Adjacent to Paramount studios in the heart of Hollywood, L.A.’s Hollywood Forever Cemetery is best known as the place where some of Hollywood’s brightest stars are interred.  But locals also know it as one of the area’s oldest and best-loved places to celebrate L.A. culture.

The historic burial ground was built in 1899 on 100 acres of land as “Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery.”  By the end of the 20th century, the cemetery had become run down, and the owners nearly declared bankruptcy at one point.  But in 1998, the plot of land was purchased by Forever Enterprises, revamped, and reopened as “Hollywood Forever Cemetery”  (the film “The Young and the Dead,” released two years later, documents the transformation).

Today, the sprawling and lushly-landscaped plot hosts crypts, mausoleums, monuments, exhibitions, and gardens.  It offers several unique services, including live funeral webcasts and “LifeStory” tributes for the deceased.  But in addition to being the place where the famous (still) go to die, Hollywood Forever has earned a place in Angelenos’ hearts as an under-the-radar recreational venue.  The cemetery’s seasonal late-night movie screenings, hosted by Cinespia, have become an L.A. tradition.  Each summer, hundreds of visitors gather on the cemetery’s lawn to watch cult classics projected onto the side of buildings.  And for the past ten years, Hollywood Forever has been home to one of L.A.’s biggest Dia De Los Muertos celebrations, which features an impressive range of performances, art exhibits and demonstrations, in addition to authentic food and crafts.

Hollywood Forever also caters to history buffs — visitors can choose from several historical walking tours, hosted by Karie Bible, a fittingly-mysterious woman who was born on Halloween with two different colored eyes, and also happens to be a film historian.   Naturally, the subject is the subject of countless legends, including one about a mysterious woman in black who brings flowers to Rudolph Valentino’s crypt.

Whether a final resting place or a date night destination, the cemetery has definitely cemented its place in L.A. cultural in recent years.