Potter School House

We watched «The Birds» before going to see this. We forgot to see if there was a house next door with a red mailbox!

Cool place to go check out only if you’re in the area (would not be worth it’s own trip). It’s cool to take a photo out front as a ‘see, I’ve been there’ type of thing and then haul ass to bigger and better stuff. Beautiful drive to get there too.
There are no tours and you don’t get to go into the house. You can read a plaque on the front gate but nothing else.

It has been kept absolutely lovely, and it was grand to see again, but I pity the poor family living there. The sign on the gate says it all; people must not be able to read and realize real lives go on behind it, leave them alone unless you are on a scheduled tour!

I am a huge fan of horror movies and though I haven’t seen very many Hitchcock movies this place was extremely creepy. It’s now a private residence but just the feeling I got looking up at the house made me shiver. Adding to the feeling the town area has crows/​birds circling all over making it seem like they are going to attack. I know I’m being a little dramatic but if you love anything related to horror movies and are near bodega bay I would stop by for a quick visit.

House from The Birds. Now a private residence. Very charming.

A must drop by for all «The birds» fans!

For the birds! Recognize this from the classic Hitchcock film?
Owners host tours… which includes lots of film memorabilia.

The Birds/​Alfred Hitchcock film, school house horror scene. Loved this movie, so it was great to see this school house. Eerie feeling standing by the house. Labor Day weekend Tippi Hedron was at the Tides Inn, so it made this trip complete.
A very nice talk with Tippi who is so sweet and a fellow animal lover! I loved this town and the history of THE BIRDS!

This place is now a private residency. However, it’s worth a stop to photograph. I’ve watched «The Birds» many times, and I recognized the building the moment I saw it in the distance. The Catholic church is right next door, that was also in the movie. Great for movie buffs.

If you’re out that way, certainly make a stop.
Any Hitchcock fan certainly ought to go.
The building is now a private home or something, and there’s a small museum and/​or giftshop on the first floor. Sometimes it’s open on weekends. Sometimes not.
Just for some background: A lot of the scenes from The Birds shot in Bodega and Bodega Bay, like the schoolhouse scene, were only partially done on location. Many were later filled in at the studio. For instance, there is no view from this schoolhouse down to the water.
There’s a little more local flavor in the small town of Bodega. There are some nifty antique stores, and art gallery or two, a bar, and usually on weekends the FD has some sort of fundraiser pancake breakfast or something.

um hello! If you have a passion for movies, you’ll know why this rocks!
All I wanted to do for my birthday one year was drive to Bodega Bay and see all the sights from «The Birds». To see in person what I had seen on screen a million times was too cool.
Of course I did the tourist thing, I bought my souvenirs and took pictures standing in front of the school pretending to fight off birds. C’mon you know you want to.

If you’re a Hitchcock fan, this place is worth a stop! This is the schoolhouse featured in his film, «The Birds.» A couple bought the place in disrepair years ago and lovingly restored it. Now they put up with film fans pulling up and photographing themselves in front of their house.
As they say though, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em…so these folks opened a gift shop in the bottom part of the schoolhouse where you can get t-​shirts and other knick knacks honoring the movie. You can also «rent a crow.» Yes, for $ 2, you can take two crows out on the front step of the school and photograph yourself and your party getting attacked by birds! Too funny!

I love that scene in Hitchcock’s film The Birds where Tippi Hedron is driving her British sports car (Aston-​Martin convertible) down the twisty roads of Hwy 1 to Bodega Bay. The top is down, the engine is screaming, the tires are squealing, and the two lovebirds (peach faced just like Julie) in the cage right next to her are leaning to the left and right as she takes the turns. They are so cute! Not sure if those leaning birds in the cage were real, but it’s my favorite scene. Oh and that wasn’t really Hwy 1, but rather Bay Hill Road since Hitchcock was denied permission by the CA Highway Division to stop traffic for filming.
Anyway, took those roads myself again recently and went to go see the school house from the film again. The house itself is actually in the town of Bodega and not Bodega Bay, but it’s not far at all. Really cool to see something in person that I’ve seen in film countless times over the years. The area surrounding the school house is a lot more built-​up now and is nothing like the bare expanse that it was when the movie was filmed. Regardless, the structure itself is intact and looks just like in the film, except for a fence that didn’t exist back then.
I saw in another review that they have a gift shop there, but in all the times I’ve gone there, I’ve never seen it and the school house always looks closed. Perhaps I am always going on the wrong day? Will definitely go back and look for it again. If I find the store, will definitely up it to five stars.
Anyway, it’s an awesome picture taking opportunity and great fun to see a place immortalized in film. Great excuse to take a fun drive up north to Bodega Bay. Fellow Unilocaler Manabu should go here! :)

Hitchcock ventured out,
Of SF to film the Birds,
Less macabre today.

We stopped by on Sat 11÷17÷07. It’s Not in Bodega Bay, it’s in the teeny tiny town of Bodega which I drove right by on the way to Bodega Bay. Funny. So on the way back we stopped by to take some pics.
Hitchcock filmed the schoolhouse in «The Birds». That’s cool just in itself.
Found out after I got home that they offer tours (hope it’s still offered. call first): Bodega Schoolhouse Tours, 17 110 Bodega Lane, Bodega, CA; (707) 876‑3257. Tours (45 – 60 minutes), 2 and 3 p.m. Sundays, $ 5 per person.
Maybe next time I’ll do the tour!