You’re driving up the hills of Hollywood Hills West, past the concrete sprawl of the studios, and suddenly everything turns impossibly green. It’s quiet. That’s the first thing you notice about Forest Lawn Cemetery Burbank—which, to be technically accurate, most locals and the official maps call Forest Lawn Memorial-Park (Hollywood Hills). It’s huge. We're talking 400-plus acres of meticulously manicured grass that feels more like a country club or a historical museum than a place of mourning.
People come here for the stars, obviously. If you want to pay respects to Bette Davis, Carrie Fisher, or Stan Laurel, this is the spot. But honestly? If you only go there to play "find the celebrity grave," you’re missing the weird, ambitious, and slightly eccentric vision of its founder, Dr. Hubert Eaton. He hated the idea of "scary" graveyards with upright tombstones and weeping angels. He wanted a "Memorial Park." He wanted optimism.
The Weird History of the "Memorial Park" Concept
Most people don't realize that before Forest Lawn, cemeteries were largely seen as morbid, dark places with jagged rocks and overgrown weeds. Hubert Eaton changed that in 1917, and by the time the Burbank/Hollywood Hills location opened in 1948, he had perfected his "Life-Exalting" philosophy. It sounds like a marketing pitch because it basically was. He mandated that all markers be flat to the ground. Why? So the vista remained unbroken. He wanted you to feel like you were in a park, not a necropolis.
This specific location is dedicated to "American Liberty." It's packed with massive bronze statues of founding fathers and replicas of historical buildings. It’s essentially a patriotic theme park that happens to have residents.
Walking through the gates, you’ll see a massive mosaic called "The Birth of Liberty." It’s actually one of the largest mosaics in the world. It contains over 10 million pieces of Venetian glass. Ten million. It depicts various scenes from the Revolutionary War, and it's so bright it almost hurts your eyes on a sunny California afternoon. It’s impressive, but also kind of surreal when you remember there are thousands of people buried just a few yards away.
Where the Legends Rest: Navigating the Stars
Finding celebrities at Forest Lawn Cemetery Burbank is notoriously difficult if you don't have a map. The staff won't give you a "map to the stars" like the ones they sell on Sunset Blvd. It's a privacy thing. However, most fans know the heavy hitters are located in specific sections like the Courts of Remembrance or the Church of the Hills.
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Take Bette Davis. Her sarcophagus is perched on a hill overlooking the park. It’s grand. It’s fitting for a woman who dominated the silver screen for decades. Then you have Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds. They’re buried together. Their memorial features a beautiful marble statue of a mother and daughter holding hands. It’s one of the few spots where you’ll consistently see fresh flowers and little trinkets left by fans—sometimes even a stray lightsaber.
The Resident List is Staggering
- Michael Jackson: He’s actually in the Great Mausoleum, but that’s at the Glendale location. People get the two confused all the time. If you’re at the Burbank/Hollywood Hills site, you’re looking for different icons.
- Matthew Perry: One of the more recent additions, his presence has brought a new wave of visitors to the park.
- Paul Walker: His memorial is modest but often surrounded by car enthusiasts who drive up the winding roads to pay their respects.
- Stan Laurel: The comedy legend has a simple marker. He once joked that if anyone cried at his funeral, he'd never speak to them again.
- Lucille Ball: She was originally here, but her family eventually moved her remains to her hometown in Jamestown, New York. There’s still a bit of confusion among tourists who come looking for Lucy.
It’s not just actors, though. You’ve got musicians like Ronnie James Dio and Lemmy Kilmister from Motörhead. Lemmy’s monument is exactly what you’d expect—badass and unyielding.
The Architecture is a Trip
If you wander over to the Old North Church, you’ll notice it looks familiar. It’s an exact replica of the church in Boston where Paul Revere saw the lanterns. "One if by land, two if by sea." That one.
Eaton was obsessed with recreating historical landmarks. He built the Hall of Liberty which houses a museum (though it’s often closed for private events). Inside, there’s a copy of the Declaration of Independence and various artifacts that feel like they belong in the Smithsonian, not a cemetery in the Valley.
Then there’s the "Court of Freedom." It features a massive bronze statue of George Washington. It’s actually a cast of the original by Jean-Antoine Houdon. The scale of the art here is meant to make you feel small. It works. You’re standing in the middle of this massive lawn, surrounded by larger-than-life representations of American history, while the 134 Freeway hums in the distance. The contrast is jarring. It's very L.A.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Visiting
There’s a common misconception that you can’t just "hang out" at Forest Lawn Cemetery Burbank. You totally can. As long as you’re respectful. People jog here. They paint. They sit on the grass and read books. It’s a community space.
However, don't bring a picnic. That’s usually where security draws the line. And definitely don't try to take professional photos or film anything without a permit. They are extremely protective of the families’ privacy. If you look like you’re filming a YouTube documentary with a gimbal and a shotgun mic, expect a polite but firm security guard to roll up in a golf cart within five minutes.
Another thing: the hills are steep. If you’re planning to walk from the bottom to the top to see the Bette Davis memorial, wear decent shoes. Flip-flops are a bad idea. The grass is often wet from the massive irrigation system they run to keep everything green in the middle of a drought-prone basin.
Why It Actually Matters for Local History
Beyond the glitz of the celebrity graves, this place is a record of how Los Angeles grew. You’ll see sections dedicated to various communities—Armenian, Greek, Mexican-American. The shifting demographics of the San Fernando Valley are written in the names on those flat bronze markers.
The park also serves as an accidental wildlife preserve. Because it’s so large and relatively quiet, you’ll see deer, coyotes, and hawks. It’s one of the few places in the city where the original topography of the hills hasn’t been completely carved up for mega-mansions.
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Practical Advice for Your Visit
- Check the Hours: They usually close the gates at sundown. Don't get locked in. It happens more often than you’d think, and getting a guard to let you out is an awkward conversation.
- Use the Restrooms at the Entrance: Once you start driving up into the sections like "Ascending Dawn" or "God's Corner," facilities are hard to find.
- Drive Slowly: The roads are narrow and winding. There are often funeral processions or people walking who aren't paying attention to traffic.
- Visit the Museum: If the Hall of Liberty is open, go in. It’s free. It’s weird. It’s worth twenty minutes of your time to see the historical exhibits.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning a trip to Forest Lawn Cemetery Burbank, don't just wing it. Start by downloading a digital map or using a crowdsourced site like Find A Grave to pinpoint exactly who you want to see. This will save you hours of aimless driving.
Once you arrive, stop by the Information Center near the entrance. While they won't give you a "celebrity map," they can direct you to the major landmarks like the Birth of Liberty mosaic or the Old North Church.
Plan your visit for a weekday morning if possible. The light is better for photos (the non-professional kind), and it’s significantly quieter. If you’re a fan of Hollywood history, pair your visit with a trip to the nearby Walt Disney Studios or Warner Bros. Discovery—they’re just a few minutes down the road, and it puts the "industry" aspect of this cemetery into perspective.
Check the weather before you go. The hills trap heat, and there isn't as much shade as you’d expect once you get away from the buildings. Bring water, stay on the paths, and take a moment to look back at the view of the valley. It’s one of the best vistas in the city, and it doesn't cost a dime to enjoy.