A Self-Guided Tour of Santa Rosa Film & TV Locations
Hollywood has been quietly using Santa Rosa as its backlot for decades. Directors love the city’s authentic neighborhoods, historic architecture, and small-town atmosphere. From Hitchcock suspense to ‘90s comedies and modern dramas, Santa Rosa has played countless fictional towns while still being unmistakably itself.
Follow this route to experience these film locations in real life.
1. Historic Railroad Square
Address: 9 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Featured in: Shadow of a Doubt (1943), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
On Screen
Alfred Hitchcock used the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Depot as the arrival point for the sinister Uncle Charlie in Shadow of a Doubt — the station is where danger first steps off the train and into quiet Santa Rosa life. In Cheaper by the Dozen, the same depot is the Amtrak stop where Steve Martin's character tracks down his runaway son Mark.
The Location
Built in 1903, the depot survived the 1906 earthquake and served as the gateway for Sonoma County's agricultural trade for decades. It's been beautifully restored and now houses the California Welcome Center - Santa Rosa. The surrounding historic district is packed with antique shops, boutiques, wine bars, and restaurants in century-old buildings.
While You're Here
Stop into the California Welcome Center for resources and recommendations on things to do in the area. Browse Historic Railroad Square's antique shops along 3rd and 4th Streets, grab a bite at one of the district's restaurants, or catch the annual Railroad Square Music Festival.
2. The Astro Motel
Address: 323 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Featured in: Mumford (1999)
On Screen
The Astro Motel's retro midcentury look helped set the scene in Mumford, the 1999 quirky comedy-drama starring Ted Danson and Martin Short, which used several Santa Rosa locations to build its fictional small-town world.
The Location
Once a classic roadside motel, the Astro was fully renovated and reopened in 2018 as a stylish boutique stay. It's earned features in Vogue, GQ, Sunset Magazine, and Goop since then. Located in Santa Rosa's SOFA District (South of A Street Arts District), it sits amid galleries and artists' studios.
While You're Here
Walk to the world-famous Russian River Brewing Company (home of the cult-classic Pliny the Elder IPA), explore the SOFA District's galleries and studios, or simply enjoy the motel's beautifully restored neon sign after dark.
3. Flamingo Resort & Spa
Address: 2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Featured in: Bandits (2001)
On Screen
The Flamingo's sweeping midcentury-modern architecture and resort grounds provided backdrop for Bandits, the 2001 Barry Levinson crime-comedy starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. The hotel also served as a production base during the filming of Mumford and Pollyanna.
The Location
Originally built in the 1950s, the Flamingo has undergone a stunning restoration that honors its Rat Pack-era origins. It remains one of Sonoma County's most beloved resorts, with a landmark pool, full spa, tennis courts, and the on-site Cattleya Restaurant.
While You're Here
Book a treatment at the spa, take a dip in the iconic pool, or have a cocktail at Cattleya and soak in the retro-glamour surroundings. The resort regularly hosts live music and wine country events.
4. Historic McDonald Neighborhood
Address: McDonald Mansion — 1015 McDonald Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Featured in: Pollyanna (1960)
On Screen
Disney's production team chose the 14,000-square-foot McDonald Mansion (aka Mableton) as the imposing home of Aunt Polly in the 1960 classic Pollyanna, starring Hayley Mills in her Academy Award-winning role. The mansion's grand exterior perfectly embodied the formal, buttoned-up world that the irrepressibly cheerful Pollyanna arrives to transform.
The Location
One of Santa Rosa's most iconic streets, McDonald Avenue is lined with stunning Victorian and Craftsman homes beneath towering palms. Mableton itself has hosted luminaries including Mark Twain and Walt Disney. Just one block away, the house at 904 McDonald Ave served as the Newton family home in Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt — making this the most film-storied block in the city.
While You're Here
Walk or drive the length of McDonald Avenue and take in the historic homes. Pick up a Santa Rosa Historic Walking Tour map at the Visitor Center. Mableton is privately owned — please admire from the sidewalk.
