In the San Gabriel Valley’s City of Industry, there is a McDonald’s that looks perfectly operational from the street. It has the signature golden arches, a drive-thru window, and a dining room filled with plastic booths. However, if you tried to walk in for a Big Mac, you’d be stopped by a 10-foot steel fence and security cameras.

This is the McDonald’s Production Center, often called the “MockDonald’s.” Built in 1978 for approximately $1 million, it was designed for one specific purpose: to serve as a permanent, high-tech movie set for commercials and feature films.

Why It Exists

Before this studio was built, filming a 30-second commercial was a logistical nightmare. McDonald’s had to pay franchisees thousands of dollars in lost revenue to shut down an active restaurant for a day. By building their own “ghost” location, they created a space where production could happen 24/7 without bothering a single hungry customer.