area are likewise private). On the opposite side, however, are the outskirts of Escondido Beach, which is open to the public, but also presents its own challenges. First and foremost, the houses sit very close to the water. All of them are perched on stilts, as the tides can reach all the way up to the base of the properties. Visitors should use caution if they walk these narrow shores, as the high tides can leave you little room to cross. It also makes photography a challenge, unless you plan to take a swim. The next challenge is simply identifying the correct home. Many of these beachfront homes have been heavily remodeled. If you attempt to match them to satellite views, many details won’t align in person, due to remodeling. Some of the homes also resemble one another, particularly their patios, making it even more confusing. It’s easy to see why, after decades, the location has remained subject to debate. To be certain we found the correct home we were seeking, we used a combination satellite imagery and GPS. A drone (or jet ski) is likely a better method to view the house, but if you do attempt it on foot, use caution and do your research.
LOCATION: 26940 Malibu Cove Colony Dr, Malibu, CA 90265
The home of Chris Shiherlis can be found in Northridge. The house has since been remodeled some.
LOCATION: 19514 Romar St, Northridge, CA 91324 (remodeled)
This view, seen as Chris drives away, still matches up.
The bookstore where Eady, played by Amy Brenneman, works is located at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. The entire area, an outdoor pedestrian mall, was heavily renovated and the bookstore is long since gone.
LOCATION: 1254 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (remodeled)
The cafe where Eady gets to know Neil was likewise part of the 3rd Street Promenade. Much like the bookstore, the cafe is long since gone and the building has been remodeled.
LOCATION: 1457 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (remodeled)
Eady’s house sits perched on stilts in the hills of West Hollywood, offering a magnificent view over the city. There’s not much to see from the front of the house itself on Blue Heights Dr. Signs declare the cul-de-sac where it sits to be private property, but you can still see it well from the public section of the road. The floor to ceiling windows and patio area are much better seen from lower streets, such as Viewmont Dr (near the 1600 block, just before it reaches a dead end). The house found renewed interest in 2014 with the TV series “Bosch,” where it serves as the home of the titular detective.
LOCATION: 1870 Blue Heights Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069 (best seen from around the 1600 block of Viewmont Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069, just before the road hits a dead end)
Here is a view of the city, as seen from Blue Heights Dr, just before you reach Eady’s house, closely resembling what you’d see from the home.
Vincent and Drucker visit Albert’s chop shop in Wilmington. At the time of filming, the area was rumored to host an actual chop shop, though now it’s just a train maintenance area. The distinct, yellow sulpher pile still remains and there is a very strong smell in person.
LOCATION: 1017 Foote Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744 (near the railroad tracks)
Plans for the bank heist are first offered to Neil and Nate when they visit Kelso, played by Tom Noonan. The house was filmed on Dodds Circle in Los Angeles, which is also where Trejo’s house is located in the film. Neil and Nate first park here, overlooking the 10 freeway.
LOCATION: Dodds Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90063 (just off Dickson Ave)
McCauley then discusses the plan with Kelso at his house, which is fenced off around the entire perimeter.
LOCATION: 1235 Dodds Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90063
The restaurant where Donald, played by Dennis Haysbert, begins working under the abuse of a crooked manager is Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank (not to be confused with the Downey location covered earlier in this article).
LOCATION: 4211 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505
Later in the film, Neil happens to be dining inside with his crew and spots Donald cooking and immediately recognizes him as a former prison buddy.
Neil speaks to his driver, Trejo, from a phone at the restaurant, where he is informed Trejo is being tailed by cops and cannot join their heist. In need of a last-minute, replacement driver, Neil offers Donald a job on the spot.
McCauley follows Charlene, played by Ashley Judd, to this hotel in Burbank.
LOCATION: 3901 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505
Vincent later meets up with Albert at a club to speak with another informant.
LOCATION: 3548 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005
The drive-in theater where a deal goes wrong was demolished not long after filming took place. The area has since been redeveloped. This is how it appears now.
LOCATION: 5700 W Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (demolished)
The restaurant where Neil’s crew dines can be found in Santa Monica, near the pier.
LOCATION: 1535 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
The motel where Hanna investigates a crime scene linked to Waingro has long since been demolished. A parking lot now stands at the site, but many of the buildings seen in the background still match up.
