Thanks to Pop TV, I’ve been binge watching the first season of The O.C. (again) this week.
Watching the show’s early episodes I’ve been reminded just how much time Seth (Adam Brody), Ryan (Ben McKenzie), Marissa (Mischa Barton) and Summer (Rachel Bilson) spent hanging out at the pier. It’s where Seth, Ryan and Marissa first bond, it’s where Ryan gets in a fight with Luke (Chris Carmack) at the diner and it’s where Ryan gets a job with Donnie (played by a young Paul Wesley!).
The pier is suppose to be the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, CA, which can be seen in the opening credits and is also worth a visit if you’re in Newport.
But, the season one pier scenes were actually filmed at the Redondo Beach Pier in Redondo Beach, CA. The pier and the diner are just as they were when the show filmed there more than a decade ago. Unfortunately, The Bait Shop is gone though, but you can still walk the pier and picture Ryan riding his bike, with Marissa on the back and Seth riding his skateboard beside them.
Why is the Bait Shop no longer there?! What happened to it and how long ago was it taken down?