The 2008 film “Twilight,” starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, was filmed in Oregon, Washington and California. At the beginning of the film, Bella, played by Stewart, is living at her mother’s house, supposedly located in Phoenix, Arizona. The real home can actually be found in Santa Clarita, California.
LOCATION: 22301 Cataro Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91350
The Cullen house, where Bella meets the family of Edward Cullen, played by Pattinson, can be found in Portland, Oregon. Contrary to appearances, the house is located in a regular neighborhood, with many other homes nearby. However, the house is not visible from the corner of NW 32nd Ave and NW Quimby St. It sits up an inclined drive, which curves slightly and the tree line blocks the view. The current owners are apparently not welcoming to public visitors, as they have signs posted at the base of the drive stating the path is private. In spite of the sign, it appears to us the path may still be part of the public strip of road, at least a bit further up. There’s even a “dead end” sign, implying the road is public. However, we’re uncertain and wouldn’t recommend walking up unless you verify ahead of time that is indeed the case. Here is an aerial view of the home.
LOCATION: 3333 NW Quimby St, Portland, OR 97210
Later in the film, the vampire James is hunting Bella, who flees back to Phoenix. Bella stays at this hotel, which is actually located in Valencia, California. The same hotel appeared in the films “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Magnolia” (interiors only), as well as numerous TV shows, including “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “CSI: New York,” “NCIS,” “Big Love,” “Las Vegas,” The Unit,” “Make It or Break It” and more.
LOCATION: 24500 Town Center Dr, Valencia, CA 91355
The 1987 film “The Lost Boys,” directed by Joel Schumacher, is set in the fictional beach town of Santa Carla, California. In reality, the film was famously shot in Santa Cruz, with some additional scenes filmed in Southern California. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk plays a prominent role in the film. In the opening scenes, David, played by Kiefer Sutherland, can be seen riding the carousel with his crew.
LOCATION: 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
As the boardwalk closes down for the night, a security guard is attacked as he exits to a parking lot.
Later in the film, Michael, played by Jason Patric, meets Star, played by Jami Gertz, in this area of the boardwalk. The 2019 Jordan Peele film “Us” also shot scenes at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The film’s opening scene is set in 1986, at the same time “The Lost Boys” was filming. The characters in “Us” even reference this film when they walk past this area, mentioning a movie is being filmed nearby. The film “Sudden Impact” also shot on the boardwalk.
Michael meets David and his crew at this area of the boardwalk.
David invites Michael to come along on a bike ride and the boys all ride their bikes down these stairs.
Sam, played by Corey Haim, moves with his family from Phoenix to Santa Carla to live at his grandpa’s house. The building seen in the film is known as the Pogonip Clubhouse. Built in 1911, the building operated as everything from a golf club, to hosting women’s polo matches, to briefly serving as a rehab facility for servicemen during WWII. The building opened and closed again many times throughout the years, before being condemned in 1986, right around the time of filming. Only the exteriors of the building were used in the film, interiors were filmed at Warner Bros. Studios.
LOCATION: Near 333 Golf Club Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (GPS coordinates: 36.995416, -122.038388)
Today, the building is part of Pogonip, a scenic hiking and biking trail. The building is open to the public and there’s a few ways to reach it. From the nearest trailhead on Golf Club Dr, you can take a paved path straight up to it, or the Lower Meadow Trail. The Lower Meadow Trail, while offering scenic views, is overrun by homeless people, to such a degree that we found ourselves inadvertently walking right into their campsites more than once. While no one was confrontational, as the paths do receive a lot of pedestrian traffic, we recommend sticking to the paved path if you wish to see the building from the film. Either route is about a half mile walk, with some uphill portions, but not terribly difficult. Remember to bring water if you do hike there.
The comic book shop where Sam meets Edgar and Alan Frog, played by Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander, still exists, but no longer at it’s original location. While made to appear on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, the actual shop seen in the film was formerly located on Pacific Ave. The building suffered severe damages in a 1989 earthquake, resulting in the comic book shop changing locations.
LOCATION: 705 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (now demolished)
The store, Atlantis Fantasyworld, is now located on Cedar St in Santa Cruz. While not an actual filming location, they do still have a prop from the film inside; the original “Vampires Everywhere!” comic book. It sits on display behind the front counter.
LOCATION: 1020 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
The cave where David’s crew is based, known as Hudson’s Bluff Sea Cave, is located far from Santa Cruz in Rancho Palos Verdes. The cave sits next to Terranea Beach, which is easily accessible on foot along the Terranea Trail, a public trail which runs behind the Terranea Resort. Seeing the cave up close requires a bit of climbing up some rocks, however, so use caution if you wish to proceed beyond Terranea Beach. The same area has been seen in such films as “Charlie’s Angels,” “Lethal Weapon 2” and “Batman: The Movie,” as well as such TV shows as “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Wonder Woman,” “The Munsters” and more.
