The Ultimate Bay Area Star Wars Tour

Donna Berry Glass

Do you know your R2-D2 from your BB-8? How about your Darth Vader from your Darth Maul? Then no doubt you’re a Star Wars fan and if you’re in the Bay Area, you’re in luck. With both Lucasfilm campuses located in the Bay Area, Star Wars fans in the area are in for a treat.

Interested in seeing some of these Star Wars highlights for yourself? Keep reading to find out the best four-stop tour you can embark on that no true aficionado should miss.

Feature photo by Lucasfilm Ltd.

Stop One

Lucasfilm Headquarters in the Presidio, San Francisco

Located on a 23-acre campus in San Francisco’s historic Presidio, Lucasfilm Ltd. is home to Industrial Light & Magic, ILM Immersive and Lucasfilm. While the building itself is closed to the public, the lobby is accessible on weekdays and features a collection of Star Wars memorabilia, including life-size statues of Darth Vader and Boba Fett, along with film props and artwork. Regardless of when you visit, you can always see the life-size Yoda statue outside.

Stop Two

Imagination Park, San Anselmo

San Anselmo has been George Lucas’ hometown since the early ’70s, but don’t expect to spot him grabbing coffee, as he keeps a pretty low profile. Instead, head to Imagination Park in the heart of San Anselmo’s endearing downtown. Lucas donated the land and built the park, complete with a fountain and life-size statues of Yoda and Indiana Jones.

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Stroll a few blocks to 321 San Anselmo Ave., where Lucas’ original office and studio once stood — the very spot where Star Wars and Indiana Jones were first dreamed up.

Stop Three

Roy’s Redwoods, San Geronimo Valley

If you love the cute and courageous Ewoks from Return of the Jedi, you can see what their home was like by traipsing through this small, old-growth redwood forest grove just a few miles west of Fairfax. Although the actual Return of the Jedi scenes featuring Ewoks were shot several hours north of San Francisco in Humboldt County, George Lucas chose Roy’s Redwoods as the spot to film his 1984 Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure.

Stop Four

Rancho Obi-Wan, Petaluma

A man holds his first authored book called "Srar Wars: From Conceot to Screen to Collectible." — Photo courtesy of Rancho Obi-Wan.

A wall with the words "Star Wars" painted on and a couple of character statues standing in front. — Photo courtesy of Rancho Obi-Wan.

The wall of a Star Wars store includes posters and memorabilia of Star Wars. — Photo courtesy of Rancho Obi-Wan.

A man and a woman stand in front of a Star Wars themed merch store. — Photo by Donna Berry Glass.

Our final stop is a dream come true for Star Wars fans: Steve Sansweet’s jaw-dropping collection of memorabilia, which earned his nonprofit museum a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. A former head of fan relations at Lucasfilm, Sansweet has gathered everything from early Star Wars books, scripts and logos to fan-made creations from around the globe. Docent-led tours are offered on Saturdays and can last up to four hours — just be sure to book early, as spots fill up six to eight weeks in advance and walk-ins aren’t allowed.