The waterfall seen during the opening sequences is the Wailua Falls in Kauai, Hawaii.
The network wanted Orson Welles for Mr. Roarke, but Spelling rejected him, knowing of his irritable nature on sets. He also rejected the idea of a sexy female sidekick to join Roarke and Tattoo.
The plane that was used on this show was up for auction in the 1990s. Before this show, this plane was also owned by Richard D. Bach, author of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull".
Aaron Spelling admitted the original pitch was a joke. Spelling and production partner Leonard Goldberg were pitching ideas to ABC executive Brandon Stoddard. After the executive rejected all of their plans, at least six in all, Spelling blurted out: "What do you want? An island that people can go to and all of their sexual fantasies will be realized?" Stoddard loved the idea.
Very little is known about the man known only as Mr. Roarke. Many people close to him, including past lovers, have referred to him only as "Roarke". He is the sole owner and proprietor of Fantasy Island, and his age is a complete mystery. In the pilot, he comments how the guests who come to his island are "so mortal", and there are hints throughout the series that suggest Roarke may be immortal.