Another Southern California location is the bridge where David and Michael hang underneath as a train passes. It can be found at the Iron Horse Trailhead near Valencia. The actual bridge is a pedestrian crossing with no train tracks. This same location appeared in the film “Nothing But Trouble.”
LOCATION: 25311 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Unlike what is depicted in the film, the bridge is nowhere near the height above ground suggested in the scene. Here is a view of the actual elevation, with Six Flags Magic Mountain seen in the distance.
The church where Sam and Edgar collect holy water can be found at Warner Bros. Studios. The same church has been seen in many productions, such as “Gremlins” and “The Monster Squad.”
The 1990 film “The Grifters,” directed by Stephen Frears, was shot primarily in Los Angeles, California and Phoenix, Arizona. Lilly, played by Anjelica Houston, visits her son Roy, played by John Cusack, at his apartment in Los Angeles. Roy’s apartment is actually a composite of two locations. For the wide shots and the scene where Roy is taken away in an ambulance, the Bryson Apartments were used. The same apartments can be seen in such films as “Magnolia,” “Calendar Girl” and “Stewardess School.” For closer shots, the Asbury Apartments, located at 2505 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057, were used.
LOCATION: 2701 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
The apartment where Roy’s girlfriend Myra, played by Annette Bening, lives has since been demolished. It was formerly located at 692 S Mariposa Ave Los Angeles, CA 90005.
Lilly places bets on horses at a race track, supposedly located La Jolla. The real location can actually be found in Phoenix. As she’s leaving, her angry boss Bobo comes to visit her. The location appears again later in the film when Myra spies on Lilly.
LOCATION: 1501 W Bell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85023
A drunken man disturbs Lilly as she tries to eat at this cafe in Santa Clarita. The cafe is only seen from interior views in the film.
LOCATION: 25861 Railroad Ave, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
After Lilly discovers she is in danger, she gets a motel room, supposedly located in Phoenix. Myra follows her there, planning to kill her. Ironically, despite other scenes actually filming in Phoenix, the motel chosen by the production instead shot in Santa Clarita, California. The same motel also appeared in the films “The Wizard,” “Near Dark” and “Crossroads,” as well as the TV shows “Too Old To Die Young” and “Westworld.”
LOCATION: 12117 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
Roy is summoned to Phoenix to identify a body and is taken to the Phoenix City Hall. These scenes were filmed at the Maricopa County Courthouse in Phoenix. The entrance Roy is seen entering can be found on the west side of the building, facing what is now the courtyard area.
The 2007 David Fincher film “Zodiac” is primarily set in the San Francisco Bay area. However, production was split between Northern and Southern California, with quite a few scenes shot in the Greater Los Angeles area. The opening scenes show a young Mike Mageau, played by Lee Norris, being picked up for a date by Darlene Ferrine, played by Ciara Moriarty on July 4, 1969. While set in Vallejo, California, the scene was actually filmed in Long Beach. The camera rolls past a series of houses on Gundry Ave, beginning around 3938 Gundry Ave and stopping five houses down at Mike’s place.
LOCATION: 3964 Gundry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807
The couple drives to this diner, also located in Long Beach, where Darlene says it’s too crowded and decides to go some place quiet. The same diner has also appeared in the films “Corrina, Corrina,” “The Real McCoy” and “A Cinderella Story.”
LOCATION: 4390 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807
The site of the first killings can be found in Santa Clarita on Bouquet Canyon Rd. The area had been dressed to look like a campground for another production and the filmmakers kept some of the design for this film. A rock wall, seen in some shots, as well as the entrance where Zodiac parks behind Darlene and Mike, can all be seen in historic aerial images. The landscape has changed over the years, but the general layout remains the same, with the hills in the back, trees on the right and layout of the road all still matching.
LOCATION: 30570 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 (GPS coordinates: 34°29’42.8″N, 118°27’28.3″W)
Here is the area the Zodiac is seen driving away, only to return. The scene itself is very dark in the film, but some of the behind the scenes features show the area in daylight before sets had been built. We confirmed with some of the filmmakers this was indeed the location seen in the film.
Robert Graysmith, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, lives in a house that is only seen from interior views in the film. However, a couple shots help pinpoint the neighborhood to Angelino Heights in Los Angeles. For example, the street outside of his home can be seen here when he takes his son to school early in the film.
LOCATION: Near the intersection of Douglas St / Kellam Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (approximately in front of 1406 Kellam Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026)
Robert drops his son off at for school at Roosevelt Middle School in San Francisco (460 Arguello Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118).
Robert works as a cartoonist at the San Francisco Chronicle. For exterior shots, the real newspaper building was used.
LOCATION: 901 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Interiors for the San Francisco Chronicle were filmed at the old United States Post Office – Los Angeles Terminal Annex in Downtown Los Angeles. The building has also been used in such films as “City of Angels” and “Dear God,” as well as such TV shows as “Southland,” “EZ Streets” and “No Ordinary Family.”
