Discovering the iconic locations of Jurassic Park: the first chapter of the saga

It was 1993 when the film destined to become one of the biggest cult films of the '90s was released in theaters worldwide. Timeless and technically light years ahead of its time, Jurassic Park has remained relevant, influencing generations to this day. The screenplay for this masterpiece, written by David Koepp and Michael Crichton (writer of the 1990 novel of the same name), built a solid framework for a story that was then masterfully brought to life by Steven Spielberg 's brilliant directorial vision. Dinosaurs never go out of style, and this film is proof of that. For over thirty years, the Jurassic saga has been reinventing itself, always finding a way to adapt. Let's now look at the locations that form the backdrop to this cult classic, crucial in conveying the emotions that led to its overwhelming impact on audiences.

What is the movie about?

Billionaire John Hammond , founder of InGen, creates a prehistoric theme park on Isla Nublar, populated by dinosaurs cloned using DNA extracted from fossil mosquitoes. Before the opening, he invites a group of experts and his grandchildren for a checkup. But when an employee sabotages the security system to steal embryos, the dinosaurs break free. The group finds themselves trapped on the island, hunted by lethal predators like T. rexes and velociraptors. Only a few will survive and escape, while the dream of the park is shattered.

Where was it filmed?

With three Oscars and numerous other awards to its name, Jurassic Park thrives on its settings. It's not just the dinosaurs that create tension and fascination; the locations where the story unfolds also contribute to conveying danger and wonder. Let's discover the main locations where the film was shot, to relive the scenes that captivated us at the cinema. Most of the locations we see in Jurassic Park are on Kauai, the smallest and most beautiful of the four main Hawaiian islands , magnificent in the final result despite Hurricane Iniki , which stranded the crew on the island in 1992 (during filming). In fact, some of the film's storm scenes are real, filmed during the hurricane's arrival.

Hawaii – Island of Kauai

Most of the film's exterior scenes were shot on the island of Kauai, Hawaii , known for its lush vegetation, mountains, and waterfalls: a perfect location to recreate the exotic, primal environment of Isla Nublar . Made famous by the film, this is the first view of the island from a helicopter, with its verdant coastal slopes and imposing natural landscape. This is Na Pali on Kauai, west of Limahuli Garden on the north coast. The steep valleys cannot be accessed by car, although some daredevils hike the trail from Ke'e Beach to Kalalau Valley. Alternatively, a much safer and more comfortable option is a boat or helicopter tour.

The rugged Na Pali cliffs also made it ideal for the Skull Island coastline in the 1976 version of King Kong. The valley through which the helicopter flight continues, however, is located in the south of the island, Hanapepe. Another difficult place to reach is the site of the gigantic entrance gates to Jurassic Park , in the heart of Kauai , at the foot of Mount Wai'ale'ale . Although the gates were removed after filming, two tall posts still remain on the sides of the trail. To reach them, you have to walk about 8 miles, following Kuamo'o Road from Wailua until the paved road turns into a dirt road, becoming the Waikoko Forest Management Road.

Returning to the prologue, in which we see a park staff member falling prey to an invisible creature loaded into a container, it was filmed at Limahuli Garden, at 5-8291 Kuhio Highway, in Hanalei, on the north coast of Kauai. Since 1976, the garden has been part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and is open to the public. Meanwhile, the Kapaa Boardwalk , also on Kuhio Highway, has been transformed into the open-air bar of “San Jose, Costa Rica,” where the greedy Dennis Nedry ( Wayne Knight ) is paid to smuggle dinosaur embryos in a can of shaving cream. It's worth noting that Spielberg was no stranger to Kauai, as the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark was filmed there in 1980. The island is 33 miles long and 25 miles wide at its widest point.

Hawaii – Island of Oʻahu

Moving on to the film's other Hawaiian sequences, we find ourselves on Oʻahu, near the famous Kualoa Ranch, which was used much more frequently in the sequels (especially Jurassic World). Here, spectacular, open valleys abound, perfect for scenes featuring the Branchiosaurs. Then there's a location everyone will surely remember: the one where Alan Grant and the children find themselves in the path of a herd of Gallimimus fleeing from the T. rex. This stampede was also filmed at Kualoa Ranch , on the Kamehameha Highway in the Kaʻaʻawa Valley, the most populous and developed of the islands. The ranch is open to visitors, and the fallen tree under which Grant and the children shelter is still there, offering an excellent photo opportunity. A one-hour tour is available, including locations from Godzilla (1998), 50 First Dates, and the TV series Lost.

California (Universal Studios in Los Angeles)

Finally, the interior sequences (such as the laboratory, for example) and many of the night scenes were filmed on the soundstages at Universal Studios in North Hollywood. This is also where the life-size animatronics, created by Stan Winston, were used. The only location in the continental United States is the excavation site, where paleontologists Alan Grant ( Sam Neill ) and Ellie Sattler ( Laura Dern ) are tempted by the promise of generous funding to visit the park, designed by John Hammond (Richard Attenborough).