LOCATION: 944 Georgia St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (demolished)
Lauren is sitting on a bus bench in Santa Monica when she sees Hanna passing by in a car.
LOCATION: Hollister Ave / Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
The police car u-turns and picks up Lauren.
McCauley’s crew proceed to take down a metals repository, only to abandon the job midway, after McCauley hears a noise and correctly surmises the police are watching.
LOCATION: Near 1309 Factory Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Vincent stands in this general area after the failed operation.
After realizing the police are on to them, McCauley’s crew considers splitting up at this power station in Torrance. Here is a view of the general area.
LOCATION: 17680 Yukon Ave, Torrance, CA 90504
Neil’s crew stages a fake scout of an industrial area, where they are surveilled by the police, only to discover Neil’s true intent is actually surveilling the LAPD back. Hanna’s crew can be seen exiting down the stairs of this large drum, located in Wilmington.
LOCATION: 841 S La Paloma Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744 (facing S Fries Ave)
The police stand in this area at Terminal Island in San Pedro, as Hanna realizes they’ve been tricked. The area they stand is just past the fencing of this parking lot. To get here, you travel down New Dock Street. There is a checkpoint to the right for trucks, but if you keep left, the road bypasses the checkpoint for passenger vehicles. You can reach this parking lot, which is as close as you can get to the exact spot. If you plan to visit, we recommend doing so on a weekend, as weekdays the road can be backed up with long lines of trucks arriving to the port.
LOCATION: Near 700 New Dock St, San Pedro, CA 90731 (GPS coordinates: 33°45’18.5″N, 118°15’21.6″W)
You can see this building in the background of the shots.
You can also see the right side of this building, confirming they would have been standing directly to the right beyond the fencing.
Hanna is seen landing in a helicopter in this area, which is actually a church parking lot.
LOCATION: 1430 Imperial Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90047
Hanna drives down the 110 freeway, connecting to the 105 freeway, in pursuit of McCauley. The express ramp to the left was also where the opening of “La La Land” was filmed. The bus jump from “Speed” was likewise filmed on the same interchange, when it was still under construction.
LOCATION: I-110, Los Angeles, CA 90061 (GPS coordinates 33°55’58.1″N, 118°16’50.6″W)
Hanna is then seen driving down Interstate 105 past these signs, in pursuit of McCauley.
LOCATION: Century Fwy, Inglewood, CA 90304 (GPS coordinates: 33°55’58.2″N, 118°21’32.4″W)
Just slightly further ahead, Hanna pulls McCauley over in this area and invites him for a cup of coffee.
LOCATION: Century Fwy, Inglewood, CA 90304 (GPS coordinates: 33°55’54.7″N, 118°21’44.6″W)
One of the film’s famous scenes is of course the face to face meeting between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. The conversation took place at the excellent Kate Mantilini, an institution of Beverly Hills which closed in 2014 after the restaurant could not afford a rental increase by the building owners. We managed to capture some photos from when the place was still open.
LOCATION: 9101 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (now closed)
Above the entrance to the restaurant, this image from the iconic scene was hung.
After meeting Neil, Vincent returns to a hotel where he’s staying, only to discover his step-daughter Lauren has attempted suicide in his bathroom. This was filmed at the Hotel Angeleno, just off the 405 freeway. The hotel was mostly seen from interior views in the film, aside from a shot of Vincent looking down at the freeway from his balcony.
LOCATION: 170 N Church Ln, Los Angeles, CA 90049
The exterior of the famous bank robbery scene is set in downtown Los Angeles at the Citigroup Center. This same location was also featured in such films as “Fight Club,” “To Live And Die In L.A.,” “The Hidden” and more.
LOCATION: 444 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The bank interiors were filmed at this building, also located in Downtown L.A.
LOCATION: 350 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The robbery then spills out onto the streets, in what many consider one of the greatest shootouts ever filmed.
LOCATION: Intersection of W 5th St / S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
McCauley and Chris attempt to escape in the parking lot of a grocery store. At the time of filming, this was just a parking garage, dressed to appear as a grocery store. The entire area has since been redeveloped and a large building now stands in it’s place. However, you can still match up some of the buildings seen in the background.
