Fox Studios Baja was originally built for James Cameron's epic film, Titanic. The complex is located on 45 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, three miles south of Rosarito Baja California and 45 minutes south of San Diego. Here the world’s largest filming tanks work in conjunction with stages, offices, scenery shops, dressing rooms, wardrobe facilities and other production areas to accomplish nearly any filming requirement.

Since opening in 1996, eight movies have been filmed here, along with several television shows, commercials and video productions. Fox’s presence in Baja California provides many benefits for the region and promotes film production as well as tourism.

Foxploration is an exciting addition to Fox Studios Baja, a one-of-a-kind movie park. Foxploration allows visitors to discover tricks of the film making process within the context of a working movie studio. Attractions include film sets, prop rooms and exhibits where visitors learn about the magic of movie making in an entertaining and interactive way. Also on display are original props, sets and costumes from the blockbuster film "Titanic” among other from other studios.

Some of the major productions filmed here-entirely or partially-in chronological order are:

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (Fox, Miramax and Universal) (2003)

The Dubbed Action Movie—Enter the Fist (Fox) (2001)

Pearl Harbor (Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Touchstone) (2001)

The Weight of Water (Phoenix Pictures) (2000)

Deep Blue Sea (Warner Brothers) (1998)

In Dreams (Dreamworks) (1997)

Tomorrow Never Dies (MGM) (1997)

James Cameron's Titanic (Fox and Paramount) (1997)

History

The story of Fox Studios Baja is fairly well known. James Cameron, after an exhaustive worldwide location search for the filming of his Titanic, realized that such a place did not exist. Fox Studios Baja was built specifically for the filming of Titanic and has since become the premier spot to do expansive water shoots and realistic underwater productions. Filmmakers like Michael Bay (who shot Pearl Harbor there) love the inexpensive yet talented labor, freedom from the hassles of city shoots, and the combined 20,000,000 gallon water capacity in four separate tanks.

Since the completion of filming Titanic, more than 300,000 people have called Fox asking for a tour of the set in Mexico. Partly in response to this huge public interest in Titanic, Fox opened Foxploration (adjacent to Fox Studios Baja). Consisting of a variety of interactive exhibits, prop displays, filmmaker tips and tricks, a Titanic museum, screening room, a children's play area, and a completely relaxed vibe, Foxploration is definitely worth the trip down into Mexico.

Arriving at the gates of the park, you are treated to a spit-shined, perfectly laid out park. The experience of visiting an attraction like Foxploration has never been so smooth and reflective of the casual nature of its immediate surroundings. Foxploration has that new car smell and is free from the usual hordes of families and throngs of people packing in through the turn styles. Instead, you could leisurely park your car and then make your way into the park at your own pace.

Park Attractions

Canal Street

This is a series of set constructions and reproductions that are actually used by some of the productions that shoot at Fox Studios Baja. There is a variety of architecture represented on this "main street" and it could easily double as Anytown, USA. Since it is still classified as a "hot set," it may be in use during your visit. When I stayed, it was eerily quiet but I did imagine how quickly it could be pushed into service. Spotless!

Cinemagico

This is the highlight of the park for sure. The exhibits that are set up are designed to show off camera tricks, lighting, perspective shifts, special effects, and some of the more technical aspects of filmmaking. Step into one room and imprint your image on a film-lined wall. Another area might have you starring in a scene with members of the audience working the lights, sound, camera, and effects. There are mini-sets constructed to show green screen effects, forced perspective, and underwater shots that aren't really underwater. Spend some time on a working foley stage and make sound effects. Learn about the role of miniatures. You even get up close to an animatronics shark from Deep Blue Sea. All of Cinemagico is interactive, simple, and logically laid out.

Planet Of the Apes (Play Room)

This is an Planet of the apes-inspired room filled with soft foam balls and a variety of air-shooting devices. At first glimpse, it looks like one of those cheezy ball jumps but I actually had to be peeled away from the area because it was so much frickin' fun. It is a two-story area filled with 50,000 or so foam balls. Freakish little scooping devices vacuum the balls and then you can load them into any number of air-shooting devices. Kids love it. Adults love it. I want one in my basement.

Prop & Wardrobe Bodega

This is pretty cool with props and costumes from Titanic, Pearl Harbor, Monkeybone, X-Files, X-Men, Deep Blue Sea and other Fox productions. Needs to be bigger but still worth a look.

Titanic Expo

I was a fan of Titanic when it came out but, like everything else, it soon lost its luster for me. Still, walking around the massive and detail-oriented "Titanic Expo" I was instantly reminded of why I found the movie so appealing. The devil is in the details and Cameron proves how devilish he is in this exhibit. Several key sets from the film are preserved in exhausting detail including the first class smoking room, Jack's bunk area, the dining room, the wireless room, and even a portion of the deck including a full-scale lifeboat. Also within the expo area is a replica of the Russian sub that Cameron cruised around in at the actual wreck site, a slice of the ship so you can do a "king of the world" photo moment, and a collection of videos surrounding Titanic history.

Las Olas Open-Air Amphitheater

This beautiful amphitheater is perfect for locals to come and stage productions. Patrons can sit and watch a play while in the background the sun sets over the ocean. It is a nice place to relax and maybe have lunch. Foxploration makes this part of the park available to people in the surrounding communities as well so hopefully something will be going on when you visit.

Fox/JVC Screening Room

Probably the sweetest screening room in a 100-mile radius. Stadium-style seating and a brilliant sound system. The lobby of this theater is also an art hanging with excellent works by local artists. During the day, it shows short films about Fox projects and some behind-the-scenes blips as well.

A Fine Afternoon

The overall experience of Foxploration is extremely enjoyable. The exhibits are designed to peel back some of the myths and tricks of filmmaking, something that visitors with even a rudimentary curiosity about filmmaking will appreciate. The park has the feel of a museum like San Francisco's Exploratorium or some of the more low-tech exhibits in the Smithsonian. It seems as though a great amount of care was taken to insure that most of the exhibits be interactive, educational, informative, and entertaining. With its outreach to the community, the feeling that you have room to breathe, and the strong educational component, Foxploration is off to a great start in becoming a must-see destination for die-hard film fans.

If You Go

You'll need to give $12.00 at the door. Not a bad price for an afternoon of relaxed movie exploring. Hours during the summer are 9am to 6pm. If you go on a Saturday or Sunday, make sure you leave plenty of time to get back into the country at the border. For more info, call toll-free 1-866-369-2252.

How To Get There

Go south of Rosarito and drive for 10 minutes or so, here are step by step instructions:

Drive through town heading south and when you pass the bridge and find an intersection, keep straight ahead on the free road.

Keep going for a couple of miles until the road changes from concrete to pavement and you will see an old ship and the big sign that says Foxploration.