With news of a television reimagining of The Birds swapping California’s coastline for Alaska, movie purists will be pleased to know that the atmospheric home of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 masterpiece remains firmly anchored on the Sonoma Coast.
This October, the coastal village of Bodega Bay gathers at the historic Bodega Bay Grange Hall #777 for its annual Hitchcock Festival. The weekend festival kicks off on Friday 16 October with a special anniversary screening of The Birds in the very town where its iconic scenes were filmed (with 1960s fancy dress actively encouraged). The festival continues on Saturday 17 October with a double-bill screening of two more of his timeless classics: Rear Window and Rebecca.
The festival brings film lovers, historians and set-jetters together just as the atmospheric autumn fog rolls over the Pacific headlands. In a surreal twist of nature, late autumn brings a natural sequel. Huge numbers of swirling murmurs of starlings cloud the sky along the coastal cliffs, echoing the film’s iconic scenes.
While the film crew departed decades ago, Bodega and Bodega Bay remain remarkably unchanged from their screen debut. Key locations along a self-guided set-jetting itinerary include:
- The Potter Schoolhouse (Bodega): The 150-year-old wooden schoolhouse where schoolchildren fled the descending flock stands preserved in the quiet hamlet of Bodega, sitting right alongside St. Teresa of Avila Church (famously photographed by Ansel Adams).
- St. Teresa of Avila Church (Bodega): Sitting directly in front of the schoolhouse, the church is featured in the background of several pivotal scenes. This beautiful church was built in 1860 on a hilltop overlooking Bodega Bay and is also the subject of a famous 1953 Ansel Adams photograph titled “Church and Road.” Locals have stated that Hitchcock attended church services while filming the movie.
- The Tides Wharf Restaurant (Bodega Bay): The coastal landmark where townspeople sought shelter on screen now serves fresh local Dungeness crab right on the harbour edge.
- Valley Ford: One of the film’s most iconic scenes is when Lydia (played by Jessica Tandy) discovers her neighbour Dan’s body. The scene was filmed on a farm in the small town of Valley Ford, located in the heart of Sonoma County’s dairy belt. Set. The Valley Ford Hotel built in 1864 is the perfect place to soak in the history and atmosphere of the area.
Beyond Hitchcock: Sonoma County’s Silver Screen Legacy
Hitchcock isn’t the only director drawn to Sonoma’s dramatic landscapes.
- Scream (1996): Wes Craven turned the quiet streets of Healdsburg and the historic Glen Ellen Country Store into the fictional town of Woodsboro. Fans still visit Oakville Grade and the majestic Spring Mountain Vineyard estate featured in the climax.
- The Goonies (1985): Goat Rock Beach (part of Sonoma Coast State Park) across the Russian River from Jenner is the rugged coastline location where One-Eyed Willy’s pirate ship sets sail.
- American Graffiti (1973): The historic iron lattice of Sonoma’s Mountain Shadows and downtown Petaluma provided the nostalgic backdrop for George Lucas’s American Graffiti, preserving 1950s Americana.
- The Fog (1980): John Carpenter tapped into the ethereal atmosphere of West Sonoma County, filming key scenes along the rugged Point Reyes headlands and Bodega Harbour.
- A Walk in the Clouds (1995): The rolling vine-draped hills of the Sonoma Valley starred alongside Keanu Reeves, showcasing the timeless, romantic aesthetic of Northern California wine country.
- A California Christmas (2020): Shot exclusively in Petaluma including downtown spots like the historic Hotel Petaluma, and nearby ranch land.
