Are you a fan of the National Lampoon’s Vacation movie franchise? Have you ever wondered if the famous roller coaster scene in the first movie was real or just a Hollywood trick? Well, let’s dive into the details and find out!
Setting the Scene
In the first National Lampoon’s Vacation movie, Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) takes his family on a cross-country road trip to visit a California amusement park called Walley World. During their visit, they encounter various obstacles and mishaps, including an infamous roller coaster ride.
The Roller Coaster Scene
In one of the most memorable scenes from the movie, Clark convinces his reluctant wife Ellen (played by Beverly D’Angelo) and their two kids Rusty and Audrey to ride a roller coaster called “The Screaming Eagle.” As they approach the ride, they notice that it is closed for maintenance. However, Clark is determined to ride it and decides to break into the control room to start up the coaster.
Once on board, chaos ensues as they experience a wild ride full of twists, turns, and unexpected drops. At one point during the ride, Ellen even exclaims “I think I see my house from here!” as they reach an incredible height.
Real or Fake?
So did they really ride The Screaming Eagle roller coaster in National Lampoon’s Vacation?
The answer is.. no! The roller coaster scenes were actually filmed using a set constructed specifically for the movie.
The set was built at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It was designed to look like Walley World’s wooden coaster but with added special effects such as smoke and fire.
However, some shots of real coasters were used in certain scenes throughout the movie. For example, when Clark first sees The Screaming Eagle from afar during their approach to Walley World, the coaster shown is actually the Colossus at Magic Mountain.
The Legacy of the Scene
Despite not being filmed on a real roller coaster, the scene in National Lampoon’s Vacation has become iconic and has inspired many homages and parodies in popular culture. It has also helped to solidify the movie’s place as a classic comedy that is beloved by fans around the world.
In Conclusion
So there you have it! The roller coaster scene in National Lampoon’s Vacation was not filmed on a real coaster but was instead created using a set. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most memorable scenes from the movie and continues to entertain audiences to this day.