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‘Gilligan’s Island’: Where Is the Island Supposed to be Located?

Fans of “Gilligan’s Island” may have noticed a few times during the series when various characters supposedly give away the island’s location. The question is, which of those hints is correct?

Many believe the show takes place on an unnamed and uncharted island in the South Pacific. On the show, it is said that nearby islands play host to fearsome native peoples. The latter supposedly collect the severed heads of rival tribes. And in one episode, Gilligan saves a female native from one of the neighboring native tribes. So Gilligan’s island is presumably part of a cluster of islands.

According to MeTV, in the episode “‘X’ Marks the Spot,” the island turns out to exist at impossible coordinates – 140 degrees latitude by 10 degrees longitude. Then, in “Big Man on a Little Stick,” they say its location is at 110 degrees longitude by 10 degrees latitude. That would put it in the Pacific Ocean somewhere off the coast of Mexico.

Lastly, in “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane,” the U.S. Navy says the island sits 250 miles southeast of Hawaii. And in fact, visitors to Hawaii can go on tours of the spots in Kauai where the cast and crew of “Gilligan’s Island” filmed the show.

‘Gilligan’s Island’ Was a ‘Cultural Landmark’

Whatever the island’s physical location, the show it hosted has stood the test of time to become culturally significant.

When Mary Ann actress Dawn Wells passed away last year, Ginger actress Tina Louise said the two of them were part of something very special in American television history.

“We shared in creating a cultural landmark that has continued to bring comfort and smiles to people during this difficult time,” Louise said, per Fox News. “I hope that people will remember her the way that I do – always with a smile on her face.”

Wells died of complications from COVID-19, according to her publicist. She was 82.

“This sweet, silly show provided its fans with calm and joy in a frightening time and has continued to do so,” Louise added. “Considering the state of everything these days, we should all be happy it’s still in reruns!”

After Wells’s death, the MeTV Network honored her with a marathon of Mary Ann episodes. The marathon featured classics like “How to Be a Hero,” “Don’t Bug the Mosquitoes,” “The Second Ginger Grant” and “The Matchmaker.”

“We will miss her, but her work on ‘Gilligan’s Island’ will live forever,” Weigel Broadcasting vice-chairman Neal Sabin said in a statement.

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