LOCATION: Near 831 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (GPS coordinates: 34°02’45.9″N, 118°15’36.8″W)
Cheritto, played by Tom Sizemore, takes a hostage in this area, which is actually the rooftop of a small parking garage. There is a walking path directly onto the rooftop from 4th St.
LOCATION: 445 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Trejo’s house, much like Eady’s, sits on stilts over a hillside of L.A., where he is discovered by McCauley near the end of the film. It sits on the same small road as Kelso’s house from earlier in the film, which was discovered as a result of finding this home for the film.
LOCATION: 1219 Dodds Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90063
The home of Van Zant, played by William Fichtner, can be found near West Hollywood, not far from Eady’s house. The back area where McCauley approaches is not visible from the street.
LOCATION: 9024 Thrasher Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Nate’s bar was filmed at The Blue Room in Burbank. The same location appears in “Memento” and the 1997 film “Touch.”
LOCATION: 916 S San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502
Neil talks with Eady as the two look out over the ocean next to this tree. It’s located next to a popular park in Pacific Palisades known as The Point at the Bluffs, which has a beautiful view over the water.
LOCATION: Via de Las Olas, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (GPS coordinates: 34°02’08.0″N, 118°31’53.5″W)
After the robbery, the police try to bait in Chris by setting up a meeting with his wife Charlene. After she tips him off with a subtle gesture (on a patio at 119 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291), he leaves the scene. He’s stopped next to Venice Beach by the police, where he presents false identification and escapes.
LOCATION: Navy St / Speedway, Los Angeles, CA 90405
Thinking Neil is gone for good, Hanna leaves the police station and kicks a TV out of his car onto the street at this intersection. This same intersection has appeared in such films as “Speed” and the 2001 remake of “Ocean’s Eleven.”
LOCATION: W 5th St / S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The hotel where Neil tracks down Waingo can be found right next to LAX airport, just as depicted in the film. Neil parks in this alley next to the hotel.
LOCATION: 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
McCauley flees from Hanna into LAX airport.
LOCATION: Los Angeles International Airport, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045
The final standoff between Hanna and McCauley actually takes place in a field just across the street from the end of the LAX runway. You can see some similar structures still standing there.
LOCATION: Near Aviation Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (GPS coordinates: 33°56’21.0″N, 118°22’36.7″W)
“The Dark Knight” famously used the streets of Chicago to double as Gotham City. Here we’ll take a closer look at the locations of Christopher Nolan’s classic crime drama, as well as a few iconic props from the film.
This is the street corner where The Joker stands at the opening of the film, holding his mask in his hand.
LOCATION: Southwest corner of S Franklin St. and W Van Buren St., Chicago, IL 60607
The bank from the opening bank robbery was shot at the Old Chicago Post Office.
LOCATION: 433 W Van Buren St., Chicago, IL 60607 (NOTE: the film shot from the northern corner of W Van Buren St. and Canal St.)
The spot where The Joker’s crew ascend onto the bank’s rooftop.
LOCATION: 420 W Van Buren St., Chicago, IL 60606
The station where Batman rides his Batpod in pursuit of The Joker is part of Chicago’s Metra rail.
LOCATION: Mellennium Station, 151 E Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60601 (Note: This cannot be seen from the street, you must head below into the station.)
Here is a look at the Batpod used in the film. You can see it on display as part of the Warner Bros. Studio tour.
One of the film’s most famous locations is where the Batman / Joker confrontation takes place on the streets, with the semi truck flip. (Note: This same location was also used in Brian De Palma’s film, “The Untouchables.”)
LOCATION: S La Salle St., facing the Chicago Board of Trade Building, 141 W Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604
Here’s a look at the Batmobile Tumbler, used in both “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.” It is also on display at Warner Bros. Studios, as part of their tour.
You can also see Christian Bale’s Batman costume from “The Dark Knight” on display on the studio tour.
Last but not least, the Bat Signal, also on display on the Warner Bros. Studio tour.