LOCATION: 900 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The Zodiac kills a taxi driver at the corner of Washington and Cherry in San Francisco. This film shot at the real location where the murder took place, however their access was limited, as the neighborhood did not want the production there or the attention it would draw. The location is revisited several times in the film, as the characters hope the killer might return to the site on the anniversary of his crimes. For the night scenes, the Presidio Heights neighborhood was actually recreated on a studio lot at the former Downey Studios (12214 Lakewood Blvd, Downey, CA 90242), with blue screens used to add further backgrounds to the practical sets. Downey Studios has since been demolished.
LOCATION: 3893 Washington St, San Francisco, CA 94118
Robert stops his son from getting on the school bus at this location. This is again in the Angelino Heights neighborhood, just around the corner from the spot where he drives his son to school early in the film.
LOCATION: Near the intersection of Douglas St / Kellam Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (approximately in front of 908 Douglas St, Los Angeles, CA 90026)
Detectives visit the house of Melvin Belli, played by Brian Cox, after the Zodiac writes him a letter. Later in the film, Robert also visits the home. Belli’s house is located in Hancock Park at Fremont Place, which is one of the few gated communities in Los Angeles and therefore inaccessible to the public. A popular filming location, many productions have shot inside Fremont Place, such as “Taken,” “The War Of The Roses” and “Rocky III.” Fincher himself returned to the same neighborhood for “Gone Girl,” where the house of Desi Collings can also be found.
LOCATION: 72 Fremont Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Paul Avery, played by Robert Downey Jr., has an argument with Inspector David Toschi, played by Mark Ruffalo, outside of the Riverside Police Department. The building used in the scene is actually located in Culver City. The same location was also featured in the film “The Lincoln Lawyer.” The building has since been slightly remodeled, but is still recognizable.
LOCATION: 4130 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230 (since remodeled)
Toschi shares a sandwhich with his partner William Armstrong, played by Anthony Edwards, at the former Callahan’s Diner in Santa Monica. The location actually appears in three separate scenes in the film, with the latter two featuring Toschi meeting with Robert. According to information online, some shots were done on a set. Callahan’s Diner has long since closed and the building was being renovated at the time of our visit.
LOCATION: 1213 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403 (since remodeled)
A time lapse is shown of the construction of the Transamerica Pyramid building. This was of course a CGI creation.
LOCATION: 600 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Toschi catches a screening of “Dirty Harry,” where he is unimpressed with the depiction of the Zodiac inspired villain “Scorpio.” The exterior of the building still exists (295 Bay St, San Francisco, CA 94133). However, the interior scenes were filmed at the former National Westwood Theatre in Los Angeles, which was demolished in 2008. Here is the area where it formerly stood.
LOCATION: 10925 Lindbrook Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90024
The Golden Gate Bridge is briefly seen in a transition shot when Robert makes his way to the Vallejo Police Department. The bridge is one of the most often seen locations in film, having appeared in “Vertigo,” “The Rock,” “Pacific Rim,” “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Big Eyes,” “Terminator: Genisys,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” “Superman: The Movie,” “San Andreas,” “A View To A Kill,” “Dirty Harry,” “Hulk,” “Lords Of Dogtown,” “The Bridge” and many more.
LOCATION: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
The Vallejo Police Department, where Robert obtains more information on the case, could be found in Hawthorne. It was a real police building, also featured in the TV series “True Blood” and the second season of “True Detective.” The building has since been demolished. Here is the area where it formerly stood.
LOCATION: 4440 W 126th St, Hawthorne, CA 90250 (now demolished)
Robert meets up with Toschi at the Wilshire Collonade to tell him about the progress of his own personal investigation. Toschi encourages Robert to keep investigating and directs him to seek out Melvin Belli. The same location was featured in numerous films, such as “Wrath Of Man,” “Stealing Harvard” and “Earthquake,” as well as such TV series as “Californication,” “American Crime Story: Impeachment” and more.
LOCATION: 3701 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Robert calls Toschi from a payphone in front of San Francisco City Hall, following a lead on Zodiac’s birthday.
LOCATION: 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl., San Francisco, CA 94102
Robert approaches Inspector Toschi again at the Earl Warren Building in San Francisco, seeking more information on the case. Toschi lets Robert know the case is unlikely to ever be solved at that point and tells him to not disturb him anymore.
LOCATION: 350 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102
The building is located next to City Hall, which can once again be seen in the background of some shots.
Robert is picked up by Bob Vaughn in front of the Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro. The same theater also appeared in many other films, including “Pearl Harbor,” “Babylon,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “Seabiscut,” “Remote Control,” “Win A Date With Tad Hamilton,” “It’s Pat: The Movie,” “Ghosts Of Mississippi,” “Boys And Girls,” “Live By Night,” “Worth Winning,” “Mark Of Love,” “Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here” and “From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks.” It has also appeared in such television series as “The O.C.,” “Party Of Five,” “Melrose Place,” “T.J.Hooker,” “7th Heaven” and “Cousin Skeeter.”
LOCATION: 478 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA 90731
Near the end of the film, Robert tracks down a suspect he believes may be the Zodiac working inside this hardware store in South Gate. The building is only seen from interior views in the film.
