It’s hard to believe that it has been a little more than 35 years since the 1986 classic film Top Gun was released. In his role as brash hot-shot Navy pilot Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, the movie turned Tom Cruise into a Hollywood superstar. Who can forget the reckless and intense aerial stunts, the fierce competition between Maverick and Iceman (Val Kilmer), and Maverick’s close friendship with Radar Intercept Officer, Goose (Anthony Edwards)? But, without a doubt, it’s the steamy scenes with Maverick’s instructor Charlie, played by co-star Kelly McGillis, that made the film such a hot and heavy hitter.
San Diego, California- The Magnificent Home of Top Gun
San Diego is my hometown. It’s easy to understand why this movie was filmed here. San Diego is a Navy town with an impressively picturesque landscape (According to Naval Base San Diego: Also known as 32nd Street Naval Station, Naval Base San Diego is the second largest surface ship base of the United States Navy and is located in San Diego, California.). So, let’s look at locations where Top Gun’s most noteworthy scenes were filmed, and here’s the best part…you can visit each of these sites and revisit those famous Top Gun moments.
Kansas City Barbeque
Probably one of the movie’s most iconic scenes was filmed at Kansas City Barbeque which is located in downtown’s Gaslamp District. The “sleazy bar scene” where Maverick, Charlie, Goose, and his wife Carole (portrayed by Meg Ryan) belt out “Great Balls of Fire” with Goose bashing away on the piano, is filmed here. That famous piano is still here, and the entire joint is a shrine dedicated to the movie.
Top Gun fans won’t forget the final scene where a coin drops in the jukebox that’s playing “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.” Maverick curiously gets up from the bar and finds that Charlie has returned. You can dine here for lunch or dinner and get totally into San Diego’s fascinating Top Gun and military history.
“You’ve Lost that Lovin” Feeling” Bar – Lafayette Hotel
The original Officer’s Club bar scene was filmed at the historic The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows, which was built in 1946. Here, Maverick and his fellow flyboys serenade Charlie with “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.” Though the original bar in the Mississippi Room is gone, the memories remain.
Want to feel the vibe of one of San Diego’s historic hotels? You can do that by booking a room at this magnificent 1946 legendary establishment. Playful and fun, unique and historic, it’s such a great place to experience a fascinating San Diego “blast from the past.”
Charlie’s House – Oceanside
Remember the passionate scene when Maverick visits Charlie’s Victorian oceanfront cottage? The cottage is located at 102 Pacific Street in San Diego’s North County Oceanside, and the house is such a draw that it was spared from demolition during hotel construction. It’s now been restored and relocated just down the beach.
Viper’s House – Point Loma Coast Guard Lighthouse
One of the saddest moments in the movie is Goose’s tragic death after which Maverick is overwhelmed with guilt. Though the Navy board of inquiry absolved him of any wrongdoing, Maverick plans to drop out of Top Gun competition. It was the visit to the home of Viper, Top Gun’s commanding officer (played by Tom Skerrit), that changes Maverick’s mind. Viper, a close friend of Maverick’s father, reveals classified information concerning Maverick’s father’s death in Vietnam. Viper informs Maverick if he so chooses, he’s earned enough points to graduate. That life-changing visit was filmed at the New Point Loma Lighthouse site near Cabrillo National Monument. It’s here where the audience gets a glimpse of Viper’s beautiful coastal home and the azure waters of the Pacific.
Naval Training Center – Now Liberty Station
This iconic site is now Liberty Station, but many historic buildings still remain that were the locations for several exterior scenes. For example, here, after embarrassing Maverick in a classroom briefing, Charlie runs after him. Maverick mounts his motorcycle and revs the engine, uttering “I can’t hear you,” before speeding away.
USS MIDWAY – Home to the Tomcat F-14
Although Top Gun was actually filmed on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, the good news is that film enthusiasts can actually visit an F-14 Tomcat on the flight deck of the USS Midway, the historic San Diego carrier museum. This is Maverick’s iconic Naval fighter, armed with a 20mm cannon and a formidable array of guided missiles, that was prominently featured in the movie when Maverick shoots down Libyan Migs. After, rival pilot Iceman says to Maverick, “You can be my wingman anytime.”
We’re often asked which of these locations are our favorites and if we absolutely had to pick, and though we’ve seen them all, we’d have to go with the classic Kansas City Barbeque and Charlie’s house in Oceanside.
We’re waiting with bated breath for the Top Gun: Maverick film to be released in May. Tom Cruise returns as its star and Val Kilmer returns as Iceman. Then we’ll have a whole new set of San Diego film locations to talk about.
by Noreen Kompanik
