Where Was the Roller Coaster Scene in Vacation Filmed?

By Anna Duncan

If you’re a fan of the classic comedy movie “Vacation,” you’ll undoubtedly remember the iconic roller coaster scene. In this scene, the Griswold family heads to Walley World, an amusement park in California, only to find that it’s closed for repairs. Determined to make the most of their trip, they sneak into the park and ride the roller coaster anyway.

But where was this memorable scene actually filmed? Let’s dive into the details.

Location Scout

First off, it’s important to note that while Walley World is a fictional amusement park created for the movie, the roller coaster itself is very real. It’s called Revolution and can be found at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California.

However, not all of the roller coaster scenes were filmed at Six Flags. In fact, location scouts searched far and wide to find just the right spots for filming.

The Roller Coaster Scene

The roller coaster scene in Vacation was actually filmed at two different locations: Six Flags Magic Mountain and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

The scenes featuring close-ups of the actors on the roller coaster were filmed at Six Flags. However, due to restrictions on filming during park hours and concerns about safety for both cast and crew, other shots had to be filmed elsewhere.

That’s where Santa Anita Park came in. The crew set up a makeshift roller coaster track on one of the horse racing tracks at Santa Anita Park to film some of the wider shots of the roller coaster from a distance.

Conclusion

So there you have it – while some parts of the roller coaster scene were indeed filmed at Walley World (aka Six Flags Magic Mountain), others were shot at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. It just goes to show how much work goes into creating a memorable movie moment!

If you’re ever in California and looking for a thrill, be sure to check out Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain – just don’t try to sneak into the park after hours!