On Location! – Point Reyes Lighthouse from John Carpenter’s THE FOG (1980)

Today, we kick off a whole new feature on UBHB that checks out famous filming sites for many of your favorite horror classics. 

A great place to start is the far reaches of the Central California coast. Let’s take a long drive out Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Marin Co., CA to check out Point Reyes Lighthouse. You horror hounds will know it best as the home of KAB Radio 1340 in Antonio Bay! 

No, I unfortunately didn’t run into Adrienne Barbeau, but I did see another kind of beauty. After an extended drive through some quiet, desolate hills and a half-mile or so hike out to the spit, you come face-to-beacon with the famous lighthouse featured in John Carpenter’s THE FOG. Lots of boats, sea birds, and even a whale or two will undoubtedly greet you, as well. The area is billed as the second-foggiest location in North America (Nova Scotia tops that list), so if you’re going to visit, be sure to dress appropriately and be ready for any kind of weather. 

Another thing to be mindful of is the 300+ stairs you need to traverse to reach the lighthouse. And true to the warning at the top, these fuckers are “wicked hard”! Seriously, be sure you’re in decent shape before you do this. Thankfully, there are some seating areas along the way to rest, if needed. Going down is a breeze; going up is another story.

I did get to go inside the lighthouse and chat with a guide regarding the history of its beacon. Film fans should know that it’s very tight quarters, and there’s no way you could fart in there, let alone have a radio station. 

Another bonus of visiting the area: On your way west toward the lighthouse, you’ll pass the spot where Carpenter’s crew filmed the opening title card for the movie. As you can see from all my pictures, these locations have changed very little from when principal photography took place in Spring, 1979.

Before we head home, here is a short video of the lighthouse–be sure to listen closely towards the end of the clip to hear its signal! 

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