While Roger Avary’s 1993 heist film “Killing Zoe” is set on the streets of Paris, the bank is actually located in Downtown Los Angeles. In fact, the film came about due to executive producer Lawrence Bender gaining access to a bank. He subsequently reached out to filmmaker Roger Avary to ask if he had any bank robbery scripts. Without actually having one, Avary promptly said yes and set about penning the film. Ironically, the bank initially scouted, setting the project into motion, was not ultimately used in the film. Instead, the Farmers & Merchants Bank was used. It has also been seen in the films “(500) Days Of Summer,” “Spider-Man 3” and “Night Hunter.”
LOCATION: 401 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The film is bookended by driving shots around Paris, with the Arc de Triomphe seen in the final shot of the film. It briefly appears again in Roger Avary’s “The Rules Of Attraction.”
LOCATION: Arc de Triomphe, Pl. Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France
To see our “Killing Zoe” location page, click here.
The 1991 Jonathan Demme classic “The Silence of the Lambs” was filmed primarily in Western Pennsylvania, with some additional scenes shot in West Virginia, Virginia and The Bahamas.
The exterior of the Baltimore State Forensic Hospital where Hannibal Lector, played by Anthony Hopkins, is imprisoned was actually filmed at 333 Curry Hill Rd, Canonsburg, PA 15317, but the building was demolished in 2012.
The childhood home of Clarice Starling can be found in the town of Kittanning. The street it is located on, State Rte 2003, is also known as Margaret Road. It is located just minutes away from the funeral home location seen later in the film.
LOCATION: 1423 State Rte 2003, Kittanning, PA 16201
Clarice, played by Jodie Foster, follows a lead to the Your Self Storage, which can be found in Pittsburgh. Portions of the building have since been demolished, but the garage where Clarice enters still stands.
LOCATION: 201 N Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Catherine gets abducted by Buffalo Bill at this apartment complex in Pittsburgh. There was some construction going on during our visit, so we didn’t venture onto the property.
LOCATION: 1767 Crafton Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
The funeral home scenes were filmed in Rural Valley, minutes from Clarice’s childhood home location.
LOCATION: 311 W Main St, Rural Valley, PA 16249
Clarice meets some entomologists at Carnegie Museum & Library, which is only seen from interior views in the film. The same building appears in the films “Flashdance” and “Pretty Woman.”
LOCATION: 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Clarice is seen driving across the Bellaire Bridge, supposedly into Belvedere, Ohio. She is actually crossing between Benwood, West Virginia and Bellaire, Ohio from the angle seen in the film, which is almost an hour south of Belvedere. The Bellaire Bridge is no longer in use and has been slated for demolition for many years, but currently remains standing.
LOCATION: Bellaire Bridge, Benwood, WV 26031
Moxley’s Drugs can be found in the town of Homestead.
LOCATION: 200 E 8th Ave, Homestead, PA 15120
Late in the film, the FBI raids this home.
LOCATION: 1206 Lindbergh Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15223
While the climax to the film is set in Ohio, the home of Buffalo Bill can actually be found in the rural town of Perryopolis, Pennsylvania. You can follow the Youghiogheny River up to the railroad tracks (which are in active use), into a head-on view of the famous house where Clarice Starling faced off with Buffalo Bill. The home is now open to fans as a private rental and for tours. Some mapping systems have a terrible time finding this house, so we’ve included GPS coordinates as well.
LOCATION: 8 Circle St, Perryopolis, PA 15473 (GPS coordinates: 40.090366, -79.721970)
Just across the tracks, you can still see the same RV that was seen in the establishing shot of the house.
A replica of Hannibal Lector’s cell was built in the basement of the Hollywood Museum in Hollywood, California. While not an exact match to the film, it’s pretty close.
The guard desk.
The entrance to the cell block.
The hallway. “Stay to the right.”
Multiple Miggs’ cell.
Hannibal Lector’s cell.
LOCATION: Hollywood Museum, 1660 Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
To see our “The Silence of the Lambs” location page, click here.
The Mythbusters may be no more, but you can still see the famed M5 Industries if you make it up to the Bay Area. Founded by former Mythbuster Jamie Hyneman in 1996, the building has served as a research and development lab, custom build shop, movie effects house and host to a variety of unusual projects, which were so famously documented during the run of Mythbusters. M5 served as the show’s primary headquarters, with Adam Savage, Jamie Hyneman and the team occasionally attempting experiments in front of the building. Since the conclusion of the series in 2016, the shop is still operational, continuing to handle research and development for outside companies.
