National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a classic holiday comedy movie that has been entertaining audiences for over three decades. The movie follows the Griswold family as they celebrate Christmas in their own unique and often chaotic way. One of the most common questions asked by fans of the movie is, “Where is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation set?” In this article, we will explore the answer to this question and provide some interesting facts about the filming locations.
The Setting:
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is set in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The story takes place in the fictional town of “Valley Stream,” which is located in the outskirts of Chicago. The Griswold family lives in a beautiful suburban home with a large front yard and a gazebo that plays an important role in one of the film’s most memorable scenes.
The Filming Locations:
Although National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation takes place in suburban Chicago, most of the filming actually took place in and around Los Angeles, California. The exterior shots of the Griswold home were filmed at Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank, California. The studio replicated a typical suburban neighborhood with several houses that were used for various outdoor scenes.
The Griswold Home:
The iconic Griswold home was built specifically for National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and was not an actual house before filming began. Today, visitors to Warner Bros. Ranch can take a tour and see the famous house up close.
Other Filming Locations:
The department store scenes were filmed at Carson Pirie Scott & Co., which was located at Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles at the time of filming. The opening sequence showing Clark Griswold driving to work was filmed on Foothill Boulevard near Pasadena, California.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is set in suburban Chicago, but most of the filming took place in and around Los Angeles, California. The iconic Griswold home was built specifically for the movie and is located at Warner Bros. While it may be disappointing for some fans to learn that the movie wasn’t actually filmed in Chicago, it doesn’t detract from the movie’s enduring charm and appeal.