Top Gun House in Oceanside

We stayed as a guest of Visit Oceanside/Vehicle provided by Kia

When planning our recent Oceanside staycation, I was doing some research on things to see and do in the area when I learned that Kelly McGillis’ house from the movie Top Gun is in Oceanside. As we were arriving at our hotel for the weekend, I immediately recognized it on the corner, and parked our Kia Sorento in a parking spot and got out to look at the house.

I was overwhelmed with excitement because Top Gun was one of my favorite childhood movies. When my kids walked up to the house they said, “what is Top Gun?” I couldn’t believe that after all the movies I have shown the kids that I had not yet introduced them to the movie Top Gun.

The house was not in the best shape and had a large fence around it to keep people a safe distance from the structure, but it is still there. I felt like I was in the movie when standing outside of the house with my kids.

The house was built in 1887 by Dr. Henry Graves as a vacation home. The home is an ocean front Queen Anne Cottage, and is now the “last best” existing such house in San Diego County, as recognized by SOHO.

I was glad to read on the sign next to the home that they are going to completly restore the house when they build a hotel on the land. Some of the locals that I talked to while in Oceanside mentioned to me that they had heard rumors that it might be a future gift shop for the incoming hotel.

When visiting Oceanside or even driving past the city on the freeway, plan a stop to look at the history building and have a fun 80’s flashback. The Top Gun House is located at the corner of 1st and Pacific Street, directly in front of the SpringHill Suites.