LOCATION: 3948 Tweedy Blvd, South Gate, CA 90280
In the closing scenes of the film, an older Mike Mageau is brought in at the Ontario Airport to look at photos of potential suspects. The airport has appeared in many other films, including “Catch Me If You Can,” “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Blow,” “Argo” and more.
Higgins Haven from “Friday The 13th Part III” can be found at the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot in Santa Clarita, California. Many people know the lot as the Veluzat Movie Ranch and it is still commonly referred to by that name. However, the ranch has since changed its name to the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot. If you make it to the ranch in person, you’ll see a sign at the gates, referring to it as such. The lot is owned by the Veluzats, who also own Melody Ranch in Newhall, California. To make matters more confusing, right next to it sits the Diamond V Movie Ranch. This is owned by other members of the Velutats, but not the same ones as those who own Melody Ranch and the Melody Backlot (a.k.a. Veluzat Movie Ranch). People often mistake Diamond V and Veluzat Ranch as being one in the same, or Melody Ranch and Melody Backlot, but they are separate properties.
While perhaps not quite as well known as Melody Ranch in Newhall, the Melody Backlot is actually larger. To get to the ranch, you make a turn from Copper Hill Drive. There is a very unassuming dirt road there (GPS coordinates: 34°27’36.5″N 118°30’32.0″W). You would never guess from that road what lies at the end of that dirt road, but if you follow the long dirt road, you’ll sure enough arrive at the ranches. However, a locked fence is at the entrance and you can proceed no further without permission of the owners. The good news, however, is that the ranch is available for public tours. You must book by appointment only and if productions are in active progress, that may inhibit their availability, but the Melody Ranch owners are very generous in that they offer tours in the first place, as most Southern California movie ranches do not.
Perhaps the most widely known location among horror fans at the property is Higgins Haven. This is where the house was located, which was destroyed by a fire. The chimney and parts of the foundation still remain.
LOCATION: Melody Ranch Studio Backlot (a.k.a. Veluzat Movie Ranch), Forest Rte 5N28, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 (GPS coordinates: 34°29’32.0″N 118°29’46.4″W)
Here is the famous barn from the film, which sits right across from the above location.
Here is a look inside the barn.
Here is the second level, where Jason attacks.
If you get a chance to visit the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot, we highly encourage it. Please do so by booking a tour, to support the owners who have preserved these sets for decades.
The early seasons of the TV series “Westworld” were largely shot around various western movie ranches in Southern California, with additional vistas shot in Utah and Arizona. However, as the series narrative expanded, production followed suit, filming in places like Singapore and Spain.
One of the most heavily used locations in the series is Melody Ranch in Newhall, California. Melody Ranch is private property, inaccessible to the general public most of the time. However, unbeknownst to most, it does in fact offer tours, with the caveat being that no tours occur whenever active production is taking place on the ranch. The challenge is the fact that production is almost always taking place there. So opportunities for the general public to see it are rare and not something you can plan much in advance. You simply need good timing or a lot of persistence.
Endless productions have taken place at the ranch over the years, including “Deadwood,” “Django Unchained,” “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood,” “Peaky Blinders” and many more. It’s a utopia for movie lovers, so if you ever get a chance to visit, we highly recommend it.
Here are the train tracks at Melody Ranch, where park visitors first arrive. In the show, CGI was added to make it appear the train was rolling in from an open, Western landscape.
LOCATION: 24715 Oakcreek Ave, Newhall, CA 91321
In a repeating scene, Teddy, played by James Marsden makes his way through this area, into the main street of Sweetwater. The android hosts play out scenes and stories in which they are programmed to perform.
Here is a look further down the main street of Sweetwater.
The Mariposa Saloon is one of the central locations of the early seasons of the show. Maeve Millay, played by Thandie Newton, works as the brothel madam there, helping visitors indulge in their fantasies. The same building was used as The Bella Union in the TV series “Deadwood.” The front boardwalk is also seen in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood,” when Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt’s characters are interviewed on a western set.
This interior view of the Mariposa Saloon should be quite familiar to fans of the show, as it’s one of the most prominently featured locations in the series. Many scenes take place in front of the bar. The same interior was seen in the film “Django Unchained.”
Here’s some additional looks at the inside of the Mariposa Saloon.
Here are some views of the upstairs.
Teddy first meets Dolores, played by Evan Rachel Wood, in front of this building. This is another scene that repeats over and over on the show and where Dolores typically ties her horse up when she visits the town.
Here’s an alternate angle of the same location, with the Mariposa Saloon a few buildings down on the right.
Here’s a couple additional shots of Melody Ranch, seen in various shots in the show.
Outside of the park is the Delos corporate headquarters, built inside a large mesa. Quite a number of different locations were used as a composite of Delos. Many of the lab scenes were built on sound stages at Melody Ranch.
