The Island



Gilligan's Island  is a typical South Pacific tropical Island with beaches, mountains, jungles, and a lagoon. It was where the seven passengers aboard the S.S. Minnow were marooned. It was also the target of a USAF experimental missile. The neighboring islands are inhabited by natives that practice Voodoo (a Caribbean religion from Africa) and collect the heads of rival tribes. There are a few friendly tribes often visited by sailors who explore the island. Gilligan saves a female native from one tribe while a local chieftain appears on the island in search of a White Goddess. Gilligan's island is said to be "a tiny island somewhere in the South Pacific." Though, throughout the series such features as quick-sand, an active volcano, staggering mountains, and not to mention extensive jungles added to it all. It's unexplained how all these landmarks fit on such a small island. The island's position is also uncertain as the Skipper and the Professor have different ideas on its position. In the episode, X Marks the Spot, the island's position is said to be about 140 longitude by 10 latitude as according to the Professor. However, in the episode Big Man on a Little Stick, the Skipper tells surfer Duke Williams that their position is approximately 110 longitude by 10 latitude. In the episode, It's a Bird, It's a Plane, the location where the US Navy sees Gilligan flying over the Island is reported as 250 miles south of Hawaii. Different real-life islands are also portrayed as being the island in the first season's theme song and that of the second season as well as in different shots in different episodes. The photo at upper left from Forward March and the Lord Beasley episode show approximate maps of the Island - although in the Splashdown episode, it shows a different map of the island from space! Apparently, there is one small lagoon; a continuity error for the Second and Third episodes teasers show the wreck of the SS Minnow at the small lagoon although the opening teasers of the First Season episode show that SS Minnow wrecked on a wide beach!

Trivia

 * Two separate islands were used in the opening credits of the series. One was Sandy Cay, a three-acre island near the Bahamas in the Caribbean. It is one of the many destinations featured on Disney Cruise Lines, most likely being Castaway Cay, but it is unknown which of the islands that were filmed. The other island used during the color episodes was Mokuoloe ("Coconut Island") near Oahu which covers 28 acres in size.