Where Was Vampire Diaries Filmed? Unmasking Mystic Falls' Real-Life Home

For many of us, the town of Mystic Falls felt like a second home, a place where supernatural drama and heartfelt connections played out on our screens for years. It was a place brimming with vampires, witches, and werewolves, all living out their lives in a seemingly ordinary small town in Virginia. Yet, a lot of fans, well, they often wonder about the real spot behind all that on-screen magic. So, where was Vampire Diaries filmed, you might ask? It's a question that brings up a bit of curiosity for anyone who loved the show, especially when you think about visiting such an iconic place.

The hit TV series, "The Vampire Diaries," which ran from 2009 to 2017, truly captured the hearts of many, and its setting, Mystic Falls, Virginia, felt incredibly real. But here's a fun fact for you, the actual place isn't in Virginia at all! It's actually a charming, quite thriving town in Georgia. This little bit of information is often a pleasant surprise for fans who are hoping to walk in the footsteps of their favorite characters.

This article is here to take you on a little tour, more or less, of the actual places where the magic happened. We'll explore the main spots that brought Mystic Falls to life, giving you the lowdown on the real-world locations that became so familiar to viewers. It's really quite something to see how a fictional town can become so real, and we'll explore some of the places that made it happen.

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Table of Contents

• The True Heart of Mystic Falls: Covington, Georgia
  • Hollywood of the South
  • Iconic Spots You Can Visit in Covington
  • Staying in Mystic Falls
• The Salvatore House: Its Real-World Counterpart
• The Pilot Episode: A Different Beginning
• Why Georgia Became the Home of Vampires
• The Originals and Its Georgia Roots
• Frequently Asked Questions About Filming Locations

The True Heart of Mystic Falls: Covington, Georgia

Vampire Diaries was primarily filmed in Covington, Georgia. This small town, about an hour's drive from Atlanta, truly stood in for the fictional Mystic Falls, Virginia. It's almost uncanny how well it fit the description of a classic American small town, with its charming square and historic buildings. Fans can actually visit this town in real life by traveling to Covington, GA, which is about a forty-minute drive east of Atlanta, Georgia. This town, in a way, became the doppelgänger for the show's setting, offering a very tangible connection to the series.

From the second season onward, the production settled into Covington, making it the consistent backdrop for the next seven seasons of the show. So, if you were watching the series during its run from 2009 to 2017, the quaint streets and historic homes you saw were, in fact, those of Covington. It's quite something to think about how a real place could become so ingrained in the minds of viewers as a fictional one.

Hollywood of the South

Covington, Georgia, might be a small town, but it's known as the "Hollywood of the South" for very good reason. This nickname isn't just for show; it's a testament to the amount of filming that has taken place there over the years. Shows like "In the Heat of the Night" were filmed here long before the vampires arrived, but "The Vampire Diaries" really cemented its newest claim to fame. It's a place that, apparently, just looks good on camera, drawing in productions that need that classic American town feel.

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The appeal of Covington goes beyond just its looks, though. Georgia, as a whole, has attracted Hollywood because of its tax breaks. This means that filming in the Peach State can be more financially appealing for production companies. So, while the look of Covington was perfect for Mystic Falls, the economic benefits of filming in Georgia certainly played a part in the decision to move production there after the pilot. It's a combination of aesthetics and practicality, really.

Iconic Spots You Can Visit in Covington

For fans who want to truly experience where "The Vampire Diaries" was filmed, Covington offers several recognizable locations that you can visit. One of the most famous, arguably, is the Mystic Grill. In the show, it was the local hangout spot for everyone, human or supernatural, and in real life, fans can visit the Mystic Grill, which has become a popular attraction. It's pretty cool to walk into a place that felt so familiar from the screen.

Beyond the Grill, there are other spots that were used countless times throughout the series. The Lockwood Mansion, for instance, was a very prominent location on the show. Guests are given unrivaled access to the filming locations of "The Vampire Diaries" from the first season to the final season, and the Lockwood Mansion has been used on the show countless times. It's a building that, in a way, holds so many memories for fans of the series. You can also visit places like Scoops, which also played a part in the town's life.

For those really wanting to see it all, tours are available. According to Explore Georgia, "Vampire Stalkers" run the Mystic Falls tour, as well as tours that focus on other aspects of the show's filming. This means you can get a guided experience, learning more about the specific scenes that took place in various spots around town. It's a very hands-on way to connect with the series you love. You can learn more about visiting Georgia's film locations on the Explore Georgia site.

Staying in Mystic Falls

Imagine staying right where the action happened! Now, you can actually stay where "The Vampire Diaries" was filmed at the Twelve Oaks Mansion in Covington, Georgia. This grand home served as a backdrop for various scenes and now offers accommodations, giving fans a truly immersive experience. It's a pretty unique opportunity to literally sleep in a place that appeared on your favorite show.

