In May of 2022, the iconic ‘Top Gun House’ opened to the public as High Pie, a quaint little place serving up delicious fruit-filled hand pies. Staying true to it’s history, however, the fully retrofitted house features some nostalgic displays from the 1986 film, plus the addition of a 50’s-themed decor.

CHARLIE’S HOUSE

You’ll recall Charlie’s beachfront property from the movie, which Tom Cruise (Maverick) rides his Kawasaki Ninja ZX900 motorcycle to…and from, multiple times. Some of the most epic scenes of the time, without a doubt. Parts of the house were also the setting for multiple other scenes throughout the movie and you undoubtedly remember them all :wink:.

THE RENOVATION

The renovation was initiated in 2019, when the hotel-resort industry began developing new properties along N. Pacific Street. The original location of this Top Gun house was actually one block away and wasn’t a good fit for it’s surroundings so it was relocated to it’s current spot, on the grounds of the Mission Pacific Hotel. Rather than demolish the icon, which would have made so many fans upset, the Mission Pacific welcomed it as a nod to history (very cool history).

THE HOUSE & ITS HISTORY

This Victorian-style home was a built and owned by Dr. Henry Graves in 1887 as a vacation home for himself and his wife. Throughout it’s 90+ year lifespan, the cottage has been sold numerous times, the last owners being Lynn and William Rego who changed the paint color of from it’s traditional dark hues to the light blue shades that we recognize today. Hollywood took note and contacted the couple requesting for it to be used in an upcoming military-esque movie. The home was rented for two weeks by Paramount Pictures and the rest…is…history.

THE FAMOUS HIGH PIE (AKA. TOP GUN HOUSE)

Now that the renovations are complete and this cute property is open to the public, you can walk by for a quick peek or take a gander inside the place. It is very small, but manages to accommodate curious fans and patrons alike. From the looks of it, the line can get long, calling for the need to create queue lines leading to the front of the property. If you don’t hit this gem at the right time, you may encounter a high-traffic situation.

This intriguing locale serves cherry, apple, and strawberry rhubarb-filled hand pies that you can mix and match to suit your fancy. Their menu shows everything from single hand pies to boxes of 3, 12, and 36. Yep, enough for a quick taste or to share with an entire group!

Seeing is believing, though. I kid you not about the combined nostalgic and eclectic feel that the house has. On the front porch is a hanging swing, porch chairs and signage paying homage to the iconic movie. The interior features framed posters and subtle odes to the US military combined with a unique vibe of vintage style.

My visit was on a Friday afternoon around 1:00 PM. There were plenty of people meandering around the pier, beach, and sidewalks of Oceanside but the house itself wasn’t unbearably crowded. There was no line to get in so we wandered right up, stared in awe at the decor, took plenty of pictures, grabbed a box of hand pies–some to eat and of course, a few to take home to family. I’m a huge fan of the original Top Gun movie and gosh darnit, equally as fanatical about the sequel. If you haven’t seen it, go. And if you happen upon Oceanside stop by this house; it’s just a fun, quirky, totally touristy thing to do. It’s ok, to be ‘that person’, hundreds of others shamelessly do it every day, too.

High Pie (aka. Top Gun House) is located at 250 N. Pacific Street | Oceanside, CA 92054, right across from the Oceanside Pier.