The third and final installment in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, “Back to the Future Part III” was filmed in Southern California and Monument Valley, Utah. The courthouse square and clock tower appear once again, as the events of the original film overlap with a new timeline. The building can be found on the Universal Studios Lot in Hollywood (100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608). It has been used in countless other films, including “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “Gremlins” and “Bruce Almighty.” In 2008, a fire destroyed much of the building, but Universal restored and reopened it in 2009. Today, it can be seen once again as part of the Universal Studios Tour, but this area frequently hosts productions and the site is routinely closed off from the tours.
Doc Brown’s house also appears once again, as Doc struggles to process the idea of another timeline. The house can be found in Pasadena. Known as the Gamble House, it is a National Historic Landmark and museum, which is open to public tours. However, only the exterior was used for Doc’s house in the film. The interiors were filmed on a set built on the Universal lot.
LOCATION: 4 Westmoreland Pl, Pasadena, CA 91103
Much of the film takes place in the Old West. The drive in theater scene was filmed in Monument Valley, Utah, while the 1885 scenes were filmed on a set built at the Red Hills Ranch near Sonora, California, with additional scenes filmed in Oak Park and Jamestown, California.
Doc and Marty devise a plan to push the Delorean with a train, in order for it to reach the necessary speed to travel through time. Marty successfully arrives back in 1985 at these train tracks, located in Port Hueneme, California, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
LOCATION: S Ventura Rd / Shoreview Dr, Port Hueneme, CA 93041
Late in the film, Marty house appears once again as he confirms his family has returned to normal. The house can be found in Pacoima.
LOCATION: 9303 Roslyndale Ave, Pacoima, CA 91331
Marty’s awekens his girlfriend Jennifer, who has been sleeping on her porch through the events of the film. The home can be found in Monrovia.
The 1989 sequel “Back to the Future Part II” is once again shot primarily around Southern California. The film makes use of several locations from the first film, revisiting many of them from the perspective of an alternate timeline. Marty McFly’s house once again appears in the film. It can be found in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles, in the town of Pacoima, California.
LOCATION: 9303 Roslyndale Ave, Pacoima, CA 91331
After Marty’s girlfriend Jennifer sees her future self, she faints. Marty and Doc drop her off at her house, which can be found in Monrovia.
LOCATION: 161 N Magnolia Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016
Marty discovers that life in 1985 has been altered and his home town is now a dangerous area. The auditorium of Whittier High School can be seen behind him.
LOCATION: Whittier Ave / Bailey St, Whittier, CA 90601
Marty comes across the home of Mr. Strickland, which can also be found in Whittier. While we did not experience any issues during our visit, we’ve heard stories of others being confronted for filming or photographing this residence.
LOCATION: 12511 Bailey St, Whittier, CA 90601
Biff’s house can be found in South Pasadena, on the same street as George and Lorraine’s houses from the first film.
LOCATION: 1809 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030
The exterior of Whittier High School once again serves as Hill Valley High School, which is primarily seen from the back of the school.
LOCATION: 12417 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601
This tunnel is featured a couple times in the film as Biff makes his way to the dance. Near the end of the film, Biff and Marty fight over an almanac from the future. Marty rides a hoverboard as Biff tries to elminitate Marty in the tunnel. The tunnel can be found in Griffith Park, just before you reach the famous Griffith Observatory. The same tunnel can be seen in 1988’s “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” also directed by Robert Zemeckis.
LOCATION: Mt. Hollywood Tunnel, Mt Hollywood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Several vehicles from the film can be seen on the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour, including this Litestar Pulse.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
The 2003 Rob Zombie horror film “House Of 1000 Corpses” was shot entirely in Southern California. Captain Spaulding’s “Museum of Monsters and Madmen” was filmed at the Four Aces Movie Ranch in Palmdale, California. The set has been seen in countless films, such as “Identity,” “Palm Springs” and “Faster.” It has also appeared in such TV shows as “Twin Peaks” and “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” as well as numerous commercials and music videos.
Please keep in mind the property is private and there are “no trespassing” signs posted. However, it is easily visible from the road. The set is a popular filming location, so you may encounter a shoot in progress when you visit. If it’s a particularly secretive set, sometimes the roads next to it are closed off to the public.
LOCATION: Four Aces Movie Ranch, 14499 E Ave Q, Palmdale, CA 93591
The Firefly house was another set, this time located on Universal Studios Hollywood lot, where it can be seen as part of their studio tour. The same house facade was featured in the film “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas.”
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Also on the Universal lot is the house of Don Willis. The same house was featured on the classic television series “Leave It To Beaver.”
While it’s obvious that an animated show such as “The Simpsons” does not have any actual filming locations, there are a few real world replicas that do a good job of recreating the town of Springfield.
A full scale recreation of The Simpsons house was built in Henderson, Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas. The house was designed to be an exact replica, with the builders studying over 100 episodes for the series in an attempt to match every detail. When the house was first unveiled, it was painted in the same colors as the show. The home was built as part of a promotional contest in 1997 from the TV network, where the winner could choose between having the house or the cash value of the property at the time, $75,000. The winner ended up choosing the latter and the home unfortunately went up for sale and became just another private home. There is even an image of Homer by series creator Matt Groening drawn into the cement of the sidewalk leading to the front door. If only a fan with more enthusiasm for the show had won, the home could have been turned into a tourist attraction for fans to come and visit. Nevertheless, looking at the outer facade of the home, you can still see the resemblance to the cartoon.
