Seven castaways, a three-hour tour, and one very fake tropical island. The beloved 1960s sitcom conjured its desert-island paradise almost entirely on a Hollywood backlot – the famous lagoon was a man-made tank in Studio City – while only the boat and the palm-fringed opening credits ventured near real water.
Where was Gilligan’s Island filmed?
Gilligan’s Island was filmed mainly on a studio backlot in Los Angeles (Studio City), with opening-credits footage shot in Hawaii and at Newport Beach, California.
Every Gilligan’s Island location, explained
The island – a Studio City backlot
The castaways’ island, lagoon and huts were built on a soundstage and outdoor tank at the CBS Studio Center in Studio City, part of Los Angeles – the “ocean” was a filled lagoon.
The harbour – Newport Beach
The SS Minnow’s departure in the opening credits was filmed at the harbour in Newport Beach, California.
The tropical opening – Hawaii
The lush establishing shots used real Hawaiian scenery around Waikiki and Oahu, including a Honolulu resort lagoon.
Planning a visit
The “island” itself never existed off-screen, but Newport Beach harbour in California and the beaches of Waikiki in Hawaii – the real faces of the opening credits – are both easy, sunny destinations.
