This is a film location for the movie "Thelma & Louise" -
the scene where Thelma really begins to lose her marbles and
commits armed robbery at a roadside store. Look for a white tin,
log only.
Whenever directors think they need a scene in trailertrash
America, they come shoot in Bakersfield. Needing to depict
sub-trashy trailertrash, the Thelma & Louise crew had to step
down from Bakersfield to Shafter! Welcome to Hollywood's
Hicksville.
The cache is located just feet from the spot where Ridley Scott
set up the camera shot of Thelma jogging over to rob the Market at
gunpoint as Louise sits in the car. Face NW and you'll be seeing
the same viewpoint as the worldwide viewing audience. Walk North to
the stairs and face East to look into the same diner windows where
the two old gawking redneck ladies peered out at Louise.
Take a bit of care when searching. There are gawking rednecks
inside those same diner windows today! At least if you visit during
business hours: 4am through 2pm. Even if you're not as attractive
as Susan Sarandon or Geena Davis, they'll still probably give you
the once-over.
I'm kidding just a bit. The diner's actually a humble, homey
place, staffed with some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. And
the food's not as bad as you might think. You might want to eat and
run just to say you did.
Just don't try to knock over the market like Thelma. This is
Kern County, not Hollywood. They don't take kindly to criminals in
these parts, no matter how purty they are.
