What amusement park do the Griswolds travel to in "National Lampoon’s Vacation?"
Last updated: October 3, 2024
1983’s "National Lampoon’s Vacation" truly captures a relic of times gone by: the well-intentioned family road trip that ends up kind of being a disaster.
The Griswolds are one of the most relatable movie families around. I don’t care if the kids change actors every single time, give me Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo as Clark and Ellen Griswold, and I know exactly what I’m in for — a satire, sure, but one where no matter how manic or ambitious Clark gets, I’m right there with him.
The first entry in the series, now usually referred to as just "Vacation," was a surprise hit. Written by John Hughes and based on a story he published in "National Lampoon," it made over $60 million in the U.S. alone.
The plot centers around the Griswold family, at patriarch Clark’s urging, heading out from Chicago on a road trip to an amusement park in Southern California. Along the way, they meet with some strange family members, wreck their car, and transport a corpse.
What’s the name of the amusement park they’re trying to reach?