As the hosts begin to show signs of malfunctioning, Bernard, played by Jeffrey Wright, heads down to sub-level 84 accompanied by security. This is the cold storage area where the defective hosts are stored in the nude. These scenes were filmed at the former Hawthorne Plaza Shopping Center. The plaza has been abandoned for years, with on-again, off-again plans for demolition. In the meantime, it has become a popular spot for filming and photography. It has been seen in such films at “Gone Girl,” “Minority Report,” “John Dies At the End” and “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” as well as the TV series “Too Old To Die Young.” The building is closed to the public and regularly patrolled by security, so unless you have permission from the city or someone filming, it is trespassing to enter the grounds. It is a popular spot for abandon building enthusiasts, however, and quite a few people have managed to sneak inside over the years.
LOCATION: 12124 Hawthorne Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250 (closed to the public)
The Mesa Gold Resort is another area where guests and staff can relax outside of the park. We first see the area when Theresa talks with Lee about the hosts, but the location pops up repeatedly throughout the series. These scenes were filmed at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Quite a lot of visual effects were added. In the show, the characters are seen overlooking a beautiful western vista. As you can see in the photos, the actual location faces the side of a hill. The vistas composited into the shot were filmed in Utah.
LOCATION: 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
The area of Skirball seen in the show is known as Taper Courtyard. The building is open to the public, but there is an admission price, as there are many exhibits on display.
In the first episode, one of the hosts goes on a killing spree in the Mexican border town Las Mudas, drinking milk as he kills. This scene was filmed at what many people refer to as the Veluzat Movie Ranch. However, the ranch has since changed its name to the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot. It is owned by the same family who owns the Sweetwater sets, although it’s an entirely different location and backlot. To make matters more confusing, right next to the Veluzat Backlot in Santa Clarita sits the Diamond V Movie Ranch. This is owned by other members of the family, but not the same ones as those who own Melody Ranch and the Melody Backlot (a.k.a. Veluzat Movie Ranch). People often mistake Diamond V and Veluzat Ranch as being one in the same, but they are two separate properties with different ownership.
While perhaps not quite as well known as Melody Ranch in Newhall, the Melody Backlot is actually larger. To get to the ranch, you make a turn from Copper Hill Drive. There is a very unassuming dirt road there (GPS coordinates: 34°27’36.5″N 118°30’32.0″W). If you follow the long dirt road, you’ll sure enough arrive at the ranches. However, a locked fence is at the entrance and you can proceed no further without permission of the owners. The good news, however, is that the ranch is available for public tours. You must book by appointment only and if productions are in active progress, that may inhibit their availability.
The ranch was also featured in Rob Zombie’s “3 From Hell” and “House of 1,000 Corpses,” as well as such films as “Dante’s Peak,” Friday the 13th: Part III,” “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,” “Last Man Standing,” “Chaplin,” “The Laundromat” and many more. It was also featured in the TV series “The Young Pope.”
LOCATION: Melody Ranch Studio Backlot (a.k.a. Veluzat Movie Ranch), Forest Rte 5N28, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 (GPS coordinates: 34°29’03.5″N 118°30’25.1″W)
In the first episode, Arnold later arrives with security to inspect the malfunctioning host.
Las Mudas appears numerous times over the course of the series. The Man in Black, played by Ed Harris, searches for the elusive maze, killing anyone in his path, while Dolores arrives in the aftermath.
The Man in Black ties Teddy to a tree on the outskirts of the park. These scenes were filmed at the iconic Vasquez Rocks. Films which shot scenes at Vasquez Rocks include “Dante’s Peak,” “Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back,” “Hail, Caesar!,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Paul,” “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey” and dozens more. Television shows which featured Vasquez Rocks in episodes include “The Fugitive,” “The A-Team,” “MacGuyver” and perhaps most famous of all, the original “Star Trek” series, where the rocks were seen in numerous episodes, serving as multiple different planets.
LOCATION: 10700 Escondido Canyon Rd, Agua Dulce, CA 91350
Logan, played by Ben Barnes, attacks Dolores and a massacre takes place on a Confederate soldier campground. These scenes were filmed at the Blue Cloud Movie Ranch in Santa Clarita. This same area was seen in the film “Iron Man.” Blue Cloud Movie Ranch very rarely offers public tours, but it does happen once in awhile. The staff there is quite friendly if you do make it there.
LOCATION: 20019 Blue Cloud Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
Another major location in the first season is the town of Escalante. An early testing site for the park, Dolores has visions of a massacre there. This white church was featured prominently in the show, with a large steeple added by the production. These scenes were filmed at the “Paramount Ranch.” Paramount Ranch is unusual in that it is managed by the National Parks Service and is public property. Even though the sets were frequently used for filming, the productions could not close the area to public visitation. So visitors were free to roam the grounds any time during open park hours.
Paramount Ranch has also made notable appearances on such TV shows as “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “The X-Files” and “Carnivàle.” Countless films likewise shot at the ranch, including “Reds,” “The Flintsones in Viva Rock Vegas,” “Bone Tomahawk,” “The Great Outdoors,” “American Sniper” and many more.
