Where Was the Pool Scene Filmed in National Lampoon’s Vacation?

By Anna Duncan

Are you a fan of the 1983 comedy classic, National Lampoon’s Vacation? If so, you may have wondered where the famous pool scene featuring Chevy Chase and Christie Brinkley was filmed.

Well, wonder no more! We’ve got all the juicy details on the location of this iconic scene.

The Setting

The pool scene takes place when Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) and his family arrive at their hotel in California. As they are settling in, Clark spots a beautiful woman (played by Christie Brinkley) driving a Ferrari. He becomes infatuated with her and imagines her swimming in the hotel’s pool.

The Location

The pool scene was filmed at the San Bernardino Valley College Aquatics Center in San Bernardino, California. The center features an Olympic-sized pool and diving boards, which made it the perfect location for the film crew to shoot this memorable scene.

Behind the Scenes

According to interviews with the cast and crew, filming at the San Bernardino Valley College Aquatics Center was not without its challenges. The crew had to work around classes and events that were taking place at the center while filming.

Additionally, director Harold Ramis wanted to capture a specific shot of Clark diving into the pool. However, actor Chevy Chase was unable to perform the dive himself due to an injury he sustained during filming. To get around this obstacle, Ramis used a double for Chase’s dive shot.

In Conclusion

Now that you know where the famous pool scene in National Lampoon’s Vacation was filmed, you can visit this iconic location yourself! The San Bernardino Valley College Aquatics Center is still open today and offers swimming lessons and recreational swim hours. So pack your swimsuit and relive your favorite scenes from this classic comedy film!