This mansion, like much of Covington, contributes to the town's reputation as the "Hollywood of the South." Its historical beauty and grand architecture made it a perfect fit for the fictional world of Mystic Falls. So, if you're planning a trip to see where "The Vampire Diaries" was filmed, considering a stay at the Twelve Oaks Mansion could be a very memorable part of your visit. It's more than just a place to sleep; it's a piece of the show's history.

The Salvatore House: Its Real-World Counterpart

The iconic Salvatore House, where Damon and Stefan often lived and plotted, was another key location for the series. The filming for the scenes regarding the Salvatore House took place in the Glenridge Hall Mansion in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Sandy Springs is a city located north of Atlanta, so it was still within a reasonable distance from the main production hub in Covington. It's interesting how different parts of Georgia came together to create one seamless fictional town.

This mansion provided the perfect stately and somewhat mysterious feel for the brothers' home. It was a place that, in a way, felt like a character itself, witnessing countless dramatic moments and intimate conversations. While Glenridge Hall itself might have a different story now, its role in bringing the Salvatore brothers' home to life is pretty unforgettable for fans. It's just one more example of how Georgia's architecture played a big part in the show's visual identity.

The Pilot Episode: A Different Beginning

While Covington, Georgia, became the enduring home of "The Vampire Diaries" for most of its run, the very first episode actually had a different starting point. Initially, the show was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This is a common practice for pilot episodes, as productions often test out locations before committing to a long-term base. So, that very first glimpse of Mystic Falls was, in fact, Vancouver.

However, following the first episode, production moved to Covington, Georgia, which acted as Mystic Falls for the next seven seasons. This shift meant that the look and feel of the town became consistent throughout the majority of the series, giving fans a very familiar backdrop. It's a bit of a fun fact to share with fellow fans, knowing that the show's origins were actually in a different country before finding its true home in Georgia.

Why Georgia Became the Home of Vampires

Hollywood has flocked to the Peach State for its tax breaks, and this was a significant factor in "The Vampire Diaries" choosing Georgia as its primary filming location. These incentives make it more cost-effective for television and film productions to operate within the state. It's a pretty smart move for studios looking to manage their budgets while still finding visually appealing locations.

Beyond the financial benefits, Georgia offers a diverse range of landscapes and architectural styles that can stand in for various American towns. Covington, with its classic Southern charm, was a natural fit for the quaint yet mysterious Mystic Falls. So, it wasn't just about the money; it was also about finding a place that genuinely looked the part, and Georgia, apparently, had just what they needed. This combination of practical and aesthetic appeal made it a very strong choice.

The Originals and Its Georgia Roots

For fans of "The Vampire Diaries," the spin-off series, "The Originals," also holds a special place. And, interestingly enough, "The Originals" was primarily filmed around Atlanta, mostly in the city of Olde Town Conyers in Georgia. This town is dubbed as the "New Orleans' French Quarter" for the show, showcasing Georgia's versatility in portraying different settings. It's pretty cool how one state can stand in for so many different places.

This connection further solidifies Georgia's role as a major hub for supernatural television series. The fact that both "The Vampire Diaries" and its successful spin-off found their filming homes in the same state speaks volumes about the resources and locations available there. It's almost like Georgia has become a go-to place for vampire lore on screen, a very fitting legacy for the state.

Frequently Asked Questions About Filming Locations

Is Mystic Falls a real place in Virginia?

No, Mystic Falls is a fictitious place, a town created for the show. While the series is set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the actual location in "The Vampire Diaries" is in a small but thriving town, Covington, Georgia. So, the real Mystic Falls isn't in Virginia, but it isn't too far from that in terms of its general region.

Can fans visit the filming locations of "The Vampire Diaries"?

Yes, absolutely! Fans can visit the real hometown of "The Vampire Diaries," Covington, Georgia, where much of the series was filmed. You can visit the Mystic Grill, Scoops, and the Lockwood Mansion. There are also tours, like those run by Vampire Stalkers, that give you unrivaled access to the filming locations from the first season to the final season. It's a very popular destination for fans, apparently.

When was "The Vampire Diaries" filmed?

The filming of "The Vampire Diaries" series started in 2008 and continued until 2016. The show itself premiered on September 10, 2009, on The CW and ultimately ended on March 10, 2017. So, while the show aired for many years, the actual production took place over roughly eight years, bringing us all those beloved episodes.

So, as you can see, the enchanting world of Mystic Falls, Virginia, actually comes to life in Covington, Georgia. This small town, with its charming streets and historic buildings, became the very real backdrop for the supernatural drama that captivated millions. From the Mystic Grill to the Lockwood Mansion, fans can genuinely walk through the places that felt so familiar on screen. It's a pretty unique opportunity to connect with the series in a very tangible way.

If you're a devoted fan, considering a trip to Covington could be a truly memorable experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the world of "The Vampire Diaries" like never before. You can learn more about visiting film locations on our site, and perhaps even plan your own adventure to this very special town. For more insights into the world of TV show settings, you might want to check out this page about iconic TV show homes.