Unfortunately in November 2018, the ranch fell victim to wildfires and nearly every building was burnt to the ground. However, plans have been announced to rebuild the sets. One of the few to survive the fires was the church set.
LOCATION: 2903 Cornell Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (now mostly demolished, but being rebuilt)
Here is a look inside the church.
The climax of Season 1 takes place at this saloon and gazebo, with Dr. Robert Ford, played by Anthony Hopkins and Dolores causing a chaotic scene. These structures were all destroyed by fires, but we were thankfully able to visit Paramount Ranch prior to the destruction.
“Shogun World,” an alternate park attraction, is introduced in the second season of the show. This too was filmed at Melody Ranch. Much of the sets still stand, which were a combination of new designs and re-purposing of existing sets to give them an ancient Asian appearance.
Here is a quick look inside one of the Shogun World buildings.
The house of Bernard can be found in Pasadena. Seen in the second season, the home is known as the Millard House. This is the back of the property, which is private and not available for tours. Unlike what is depicted in the show, the home is not on a hilltop. It is instead located in the middle of a neighborhood. This back area is surrounded by fencing, but from certain spots on the sidewalk, you can still catch a glimpse.
LOCATION: 645 Prospect Crescent, Pasadena, CA 91103
In Episode 10 of Season 2, the hosts can be seen at the Trona Pinnacles, as they journey towards the Valley Beyond. The otherworldly geological formation has appeared in many films, such as “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,” Tim Burton’s 2001 version of “Planet of the Apes,” “Priest” and “Mom and Dad Save the World” as well as such TV shows as “Lost in Space,” “Battlestar Gallactica” and “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.” It also appeared in Lady Gaga’s music video for “Stupid Love.”
LOCATION: Trona Pinnacles, Trona, CA 93562 (GPS coordinates: 35.617777, -117.368211)
Ashley Stubbs, played by Luke Hemsworth, stays at the Pink Motel in Sun Valley in Season 3. Bernard crosses the back of the property past the empty pool to visit Ashley. The motel is never seen from the front, as its retro look is not in keeping with the show’s aesthetic. The Pink Motel is not an operational motel, rather a set used for filming or special events. According to many comments online, the property is not receptive to public visitation these days, preferring only professional clients. The motel property has been featured in countless productions, including “The House Bunny” and “Drive” (interiors only), as well as the TV shows “GLOW,” “Dexter” and “The O.C.”
LOCATION: 9457 San Fernando Rd, Sun Valley, CA 91352
In Season 3, Dolores and Caleb, played by Aaron Paul, are pursued by Serac’s men into Grand Lower in Downtown L.A. This is a popular area for both filming and photography. It has been featured in countless films, including “The Terminator,” “Robocop,” “Demolition Man,” “Cobra,” “Batman Forever,” “Repo Man,” “Double Dragon,” “The Hidden,” “Whore” and many more.
LOCATION: Grand Lower, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The chase then proceeds to upper S Grand Ave, directly above Grand Lower.
LOCATION: S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (near 340 S Grand Ave)
Caleb fires a specialized weapon, which shoots into the air, then back down, exploding a car directly in front of The Broad Museum.
LOCATION: 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Late into Season 3, Caleb learns about his history, as him and his partner stage an attack. The two are walking past the Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain in Grand Park in Downtown L.A., with City Hall in the background.
LOCATION: Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain, Los Angeles, CA 90012
They walk towards the John Ferraro Building and carry out their attack. A futuristic city skyline was added in behind the building.
LOCATION: 111 N Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
In the final episode of Season 3, William asks for his money while riots ensue just outside. This scene was filmed at the famed Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown L.A. The hotel is a staple of film, having appeared in such movies as “Ghostbusters,” “Beverly Hills Ninja,” “Independence Day” “Fight Club” and many more.
LOCATION: 506 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071
At the end of Season 3, Bernard and Ashley Stubbs hide away at a motel. These scenes were filmed at the Sierra Pelona Motel in Santa Clarita. The motel also appeared in the films “The Wizard,” “The Grifters,” “Near Dark” and “Crossroads,” as well as the TV series “Too Old To Die Young.”
LOCATION: 12117 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
It is no easy task keeping up with the “Westworld” filming locations. Many of the early season scenes were shot on private ranches, which are difficult, but not impossible to be seen by the public. Later seasons went global, meaning you have to be well traveled if you hope to visit them all. TV shows are often a challenge, due to the volume of locations. Our photographs were taken over a period of years and some of these sets and locations have been scarcely seen outside of the show, so we hope you enjoy the areas we could showcase.
Rob Zombie’s “3 From Hell,” the follow up to “The Devil’s Rejects” and “House Of 1000 Corpses,” was filmed entirely in Southern California. Some minor spoilers are contained in this article.
