PHANTASM Filming Locations: The Gates at Morningside Cemetery
The entrance gates at Morningside Cemetery play a key role in the original PHANTASM. Both Pearson brothers scaled them, the Cuda drove through them, and the fortunetellers grand daughter solemnly walks through them. But where are they??
Contrary to popular belief Morningside Cemetery is NOT an actual working cemetery and actually uses several different locations for the filming there. These front gates are NOT connected to the Dunsmuir mansion that was filmed for the exterior shots.
To get to them you are going to have to take a little road trip over to Altadena, CA which is nearby Pasadena.
The actual address is: 599 E Loma Alta Dr, Altadena, California 91001
The overall location is called The Cobb Estate and has quite the history as a haunted area. Pretty fitting that it served as the entrance to the mysterious Morningside Cemetery in the PHANTASM films! As website ATLObscura describes:
Cobb built an estate in the foothills north of Pasadena in 1918, the only indication that the “haunted woods” behind his house had any ghosts was the name.
Cobb lived on the property without incident until his death in 1939, when the 107-acre estate was deeded to the Pasadena Masons, as specified in his will.
SPOILER ALERT! You will not see the Morning Side sign when you make the trip up here. That was put up by the PHANTASM art department. You will also notice that the foliage looks quite a bit different.
It is a great PHANTASM photo opp! Especially if you Photoshop in the Morningside logo above you. It has become a pilgrimage for PHANS and many have documented their trips including YouTuber Shanethecan.
