If you’re a fan of the classic 1983 movie, National Lampoon’s Vacation, then you know that the Griswold family sets off on a cross-country road trip to visit Wally World, an amusement park that is supposed to be the highlight of their vacation. However, as anyone who has seen the movie knows, things don’t go exactly as planned.
But have you ever wondered where Wally World actually was? Was it a real place or just a figment of the movie’s imagination? Well, we’ve done some research and we have the answer for you.
First off, it’s important to note that Wally World was not a real amusement park. It was created specifically for the movie. However, the park was based on a real-life theme park called Walley World (note the different spelling) that was located in Vallejo, California.
Walley World was owned and operated by Marriott Corporation and operated from 1974 until 2000. The park featured numerous rides and attractions, including roller coasters, water slides, and a variety of shows. It was also home to one of the largest wave pools in the world.
So while Wally World may not have been real in National Lampoon’s Vacation, it was certainly inspired by a very real place. In fact, several scenes from the movie were filmed at Walley World. The roller coaster scene where Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) takes his family on an ill-fated ride was filmed on The Demon roller coaster at Walley World.
So there you have it – while Wally World itself may not exist outside of National Lampoon’s Vacation, its inspiration certainly did. And if you’re ever in Vallejo, California and feeling nostalgic for some 80s-style fun, you can still visit what remains of Walley World – now known as Six Flags Discovery Kingdom – although unfortunately The Demon roller coaster has since been removed.
In conclusion, National Lampoon’s Vacation may have been a work of fiction, but it was certainly inspired by some very real places. And while we may never get to experience the joys (and tribulations) of Wally World for ourselves, we can still appreciate the movie’s enduring legacy and its place in pop culture history.