10 GTA V Locations That Are Based On Real-Life

Ki Like previous Grand Theft Auto games, Grand Theft Auto V contains locations that are based on actual real-world places.

One of the best-selling games of all time is filled with intricacies that surpass our expectations. Like previous Grand Theft Auto games, Grand Theft Auto V contains locations that are based on real-world places. The extent to which real-world locations were utilized in Grand Theft Auto V, however, is more than we could hope for.

Their appearances are similar to the real thing to a great extent. In some cases, locations in Grand Theft Auto V are a near-replica. Including an observatory, a familiar sign, and a famous mountain; these are fifteen Grand Theft Auto V locations that are based on real-life.

    Video game developers have been including real world locations in their titles for years now. Marvel's Spider Man is perhaps the best example of this, with the game featuring pretty much every one of New York's most notable landmarks. Rockstar Games takes a somewhat different approach with its GTA series though, instead opting to create a fictional city that is based on and inspired by one from the real world. In the case of GTA V, that city is none other than Los Angeles. Despite Los Santos' fictional status, however, the city still includes many of the most recognizable L.A. hot-spots and landmarks within its borders.

10

Bishop's WTF?! (Based on Ripley's Believe It Or Not!)

Bishop's WTF?! can be found on Vinewood Boulevard and serves as a museum for the weird and wonderful. It's seemingly named after the Aliens character of the same name; a nice nod to its real world equivalent, which share's a name with the movie's main protagonist, Ripley.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! first launched as a newspaper panel in 1918, but has since gone on to be adapted into a wide variety of formats, including radio and television shows, books and, of course, museums. One of such museum sits proudly on Hollywood Boulevard and it is this location on which the Bishop's museum in GTA V is based.

14 

The Vinewood Bowl (Based on the Hollywood Bowl)

Located in the luxurious Vinewood Hills, the Vinewood Bowl is an outdoor amphitheater and the home of the fictional reality television show Fame or Shame. There's a large parking lot nearby and also a quaint little cafe that helps to service all of the thirsty concert-goers.

Its real world counterpart, the Hollywood Bowl, shares many similarities with the fictitious location, although perhaps has a slightly larger stage. The iconic venue, which was first opened in 1922, has a capacity of 17,500 people; thus serving as the perfect outdoor venue for Tinseltown's rich and powerful.

13 

The Oriental Theater (Based on Grauman's Chinese Theater)

Grauman's Chinese Theater, or the TCL Chinese Theater, as it is now known, is one of the most iconic locations in Los Angeles. It's played host to the premieres of some of the biggest movies of all time and is also the home of the hand and footprints of some of Hollywood's biggest names.

GTA V's Oriental Theater is almost a perfect match for the famous spot, particularly when it comes to its distinctive roof design and pillars. Interestingly, however, the Vinewood Star Tours suggest that the Oriental was opened in 1928, which is actually one year later than Grauman's first opened its doors.

12 

The Vinewood Von Crastenburg Hotel (Based on the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel)

Although the Von Crastenburg Hotel & Resorts chain seems to be based on the Hilton line of hotels, the company's Vinewood location is almost certainly inspired by the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. It's located on Clinton and Meteor and includes amenities including a swimming pool, a nightclub and a restaurant.

The Hollywood Roosevelt on which it is based is the oldest continually operating hotel in L.A. and features a similar Spanish-style exterior as the one that can be seen in the game. It first opened its doors almost a century ago and hosted the very first Academy Awards ceremony in 1926.

11 

Tequi-la-la (Based on Whisky a Go Go)

Having once been a mob-operated restaurant, Tequi-la-la is now one of Vinewood's trendiest nightclubs. It can be found on Eclipse Boulevard and features in numerous GTA V and GTA Online missions and activities. There's also a game room down in the basement where players can play darts or the QUB3D arcade game.

Its real world equivalent is named Whisky a Go Go, which has stood proudly on Sunset Boulevard for more than half a century. Countless big-name bands and musicians have performed there over the years, including Led Zeppelin, System of a Down and AC/DC. The nightclub is so popular that it has its own official TV channel on Roku Connected TV and even had a newly discovered human gene named after it back in the late-sixties.

10 

Galileo Observatory (Based on the Griffith Observatory)

Players might have visited this location multiple times in Grand Theft Auto V and never knew it was an observatory. The observatory is not functional to players, although it is possible to peer through coin-operated telescopes that surround the structure. It's an excellent place to view the city of Los Santos.

The Galileo Observatory is based on the Griffith Observatory, a landmark in Los Angeles, California. It would have been a nice feature to be able to go inside the Galileo Observatory. Perhaps Grand Theft Auto VI will open the doors to more of their landmarks

9 

Vinewood Sign (Based on the Hollywood sign)

This one may not come as a surprise for players who have driven around the Vinewood Hills or the locations that look upon it. The Vinewood sign, as many may have guessed, is based on the Hollywood sign in Hollywood, Los Angeles. It serves as a banner for the district of Vinewood, which is an integral part of the fictional city of Los Santos.

In real-life, Hollywood is a tourist hot-spot and one of the most famous locations in the United States. The only thing missing from Grand Theft Auto V is the ability to climb the sign!

8 

Del Perro Pier (Based on the Santa Monica Pier)

For those who have toured around the United States, this location's existence in Grand Theft Auto V may not come as a surprise. Del Perro Pier is a fictional place in the world of Grand Theft Auto V, but the location was inspired by the Santa Monica Pier.

The Santa Monica Pier is another Californian location contained in the game. The majority of the places in Grand Theft Auto V that are based on real-world locations are from the state of California. The resemblance between the Santa Monica Pier and the Del Perro Pier is peculiar.

7 

Vespucci Beach (Based on Venice Beach)

Even real-world geologic locations are not exempt from Grand Theft Auto V. Vespucci Beach, found on the west coast of the city of Los Santos is a spot where hipsters and the general public frequent.

It overlooks the Pacific Ocean, and it's loosely based off of Venice Beach. Chances are, most player will have visited Vespucci Beach a few times to see the Super Yachts in the water or have ridden a sea-doo. Venice Beach is yet another example of a real-world location that is contained in Grand Theft Auto V.

6 

Big Creek Bridge (Based on the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, California)

For those who have ever driven down Grand Theft Auto V's western highway, or have been boating in the ocean off to the west, there's a strong chance they will have seen the Big Creek Bridge. The water that goes under the Big Creek Bridge runs into the mountains.

Many players may not have known that Grand Theft Auto V's Big Creek Bridge is based on the Bixby Bridge found in Big Sur, California. The resemblance between the two bridges is uncanny. It's one of the many secrets of Los Santos that only a handful of people know.

5 

Playboy Mansion Easter Egg (Based on the Playboy Mansion)

This iconic location is lively in the night time, which is why it's best to visit the Playboy Mansion once the sun goes down. Of course, the site is based on the Playboy Mansion. It even has a grotto like the real mansion. Attention to fine detail was ensured to create this enchanting Easter egg.

Although Hugh Hefner has now passed away, the Playboy Mansion still remains an iconic Los Angeles landmark. And thanks to games like Grand Theft Auto V, among other things, the legacy of Hugh Hefner lives on.

BY THE GAMESTORE