Jurassic Park, the 1993 Steven Spielberg-directed blockbuster based on a novel of the same name, sparked a sci-fi franchise beloved by fans that has spanned five sequels over the three decades since its release.
Many key scenes were shot across various islands in Hawaii, with the original trilogy branching out to sites across California, and the more recent trio of films going global to Canada, Malta and the UK.
Diehard fans will be excited to know that many of these sites can be visited by tourists. Read on for everything you need to know about the various filming locations for Jurassic Park and its sequels, as well as how you can visit them.
O’ahu
The main island which stars as Isla Nublar is Oahu, the third-largest Hawaiian island. Kualoa Ranch provided a hub for several scenes – as well as plenty of other movies and TV shows, including Lost, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and Kong: Skull Island.
Kauai
Another popular filming site for Jurassic Park – the state’s fourth-largest island.
A few scenes were shot at Jurassic Kahili Ranch, as well as Manawaiopuna Falls. The latter was used for helicopter takeoff and landing scenes in the original movie.
Kauai’s “Blue Hole” serves as the front gate to Jurassic Park, while Olokele Valley is seen in the electric fence scene and Hoopii Falls in Kapaa acts as the Mano de Dios Amber Mine.
Also used are Valley House Plantation Estate in Kealia, which becomes the Visitor Centre exterior, and Waikoko Forest Management Road at the base of Mount Wai’ale’ale, which is the site of the Jurassic Park gate, according to IMDB.
Allerton Garden and Limahuli Garden, both part of Kauai’s National Tropical Botanical Garden, were featured in the film, as did Lawai and Hanapepe Valley
Maui
The Garden of Eden Arboretum and Botanical Garden on Maui was featured several times in the original movie, including in an opening scene when scientists make their way to the island by helicopter.
California
Various studios were used for on-set filming of interior and night scenes, including Warner Brothers Burbank Studios and Universal Studios.
Tehachapi Pass, across the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, was used to film an archaeological dig, as was Red Rock Canyon State Park near Ridgecrest in the Mojave Desert. The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles was another filming site for the original movie, according to IMDB.
Are there Jurassic Park locations in Europe?
Yes. In the latest installment, 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion, some production moved to Europe. Many scenes were completed at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.
Malta was also used, including the capital, Valletta, and the fortified cities Floriana and Birgu.
Other Maltese locations included Għar Tuta cave in Mellieħa – representing a dig site supposedly in Utah – and St Lawrence’s Church in Vittoriosa.
The crew also filmed at sites in British Columbia, Canada, including the city of Merritt and The Bridge Studios in Burnaby. There was also filming in Atlanta, Georgia, in the USA.