To visit the location in person, two things are striking. First, the building is quite small. The Mythbusters teams did in fact utilize other buildings at times during the run of the show, which may lead viewers to assuming M5 was much larger than it is. Secondly, the building is very inconspicuous. Even if you’re a fan of the show, unless you’re specifically looking for it, you could drive right by and not even notice it.
LOCATION: 1268 Missouri St, San Francisco, CA 94107
With the revival of David Lynch’s classic television drama, there is a lot of renewed interest in the filming locations of Twin Peaks. Here, we’ll take a look at the show’s iconic, opening shot, with the sign to the entrance of the fictitious town of Twin Peaks. You’ll have to head to Snoqualmie, WA to find it, taking a drive down Reinig Road. There you’ll find Mount Si, which doubles as the titular twin peaks.
You’ll need to drive with the Snoqualmie River facing your right-hand side, looking toward Mount Si to get the exact spot. It’s not too difficult to locate, as the sign was posted at a point in the road where there is a small shoulder on the right, which comes very close to the river. The shoulder makes it pretty identifiable and it should be recognizable once you see it. If you do make it to Snoqualmie, we highly recommend taking time to walk around the river and surrounding area, which is quite beautiful. Everything remains relatively untouched from how it appeared in the original run of the show.
LOCATION: SE Reinig Rd, Snoqualmie, WA 98065
The waterfall from the opening credits is Snoqualmie Falls. Though it may appear rural in the show, it’s actually very accessible and receives frequent pedestrian traffic. There is nearby parking available and a walking path right up to this viewpoint of the falls.
LOCATION: Snoqualmie Falls, 6501 Railroad Ave, Snoqualmie, WA 98065
In 2017, to celebrate the revival of the series, Showtime hosted a pop-up exhibition of the Double R Diner in Los Angeles. The pop-up lasted for one week and has long since closed. Inside, visitors could find merchandise from the show, memorabilia and even David Lynch’s coffee brand. The same spot was later used as a pop-up for the “Peach Pit” from “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
While once used a movie set, Spahn Ranch is mostly remembered for it’s notorious connections with the Manson Family during the late 1960s. It’s a unique and significant part of Californian and American history and we wanted to show it as it is today.
Located in Chatsworth, CA, about 30 miles north of Los Angeles near Simi Valley, you’ll find nothing more than empty land there these days. The property is currently part of Santa Susana State Historic Park, which is owned by the state of California and open to the public. Today, many joggers and bicyclists enjoy the scenic pass. This is what the land currently looks like.
Here is the same area, as seen from Santa Susana Pass.
The property was once located at 1200 Santa Susana Pass Road, but that address has long since been retired. Today, the location is most commonly identified by the large, rocky hill in the background. There is a private road, which starts at a nearby gated entrance and runs behind the former ranch, along the foot of the rocky hill, which is not state property or open to the public. That land belongs to the Rocky Peak Church, which also owns the land across the street. As long as you do not go on the private road or up the rocky hill, the rest of the land, which includes the full area in which the ranch stood, is part of the state park and you are welcome to access it. There is additional land down a steep embankment, which is not visible from the road, which is also part of the state park.
Another way to quickly spot the land is the Santa Susana State Park sign, which is located almost immediately in front of the former ranch. If you’re looking to get there by using an address, the closest would be that of the Rocky Peak Church in Chatsworth.
LOCATION: *Formerly 1200 Santa Susana Pass Rd, Chatsworth, CA 91311 (now defunct), nearest present address is 22601 Santa Susana Pass Rd, Chatsworth, CA 91311
If you visit the park, be sure to avoid parking anywhere on Santa Susana Pass, which has moderate to frequent traffic and does not allow parking. Instead, parking is available nearby on Iverson Road. You’ll see a large parking lot on the left on Iverson, which is property of the church and not available for public use. Parking on the right shoulder of Iverson Road, however, is permissible and available to the public.