LOCATION: 712 Red Bark Ln, Henderson, NV 89011
Something much better suited for fans of the show is the Springfield area of Universal Studios Hollywood. Many recreations of the show exist there, in the form of restaurants, rides and stores. Here is a sign welcoming guests to Springfield.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Here is Moe’s Tavern, with the Springfield sign and power plant in the background.
Here is Barney inside Moe’s Tavern, looking for a refill.
Here is the Kwik-E-Mart.
Millhouse is outside enjoying a beverage.
Krusty Buger.
Lard Lad Donuts, the mascot for which is something of a hybrid between Bob’s Big Boy and Randy’s Donuts.
Here is the Springfield Police Station, where Eddie and Lou keep an eye on things.
Meanwhile, Snake is escaping the jail directly above them.
Nearby, Chief Wiggum has crashed his police car into a pole.
Here is the Springfield Department of Motor Vehicles, where Patty and Selma work.
Here is the office of Dr. Nick Riviera.
Disco Stu has closed up shop due to an injury.
Krustyland, where The Simpsons Ride is located.
Cletus is running a chicken restaurant.
Here’s a Duff’s hot dog shop, with the brewery in the background.
Last, but not least, we leave you with the Bumblebee Man’s taco truck.
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” 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 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.
LOCATION: 10700 Escondido Canyon Rd, Agua Dulce, CA 91350
Logan, played by Ben Barnes, takes Dolores and William, played by Jimmi Simposon, to the town of Pariah. These scenes were actually filmed on the Universal Studios Hollywood Backlot. The Mexican themed sets can be seen as part of their studio tour.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Logan 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,” “Demolition Man,” “Cobra,” “Batman Forever,” “Repo Man” 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 was also used in “The Grifters,” the 2002 Britney Spears film “Crossroads” and 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.
The house from the 1950s television show “Leave It to Beaver” can be found on the Universal Studios backlot on Colonial Street. The house was later incorporated into the neighborhood that became known as Wisteria Lane for the TV drama “Desperate Housewives” and can be seen in the horror film “House Of 1000 Corpses.” The house is featured as part of the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
The Chicken Ranch from “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” can be found on the Universal Studios lot as part of their studio tour. The same house was featured in the horror film “House Of 1000 Corpses.”
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Though it has changed quite a bit over the years, the house from the classic 1960s TV series “The Munsters” can still be seen today. Located on the Universal Studios Backlot, the house has since been used for a variety of productions, including the television series “Coach,” “Dragnet,” and “Desperate Housewives.” As often happens with studio backlots, depending on the style of the production, the facade was remodeled to fit their needs. However, the basic structure still loosely resembles how it appeared on the show. The house can be found on Colonial Street as part of the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
One of the most interesting things to see on the Universal Studios Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood is the plane crash set from the 2005 Steven Spielberg film “War Of The Worlds.” It is a very intricate set, with lots of full-scale, realistic wreckage. Cars, ambulances and even an actual, out of use, Boeing 747 were all used for film. Universal made it an interactive exhibition, with fires and smoke as you pass through.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
One tip for those perhaps not interested in paying the full price for admission into Universal Studios Hollywood, this set can actually be seen free of charge from a hilltop behind the studio. Just head up to the 3400 block of Blair Dr in Los Angeles for a view of the crash set. It’s obviously not as good as viewing it up close from ground level, but if you’ve got some time to spare, it’s still an interesting sight.
LOCATION: 3400 block of Blair Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
The 1989 Joe Dante film “The ‘Burbs” is set in the fictional town of Hinkley Hills, which, judging by the opening zoom, would place it somewhere in Iowa. The story unfolds on Mayfield Place, a cul-de-sac road in Hinkley Hills. In reality, the entire neighborhood was a facade, filmed on a studio backlot.
Known as Colonial Street at Universal Studios, the houses and streets have changed significantly over the years. Once used for television classics such as “The Munsters” and “Leave It To Beaver,” the neighborhood was significantly remodeled in 1988 for the production of “The ‘Burbs.”
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
In the years that followed, as new productions came along, the neighborhood and the homes began to resemble the film less and less. Some houses were relocated, others heavily redesigned, while others still were demolished altogether. Eventually the neighborhood became known as Wisteria Lane on the TV drama “Desperate Housewives.”
To complicate matters further, several of the houses in “The ‘Burbs” were deliberately shot in close-ups, rarely seen in wide shots. Combined with all of the changes over the years, it makes piecing the neighborhood back together a difficult endeavor.
The centerpiece of the film is of course the Klopek house, which is owned by a creepy family that rarely shows themselves, much to the intrigue of all of the surrounding neighbors. Sadly, the home no longer exists. Portions, however, were said to have been reused and incorporated in the design of this house, which later became Bree Van de Kamp’s house on “Desperate Housewives.”
The Peterson house, where Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher live, was also unfortunately demolished and replaced with a different facade.
The house that most closely resembles how it appeared in the film is that of Walter, the old man with the small, white dog. Aside from a paint job and some stairs being added, the house looks pretty much the same.
Ricky Butler, played by Corey Feldman, lives at this house, which was once the home used for “The Munsters,” though it has since been heavily remodeled from how it appeared on the TV series. Likely looking to avoid comparisons to the show, this house was only ever seen in close-up shots of the porch in “The ‘Burbs.”
Colonial Street can be seen as part of the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour and even though the neighborhood has significantly changed and continues to change, movie and television lovers are still sure to appreciate a look around the historic, fictional neighborhood.