Prison scenes were filmed at the Sybil Brand Institute, a former women’s prison in Los Angeles. It was here that Manson Family member Susan Atkins confessed to a cell mate named Virginia Graham about the Tate Murders. Graham in turn shared what Atkins had told her, which eventually helped lead to the capture of Charles Manson. The prison shut down in 1997, but today the grounds are still owned by the Los Angeles sherrif’s office, where it’s used by warehouse companies and for filming purposes. Another film featuring Sid Haig, 1997’s “Jackie Brown” also filmed at this location. Here is the front of the former prison, although it is never seen from this angle in the film.
LOCATION: 4500 City Terrace Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90063
Much of the film is set in the town of Durango, Mexico. These scenes were actually filmed on the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot in Santa Clarita, California.
Many people know the lot as the Veluzat Movie Ranch and it is still commonly referred to by that name. However, the ranch has since changed its name to the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot. If you make it to the ranch in person, you’ll see a sign at the gates, referring to it as the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot. The lot is owned by the Veluzats, who also own Melody Ranch in Newhall, California. To make matters more confusing, right next to the Veluzat Backlot in Santa Clarita sits the Diamond V Movie Ranch. This is owned by other members of the Velutats, but not the same ones as those who own Melody Ranch and the Melody Backlot (a.k.a. Veluzat Movie Ranch). People often mistake Diamond V and Veluzat Ranch as being one in the same, but they are two separate properties with different ownership.
While perhaps not quite as well known as Melody Ranch in Newhall, the Melody Backlot is actually larger. To get to the ranch, you make a turn from Copper Hill Drive. There is a very unassuming dirt road there (GPS coordinates: 34°27’36.5″N 118°30’32.0″W). You would never guess from that road what lies at the end of that dirt road, but if you follow the long dirt road, you’ll sure enough arrive at the ranches. However, a locked fence is at the entrance and you can proceed no further without permission of the owners. The good news, however, is that the ranch is available for public tours. You must book by appointment only and if productions are in active progress, that may inhibit their availability, but the Melody Ranch owners are very generous in that they offer tours at all, because most movie ranches do not.
The main attraction of the ranch is the full scale Mexican town set, which is of course featured prominently in this film. There are a few other sets there as well. The ranch was also featured in Zombie’s “House of 1000 Corpses,” as well as such films as “Dante’s Peak,” “Friday The 13th Part III,” “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,” “Last Man Standing,” “Chaplin,” “The Laundromat” and many more. It was also featured in the TV show “Westworld” as the Mexican town of “Las Mudas.”
Here is the establishing shot of the town square.
LOCATION: Melody Ranch Studio Backlot (a.k.a. Veluzat Movie Ranch), Forest Rte 5N28, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 (GPS coordinates: 34°29’03.5″N 118°30’25.1″W)
The “three from hell “look down on the town from this hilltop before entering.
They make their way down into the town through these gates.
Here is another view of the hill they drive down entering the town.
They then pass through this arched gate toward the main town square.
Baby, played by Sheri Moon Zombie, sees company approaching near the Estrella del Motel.
Baby and Winslow Foxworth Coltrane, played by Richard Brake, sit on this fountain.
Otis Driftwood, played by Bill Moseley, emerges from this church for a showdown.
The 1991 sequel “Bill And Ted’s Bogus Journey” shot in Southern California. The film begins at Bill and Ted University, which was shot at the Japanese Garden of the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys, California. The location has been used in countless TV shows and films, notably serving as the “Starfleet Academy” in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Star Trek: Enterprise.” Other TV shows to film there include the original “Knight Rider,” “Murder She Wrote” and the original “Charmed.” Films such as “Bio-Dome,” “Twins,” “Ghost In The Machine,” “Rising Sun,” “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” “Nowhere,” “Zoombies,” “Cyber Tracker” and “Most Wanted” also filmed at the location.
LOCATION: 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406
Bill and Ted, played by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, audition for the Battle of the Bands at the San Dimas Civic Auditorium, which is actually the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The building is now closed to the public, but available for filming and private events.
LOCATION: 1855 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Bill and Ted live at this apartment in West Hollywood. The same building has been featured in the films “L.A. Story,” “The Limey,” “Rush Hour” and more.
LOCATION: 1400 N Hayworth Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Evil Bill and Ted, two robot replicas from the future, arrive at the Circle K. This is not the same location from the first film, which is located in Tempe, Arizona. Instead, this incarnation can be found in Santa Clarita.
LOCATION: 28200 Bouquet Canyon Rd Ste Q, Santa Clarita, CA 91350
Evil Bill and Ted toss Bill and Ted off the top of the famous Vasquez Rocks, after which they meet the Grim Reaper, played by William Sadler. One of the most popular filming locations in all of California, the iconic rocks have appeared in such films as “The Flintstones,” “Dante’s Peak,” “Jingle All The Way,” “Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back,” “Starship Troopers,” “Hail, Caesar!,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Paul” and dozens more. Television shows which featured Vasquez Rocks in episodes include “The Fugutive,” “The A-Team,” “MacGuyver” and perhaps most famous of all, the original “Star Trek” series, where the rocks were seen in numerous episodes, serving as multiple different planets. The rocks have also been seen in music videos for Michael Jackson, 311 and many more, as well as countless commercials.