Before we get into what can be seen there today, we’ll first discuss the history of the land. Santa Susana Pass began as a transportation trail between the settlements of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. By the 1860s, the trail had been expanded for the use of stage coaches. In 1897, a settler by the name of James Williams staked his claim to a section the land, part of which would eventually become Spahn Ranch. Silent film actor William S. Hart later bought the land and started using it to stable his horses, as well as using the ranch for movie productions. In 1948, the land was purchased by George Spahn. Spahn looked to continue to utilize the property as a movie and TV location and further developed the buildings, adding prop storefront signs, such as the “Longhorn Saloon” and the “Rock City Cafe.” Television series such as “Bonanza,” “The Lone Ranger” and “Zorro” all filmed at the ranch.
With the steady decline of the western genre, by the late 1960s, productions at the ranch had likewise diminished, with mostly low-budget, exploitation flicks filming there. Spahn began using the property primarily for families to take horseback rides around the nearby trails. He also staffed a ranch crew and a variety of mechanics for repairing cars (which included future Manson Family member Steve “Clem” Grogan). By 1967, the ranch had fallen into a state of disrepair. Manson Family member Sandra Good knew some of the mechanics at Spahn Ranch and would occasionally visit the property, eventually bringing Charles Manson with her during one of these visits. Manson immediately liked the site, due to it’s isolation, while still remaining adjacent to the greater population of Los Angeles County (the land is much closer to the freeways than you might expect).
By the time the Manson Family arrived at the ranch, George Spahn was 80 years old and blind. With his property in disrepair, Manson offered to have his group maintain the ranch, in exchange for free living quarters, which Spahn accepted. The Family then stole cars and would convert them into dune buggies, intending to take them to their other hideaway, Barker Ranch in Death Valley. Some of the cars are actually still located near Spahn Ranch, a bit further down Santa Susana Pass, where they were pushed down a steep canyon after they’d been stripped for materials.
In the summer of 1969, things reached a fever pitch at Spahn Ranch. The first significant step towards the Tate / LaBianca murders came when Manson Family member Charles “Tex” Watson arranged a drug deal with a pimp in Hollywood, only to rip him off. The pimp, known as Lotsapapa, called Spahn Ranch looking for “Tex,” but instead was put on the phone with Charles Manson, who was unaware of the situation up to that point. Lotsapapa threatened the Family and Watson’s girlfriend, which prompted Charles Manson to visit him in Hollywood, in an attempt to cool the situation. However, the situation instead escalated at the meeting, with Manson ultimately shooting Lotsapapa. Although Lotsapapa survived, Manson believed at the time that he had murdered him. After seeing news on the TV of an unrelated murder of a member of the Black Panther party, Manson mistakenly believed this to be Lotsapapa. Expecting retaliation from the Black Panthers, the Manson Family entered into a heightened state of paranoia and prepared for war at Spahn Ranch.
The next blow came when Bobby Beasoleil, a friend of the Family, murdered Gary Hinman. Bobby had sold some drugs to local bikers, who in turn claimed the drugs were bad and demanded their money back. Bobby had gotten the drugs from Gary Hinman, who insisted the bikers were lying and the drugs were good. With Bobby demanding money and Hinman refusing, the situation escalated, with members of the Family holding Hinman hostage in his house. Charles Manson paid a visit and threatened Hinman, slicing him with a sword. With other members of the Family present, Bobby Beasoleil eventually murdered Hinman. Soon after, Beasoleil was captured and arrested, which sent an already volatile Manson into further anger.
Just after the Beasoleil arrest, Manson Family members Sandra Good and Mary Brunner were also arrested for credit card fraud, after attempting to use stolen credit cards at a grocery store. With dead bodies accumulating, members of the Manson Family in jail and Manson himself believing he was a murderer and that others would soon come for them, be it the Panthers, police or others, Manson became enraged and ordered the first night of murders, which became the Tate murders. The women had suggested the murders be done to look like a copycat of the Hinman murder. Believing the women would not successfully carry out plans by themselves, Manson ordered Charles “Tex” Watson to lead them, insisting Watson owed him for Lotsapopa. It was at Spahn Ranch the murders were ordered and it was there the killers returned after the slayings.
Unhappy with the first night of murders, which Manson felt were not well-executed, he ordered a second night of random killings and went out himself, to show the others how its done. This lead to the LaBianca murders, although after he tied up the victims himself, Manson would leave back to Spahn Ranch, ordering the others to handle the killings instead.
