Oppenheimer Film Locations: Set-Jetting in Los Alamos
If you loved the Oppenheimer movie, this essential Los Alamos set-jetting guide from One Planet Journey’s Chiara Crisafulli will ensure you visit all the must-see film locations. From Fuller Lodge to Dr. Oppenheimer’s house, explore the iconic Manhattan Project historical landmarks. Plan your immersive trip today!
Oppenheimer Film: A Guide for Set-jetting in Los Alamos
“If I could find a way to combine physics and New Mexico, life would be perfect.”
Two years ago, on my first visit from Europe, I stood before an expanse, silent, stark, and immense. Dr. Oppenheimer’s words could not have felt more relevant. The drive to create blends with a landscape of breathtaking beauty, home to one of the world’s largest calderas. Spanning 33,000 acres across the lands of 23 Tribal Nations, the region offers 150 miles of trails for outdoor enthusiasts and five canyons weaving through the Jemez Mountains and Sierra De Los Valles. The National Laboratory of Los Alamos (LANL) continues to employ the sharpest scientific minds. Today, the town hosts 13,000 residents, boasting an average IQ of 150, with one in nine being a millionaire.
Since relocating to Santa Fe, I frequently hike in this area. Visitor numbers have surged by 60% following the raging success of the the Oppenheimer film. Like so many others, I too feel drawn to set-jet (travelling to destinations to see the filming places of a movie or tv series) in order to experience the Oppenheimer locations dotted around the magnificent landscape.
Main Gate Park: Historic Checkpoint and Film Location
A 40-minute drive from Santa Fe, skirting past Native American territories, leads to the Main Gate Park onto East Road. This replica of the original checkpoint once controlled access to the Manhattan Project site. A 10-foot barbed wire fence secured the entrance, allowing only authorised workers to pass. A second copy stands at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.
While security personnel still conduct checks today, they take place only at the East and West Jemez Road ‘Vehicle Access Portals’, where every driver presents identification before proceeding.
The Manhattan Project National Historical Park
East Road leads directly into town. Behind a public car park lies ‘Site Y,’ one of three Manhattan Project National Historical Parks. The others are in Hanford, Washington, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Los Alamos section includes 13 primary sites, with 17 additional locations within the national laboratory.
Set-jetting for the Oppenheimer film begins at the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Visitor Centre in downtown Los Alamos. The walking tour begins at Ashley Pond, guiding visitors to key landmarks tied to the Manhattan Project. The Visitor Centre, next to the Tourist Information Office, provides schedules, maps, and details related to the film. Rotating photographic exhibitions offer deeper insights into the area’s storied past.
Park Rangers collaborate with the Department of Energy to deliver enriching experiences at all three locations. Visitors can also enter a lottery for free tickets to the ‘Behind the Fence guided tour, granting access to restricted areas.
Fuller Lodge: Historic Site and Film Location for Oppenheimer
From 1928 until the Manhattan Project’s launch, Fuller Lodge served as the dining hall for The Los Alamos Ranch School, an elite educational institution. In 1942, it became a canteen and gathering space for scientists. Later, it functioned as hotel accommodation for site guests.
The grand hall stands out for a pivotal scene where the audience erupts in applause for Oppenheirmer following the successful atom bomb test. The exterior also serves as the backdrop for one of his public speeches, in which he solemnly states, “In the future, the name of Los Alamos could be cursed.”
Dr. Oppenheimer’s House: Historic Landmark
Tucked behind physicist and Nobel laureate, Hans Bethe’s former home and shaded by a towering conifer, Oppenheimer’s residence exudes quiet reflection. However, during the Manhattan Project, the atmosphere must have felt vastly different as he and Kitty hosted gatherings for fellow scientists.
They filmed scenes inside the house here, and following production, NBC Universal donated the set’s furniture. According to the Los Alamos History Museum, the home will eventually open to the public.
Manhattan Project Era Dormitory and Film Location
The Era Women’s Dorm housed civilian female workers and non-military personnel. Plans are underway to convert it into a Visitor Centre, with the National Park Service actively preserving and restoring the structure. In the film, these corridors and rooms served as the lab setting and backdrop for heated scientific debates.
The United Church of Los Alamos
A notable location in Oppenheimer, this church’s meeting room served as the space where scientists assembled the test bomb. Originally situated in Santa Fe, the chapel relocated to Los Alamos in 1946 for military use. It later expanded under an Atomic Energy Commission directive. In 1947, it officially became the ‘United Church,’ welcoming Jews, Catholics, and Protestants alike, as a place of worship.
The Historic Dot Grant Trail
The most poignant moment of my set-jetting journey unfolded at the Historic Grant Trail lookout. Here, Oppenheimer confesses his affair to his wife, Kitty, following his mistress’s tragic death.
This path once linked two canyons in the Rio Grande Valley, where the river still flows. The Historic Grant Trail is significant. From 1887, Hispanic settlers used it extensively, cutting deep ruts in the soft volcanic rocks from the livestock and wagons.
When the army took control of the region for the Manhattan project, they restricted access, leaving many trails abandoned. Today, these areas are gems for outdoor adventurers like myself. During the off-season, hikers often find themselves completely alone, making for a deeply personal and reflective time. To ensure a safe trek and jet-setting experience, follow trail signs and observe safety precautions.
Later in the same scene, Kitty seizes Oppenheimer’s collar and states, “You don’t get to sin and then play the victim.”
Dr. Oppenheimer reaches his breaking point, physically, emotionally, and ethically grappling with the atomic bomb’s consequences. Here, the man behind history’s most consequential invention comes alive.
If you want to explore this area, the Rendija Crack Loop hike starts at the Pajarito Trail on the Rendija Canyon Trailhead.
Beyond Oppenheimer
Reflecting on the film, one might say, “And the rest is history.” But the journey of Oppenheimer film locations doesn’t end here. From the striking red rock formations of Abiquiu, where the production team built the main set, to the train scenes filmed in Lamy, 30 km from Santa Fe, the story extends beyond Los Alamos.
Oppenheimer’s legacy remains to this day, woven into the fabric of New Mexico. For an immersive deep-travel experience, plan at least two days in the region. Film tourism in New Mexico is merely one of its many dimensions, always ready to welcome set-jetters, history enthusiasts, and adventurers alike.
Have you seen the Oppenheimer film locations? Do you set-jet to your favourite movie scenes? Let us know in the comment section. Subscribe to our newsletter and benefit from travel guides, sustainable tourism and luxury travel tips, insightful interviews, and inspirational places to visit. One Planet Journey – The World’s First Deep Travel Magazine.