5. The Newton House
Address: 904 McDonald Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Featured in: Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
On Screen
Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt used the charming home at 904 McDonald Avenue as the residence of Charlie Newton’s family. The house, set against the elegant backdrop of Santa Rosa’s historic McDonald neighborhood, helped establish the film’s small‑town Americana feel while hiding the dark suspense lurking beneath. Hitchcock captured the quiet streets, classic architecture, and leafy avenues to heighten the contrast between the town’s idyllic appearance and the thriller’s tension.
The Location
McDonald Avenue is one of Santa Rosa’s most picturesque streets, lined with Victorian and Craftsman homes. The Newton house at 904 McDonald Avenue remains a private residence, maintaining the historic charm that made it perfect for Hitchcock’s vision. Just a few doors down, other homes have also appeared in films, making this block one of the city’s most cinematic.
While You’re Here
Stroll or drive along McDonald Avenue to admire the historic homes and imagine the tension of Charlie’s story unfolding. As these are private residences, please enjoy from the sidewalk.
6. Santa Rosa High School
Address: 1235 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Featured in: Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Inventing the Abbotts (1997)
On Screen
Francis Ford Coppola chose Santa Rosa High for the main high school scenes in Peggy Sue Got Married, his 1986 time-travel comedy starring Kathleen Turner. The campus's Mission Revival architecture gave the film its authentic 1960s feel. A decade later, Inventing the Abbotts (1997) — starring Joaquin Phoenix, Liv Tyler, and Jennifer Connelly — used the school library for one of the film's most memorable scenes, in which Phoenix's character awkwardly tries to sneak a peek at Connelly from under a library table.
The Location
Santa Rosa High School is one of the oldest high schools in California. It remains a fully active school today complete with it's own arts program, ArtQuest, which has courses in photography, video arts, and more.
While You're Here
The campus is best viewed from Mendocino Avenue. Plan your visit during school breaks for closer access. The surrounding neighborhood has several good cafes and restaurants.
7. Santa Rosa Junior College
Address: 1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Featured in: Phenomenon (1996), Mumford (1999), American Wrestler: The Wizard (2016)
On Screen
SRJC's Spanish Colonial Revival campus has drawn filmmakers across three decades. John Travolta's Phenomenon (1996) used the campus as a stand-in for UC Berkeley. Ted Danson and Martin Short brought Mumford to campus in 1999. And American Wrestler: The Wizard (2016) — based on the true story of a local Iranian-American wrestler Ali Afshar — filmed wrestling scenes in the college gymnasium.
The Location
One of the most beautiful community college campuses in California, SRJC's red-tiled roofs, arched colonnades, and planted grounds are open to the public during college hours. The Doyle Library and Burbank Auditorium are highlights of the campus.
While You're Here
Walk the quad, visit the Doyle Library, or check the schedule at the Burbank Auditorium for performances. SRJC's own Short Film Festival held at the Petaluma campus, featuring student work from its Digital Filmmaking Program, is a great event to catch if you're visiting in spring.
8. Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport
Address: 2290 Airport Boulevard, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Featured in: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
On Screen
Stanley Kramer's star-studded 1963 comedy — featuring Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, and Mickey Rooney — filmed one of its most outrageous sequences right here. Two hapless characters recruit a drunken pilot to fly them across California, only for the pilot to pass out mid-flight and the plane to careen through an airport hangar at full speed. Pure, classic Hollywood chaos.
The Location
Today the airport is named after Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, who called Sonoma County home for over 30 years. The terminal is filled with Snoopy statues, Peanuts artwork, and comic-strip murals, making it one of the most charming regional airports in the country. It serves direct flights to several major cities.
While You're Here
Even if you're not flying, the terminal artwork is worth a look. The Charles M. Schulz Museum on West Steele Lane is just minutes away and is a must-visit for Peanuts fans — it houses original strips, animation cels, and a full recreation of Schulz's studio.
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