Our Flag Means Death

Here you'll find the first-ever site dedicated to the locations seen in the HBO comedy series "Our Flag Means Death!"

"The Revenge" was a massive set constructed on a soundstage at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, CA. It was complete with a wrap-around LED backdrop to project the backgrounds around it. All of the other ships seen on the show and interiors were shot on stages at WB as well. Judging by these BTS photos from David Jenkins' Instagram, it appears to be the massive Stage 16 (which also famously housed One-Eyed Willy's ship The Inferno in The Goonies.

The beach where The Revenge goes aground and where the crew is stranded is an old Hollywood standby: Leo Carrillo State Beach off the Pacific Coast Highway north of Malibu. This particular spot is just south of the lower (western) parking lot. Look familiar? This beach is where Daniel learned the crane kick in The Karate Kid and where Danny and Sandy made "summer lovin'" in Grease. A small portion of the bow of the ship was placed on the beach during filming.

Approx. location: 34.0441242148319, -118.938641702671

Just south of the above location is another cove (which features an awesome tunnel through the cliff to connect it to another hidden cove!) - here is where we see Jim swimming and where Buttons whittles while seated on a rock (this spot is just to your right as you come to the bottom of the staircase).

GPS Coordinates: 34.043770, -118.936489

Above and between these two locations on the bluff is a lifeguard station. This marks the spot where Izzy and gang first lay eyes on the crew and where Stede and Mary Bonnet are married in a flashback (the lighthouse was added digitally and the small block wall on the left of frame was placed to hide the lifeguard station in the distance). The opposite (north) view from here is the sunset shot from Grease.

GPS Coordinates: 34.043608, -118.936993

Further south (directly across the highway from the Visitor's Center parking lot) is a long stretch of beach. The northernmost portion of this where it meets the rocks is "Dead Man's Cove" where Calico Jack leads them in Episode 8. As with other shots at this location, the palm trees were brought in for set decoration. This exact spot was also where Daniel played soccer and was harassed by the Cobra Kai at a beach party in The Karate Kid.

GPS Coordinates: 34.04425116981044, -118.93436752549525

The "Republic of Pirates" was filmed at a heavily-redressed Rubel Castle at 844 North Live Oak Avenue in Glendora, CA. This elaborate custom-built home is owned by the Glendora Historical Society, who allow guided tours on certain dates for a fee.

On a stopover in St. Augustine for oranges to stave off the Swede's scurvy, Jim runs across a familiar stone abbey. This was filmed at the Abbey San Encino, another elaborate private residence-turned-film-location at 6211 Arroyo Glen Street in Highland Park. It is currently not open to the public. Built in 1912 to resemble an actual abbey (although it was only ever used as a residence), the intricately-detailed interior was seen in the show as well.

While Jim and gang are occupied, Stede leads Blackbeard and Lucius on a treasure hunt in the jungle. Before they leave town, they are seen walking along a path in the Los Angeles Arboretum at 301 North Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia, CA. If you look closely behind them you'll see the 1886 Coach Barn, part of the Baldwin compound along with the iconic Queen Anne Cottage (notable for its appearance in Fantasy Island). You know what else is behind them? An entire GROVE OF ORANGE TREES. This specific spot is sandwiched between the west side of the barn and the citrus grove and rose garden.

GPS Coordinates: 34.140569, -118.054555

These scenes were filmed in the Palm & Bamboo Collection of the Los Angeles Arboretum (very near the above location). The exact spot of the "snake tree" is just off the trail on the south end of Baldwin Lake. While it feels like a bit of a treasure hunt to find, the distinctive snake-like palm tree is a dead giveaway!

The campfire scene where they eat the snake and hilariously talk about Blackbeard's Bar and Grill is just a bit further west down the trail, off on the left.

While it would be seemingly impossible to find the exact spot, the bamboo grove where Calico Jack sneaks up on Stede peeing in Episode 8 had to have been filmed in this vicinity (there is a LOT of bamboo here).

The King's court was filmed in the Tiffany-domed Pompeian Room of the historic Doheny Mansion on the Mount St. Mary's University campus in South Central LA. Once open for public tours, it is now relegated only for special events. This same location was also used extensively in Episode 5.

The Royal Privateering Academy for Wayward Seamen where Stede and Blackbeard are sent was "El Alisal" - The Charles Lummis Home just off the 110 Freeway in the historic Mt. Washington neighborhood. This home and its builder have an interesting history, and can be toured on weekends thanks to the LA Parks system.

The Barbados town scenes when Stede returns were filmed at a heavily-redressed Midwest Street on the backlot of Warner Brothers Studios. All of the building facades on the right side of the frame (including the shop where Stede stages his death) were added, and subsequently removed after filming as the street was returned to it's normal look. The good news? If you take the excellent Studio Tour you will very likely get to see this exact spot (if nothing is shooting there). The right two photos were taken by actor Samba Schutte (Roach) during shooting.

The island where the crew is marooned was a set built on stage at Warner Brothers, as evidenced by another behind-the-scenes shot from Samba Schutte (@sambaschutte).

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