Where is Gilligan’s Island and the SS Minnow now?
Unveiling Gilligan's Island Filming Locations where you can actually go SetJetting!
By Erik Nachtrieb, SetJetters Founder
Imageⓒ Warner Bros. Pictures
In the iconic television series "Gilligan's Island" which premiered back in 1963, a seemingly innocent three-hour tour turned into a tale of survival for the characters aboard the SS Minnow which captivated audiences for three seasons.
Beyond the laughter and antics, the show's filming locations hold a fascinating story of their own. This is the original Pilot intro with the original theme song.
The journey begins with the departure of the SS Minnow from the Hawaiian Islands. According to the series, the ill-fated ship was caught in a storm and shipwrecked approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) southeast of Hawai’i. However, the reality behind the scenes paints a different picture.
Contrary to the tropical setting depicted in the show, the majority of the series was filmed at the CBS Studio Center (also known as the Radford Studio Center) in Los Angeles, California.
The departure scene where the characters set out on their voyage was actually filmed at Ala Wai Boat Harbor in Waikiki, Hawai’i (latitude: 21.285, longitude -157.841).
Astute viewers might have noticed an unexpected detail: the American flag is at half-mast during this scene. That’s because this footage was captured on 22 November 1963, the very same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
The island paradise we see in the opening credits of Season 1 is not in the Pacific Ocean near Hawai’i but is actually located in the British Virgin Islands - on Sandy Cay to be precise (latitude 18.4362, longitude: -64.7095).
However, for Seasons 2 and 3, the production team switched to the Hawaiian location of Coconut Island (or Moku O Loe) in Oahu's Kaneohe Bay for the opening credits (latitude: 21.4339, longitude: -157.7882). This change added another layer of mystery to the show's portrayal of the supposedly deserted island.
However, neither Sandy Cay nor Coconut Island are actually Gilligan’s Island, on which the SS Minnow was shipwrecked.
The series pilot shows the opening shipwreck scene that was filmed on Moloa’a Beach in Kauai, Hawai’i (latitude: 22.1945, longitude: -159.3338). So Moloa’a Beach is the true Gilligan’s Island.
It's worth noting that some fans have been led astray by an island advertised as "Gilligan's Island" in Jamaica, specifically Booby Island. However, it's crucial to clarify that Booby Island has no connection to the series and was never featured in the show. This misconception highlights the enduring popularity and impact of "Gilligan's Island," transcending its original air dates.
So, where is the SS Minnow now? Out of the four boats used in the filming of the series, the shipwrecked boat was the original one used in the pilot episode. The producers purchased the vessel, towed it to Moloa’a Beach, and gave it the appearance of a shipwreck by smashing some holes in it. After a few days of filming on location, the primary filming moved back to CBS Studio Center.
The fate of the SS Minnow then took an unexpected turn - it was abandoned, purchased, sunk, and later fully restored and slightly modified. Today, it can be found at Schooner's Cove Marina in Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island, Canada, where adventurous souls can even rent it out. But only for a one-hour tour. Maybe three-hour tours are too dangerous? Rent out the SS Minnow here. (latitude: 49.2856, longitude: -124.1355).
If you were wondering about a rescue from the Island, the castaways were finally rescued 15 years later when their story concluded in the 1978 movie "Rescue from Gilligan's Island”.
Imageⓒ Warner Bros. Pictures
This final movie was filmed in the Backlot of the Paramount Studios. The final scene of the rescued castaways being towed into the harbor to a hero's welcome was filmed in Los Angeles' Marina Del Rey. (latitude: 33.9765, longitude: -118.448).
The extras hired to play the crowd were joined by many onlookers from the public. Everyone was excited to see their favorite characters finally rescued from Gilligan’s Island. The enthusiasm from the onlookers was so overwhelming that the cast members were moved to tears.
You can visit the Moloa Beach Gilligan’s Island location using the SetJetters movie scene location app which is free to download. Let us know if we’re missing a key scenes (from this movie or any other!) through our “Submit A Scene” feature found in the app and on our website.
Our co-founder Erik, has also chronicled this story on his TikTok ! Follow him for more deep dives into hard to find locations!
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