LOCATION: 10700 Escondido Canyon Rd, Agua Dulce, CA 91350
Steven Speilberg’s dazzling debut, the 1971 thriller “Duel,” was mostly filmed around the Santa Clarita and Acton areas of California. David, played by Dennis Weaver, lives at this house in Toluca Lake, which has unfortunately since been heavily remodeled from how it appeared in the film.
LOCATION: 10414 Bloomfield St, Toluca Lake, CA 91602
As the film unravels, David unwillingly embarks on a terrifying cat and mouse game with a sadistic truck driver. The film does a great job of making most of the locations look quite desolate, but in reality the majority are located pretty close to civilization.
David stops off at this distinct looking restaurant with a stone facade in Santa Clarita after an encounter with the mysterious truck driver. The same restaurant was featured in the film “Wild At Heart” and the TV series “Sharp Objects.” Just a few buildings up the road is the motel from “Too Old To Die Young.”
LOCATION: 12625 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
The tunnel where the kids on the school bus are stranded can be found on Soledad Canyon Rd in Santa Clarita, just past Capra Rd. From there you would pass through to the shoulder on the other side of the tunnel, as the view seen in the film is looking back westbound.
LOCATION: 34°25’55.1″N, 118°20’59.9″W (nearest address is 11540 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390)
David hides and tries to get some sleep further down Soledad Canoyn Rd, near the entrance of Middleton Ranch.
LOCATION: 6201 Soledad Canyon Rd, Acton, CA 93510
The truck follows David up this mesa next to Vasquez Canyon Rd in Santa Clarita. In fact, the name of the road is Mesa Dr, though it is now fenced off.
LOCATION: Mesa Dr / Vasquez Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
If you’ve never seen the film, we encourage you to seek it out. While the plot is pretty minimal, the execution stands the test of time and is so well done, it’s easy to see why Spielberg quickly made a name for himself.
The 2008 film “Iron Man” famously launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is regarded not only as one of the finest Marvel films, but one of the best superhero films ever made. Early in the film, Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey, Jr., demonstrates his latest weapon, the “Jericho” missile. Supposedly set in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan, these scenes were actually filmed at Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, California. Many classic western films have also filmed there over the years, along with more recent films, such as Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” and “Gladiator.”
LOCATION: Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA 93545
Tony’s iconic Malibu house doesn’t actually exist, it is rather a CGI creation. However, the land where it’s located is very much real. Point Dume in Malibu is a public park that is thankfully devoid of any homes. Instead there is a foot trail and biking path which leads to a beautiful ocean view. The closest actual home, located directly across the street, is the “Circles on the Point” mansion, another property frequently featured in film and television productions, such as “Color Of Night,” “Glow” and more. The CGI design of the Stark home is rumored to have been inspired by another mansion; the The Razor House in La Jolla (9826 La Jolla Farms Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037), near San Diego. The gated access and high cliff walls do not make for convenient photography of the Razor House, however.
LOCATION: Point Dume, Cliffside Dr / Birdview Ave, Malibu, CA 90265
More CGI trickery was used with the Stark Industries building. The main building is the Masimo headquarters, formerly known as the Nikken Building, in Irvine. However, the wider shot is a composite of other streets and buildings, including portions of Shoreline Drive in Long Beach. The Masimo building has been used in many other productions, including “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” “You, Me And Dupree” and “All About Steve.”
LOCATION: 52 Discovery, Irvine, CA 92618
Tony attends a charity ball at the Walt Disney Concert Hall near downtown Los Angeles. The same building appears in the film “Fracture.” The unmistakable design is the work of legendary architect Frank Gehry.
LOCATION: 111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tony first conceives the Iron Man suit after he is captured by terrorists. Once he escapes and builds the suit, he returns to do battle with the Gulmira terrorists. The bombed out ruins where he makes short work of his enemies was actually a set located on the Blue Cloud Movie Ranch in Santa Clarita. As is always the case with movie ranches, the sets are often changed around to meet the needs of the latest productions, but several portions of the Iron Man set still remain recognizable.
LOCATION: 20019 Blue Cloud Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
Some additional views of the area where Iron Man battles the terrorists.
Here is the spot where Iron Man blows up the tank and walks away, as famously featured in the film’s trailer. It was dressed heavily by the production to look more war-torn.
In 2019, the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles held a limited exhibition called “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy,” which featured Tony’s 1932 Ford Flathead Roadster from the film.
LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Not far from Alabama Hills in Lone Pine is the excellent Lone Pine Film History Museum. Props and memorabilia from the many films shot in Lone Pine can be found there, with their primary focus on classic westerns. They even have a small section of the museum dedicated to Iron Man. Here are some of the items on display.
LOCATION: 701 S Main St, Lone Pine, CA 93545
Some merchandise promoting the film.
Some posters and prop recreations.
This is the suit worn by Robert Downey, Jr. during his “Jericho” missile scenes, filmed in Lone Pine.
Film Oblivion 