Soon after, Spahn Ranch was raided by police, but not for the murders, which the police hadn’t yet connected to the Family. Instead it was for a car theft ring. Manson and others were all arrested at Spahn Ranch. However, all charges were later dropped after a clerical error on the date on the police warrant invalidated their raid and arrests. The Family then fled to Barker Ranch in Death Valley, where they were ultimately captured.
From here, we will cover a bit of what can be seen at the land today. First up is a view of the land where the ranch buildings used to stand. The entire area is much smaller than most people might expect. You can see the tree tops here, stemming up from the lower embankment, behind where the buildings once stood.
Here is a reverse view towards the street of Santa Susana Pass. The view of the road is obscured by overgrowth. It was towards the left where Manson Family member Susan Atkins posed barefoot on her toes in a pair of bell-bottom jeans, standing in the driveway near the mailbox at Spahn Ranch, for a well-known photograph. The famous photographs of the ranch itself were also taken from atop those rocks across the street.
Towards the left side of the land (right if you’re facing the road) was the last remaining artifact of the original ranch. A wildfire in 1970 burnt down all of the buildings, but remnants of the telephone pole survived the fires and it stood for decades, albeit somewhat hidden in the brush. We managed to capture it while it was still there, but as of 2021, it was taken by unknown persons and no longer stands at the grounds.
On the right side of where the ranch stood, you’ll find a trail, which leads down the embankment to the area behind the ranch. Be sure to wear proper clothing if you visit, as there is a lot of poison oak in the area, as well as possible rattlesnakes. Just keep a keen eye as you walk and these things can be avoided. As you make your way towards the lower area, you’ll come across this open area, where the 1969 exploitation film “The Ramrodder” shot scenes. The cast of the film included Bobby Beausoleil, as well as Manson Family member Catherine “Gypsy” Share.
Once you’ve reached the bottom of the lower embankment, the first thing you’ll see on your left is the location of the most famous photo of the Manson Family. Several Family members gathered under this small cave rock for a photograph for Life Magazine. As you see in the photo, the cave occasionally gets tagged with graffiti, but park rangers are usually quick to clean it off.
Just ahead on the right, you’ll see another location where members of the Family posed for Life Magazine, between these two trees, where a hammock was draped.
Charles Manson used to sit and play guitar on the large rock seen in the next photo. The rock has since been partially destroyed. It was here that Manson performed his audition for Terry Melcher.
There are many trees throughout the lower area, which are littered with bullet holes, where Charles “Tex” Watson and Charles Manson practiced firing guns.
There are, of course, many more sights to be found here, the deeper you dig into the history of the place. Countless books have been written about it. Our intention here is not a comprehensive breakdown, rather a broad overview. If you’d like to see footage of the ranch from when the Manson Family lived there, we recommend the Robert Hendrickson documentary “Manson,” which was nominated for an Academy Award, as well as his sister documentary, “Inside the Manson Gang,” which is mostly comprised of unused footage from the first film. If you’re considering a visit to the area, just be prepared by dressing appropriately and bringing plenty of water. You’ll find it mostly calm and quiet today, but there is obviously a great deal of infamy surrounding the area, so its not for everyone. We simply aim to acknowledge what happened here and show it as it is.
You may or may not know that you can see almost any television talk show for free. There are worse ways to spend an afternoon, if you’re curious to check one out. Just a warning, if you do, be prepared to endure long lines, sitting in waiting areas and a pretty fast taping, once you finally do get to the stage. The shows need to provide a lot of daily content, so it’s all done very efficiently and like clockwork. Just remind yourself it’s free.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area, you can check out Conan. The late night show tapes at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, CA. One upside with Conan is he’s very interactive with the audience and feeds off every reaction they give him. While photography and video are not permitted during the taping of the show, you can see a shot at the stage from when the show was not taping.
LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
Upon arrival, you’ll wait with the event staff, where you can take pics with a couple Conan statues. There’s also a Conan merchandise stand.
Just outside of the show’s stage, you’ll find these life size Conan creations.
You’ll also get a glimpse of the Warner Bros. studio as you make your way to and from the stage, but it will be quite limited what you see. To check out the wide array of sets and props the lot has to offer, we’d recommend purchasing a studio tour pass.
Film Oblivion 