Where Was The Vampire Diaries Filmed
The Vampire Diaries was a very popular TV series with teenagers. It spanned eight seasons and took place in the fictional Mystic Falls, Virginia. The series began in 2009 and finished in 2017. But where was The Vampire Diaries filmed? Because of its supernatural plot, you might think it would take place somewhere in New England. Maybe Massachusetts since it’s where the Salem witch trials were held. In this case, we are going a little further south.
Where Was The Vampire Diaries Filmed
The Vampire Diaries was filmed mainly in Covington, Georgia, whose historic town square became Mystic Falls. The pilot episode was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, before production moved to Georgia, and other scenes were filmed around the Atlanta area.
The Story Behind The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries is based on a series of books written by L.J Smith that were published between 1991 and 1992. The story is set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. The town in the story has a lot of supernatural history.
The series is about a teenage girl, Elena Gilbert, who loses both her parents in a car accident. She falls in love with Stefan Salvatore, a 162-year-old vampire. Eventually a love triangle starts between Stefan and his brother, Damon, who returns to Mystic Falls. Both brothers fall in love with Elena and want to protect her from the evils in the town.
Damon has never recovered from the fact that his brother, Stefan, turned him into a vampire. It is for this reason that he goes after Elena.
The Cast
The Vampire Diaries cast includes Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Candice King, Kat Graham, Zach Roerig, Michael Trevino, and Matthew Davis to name just a few.
The Director
The Vampire Diaries was developed for TV by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on the books by L.J. Smith. Marcos Siega directed the pilot, and Williamson and Plec ran the show across its 8 seasons.
Other TV Shows and Their Film Locations
Can You Visit The Set of The Vampire Diaries?
There’s no official Vampire Diaries set tour but you can visit many of the places that were in the series.
For instance, there is now a real Mystic Grill restaurant at 1116 Clark Street SW in Covington. It was opened by local owners inspired by the show, and the show’s Mystic Grill interior was a set.
Other Vampire Diaries excursions you can take include Lockwood Mansion, 12 Oaks Bed & Breakfast, the Gilbert House, and Gram’s House.
FAQs About The Vampire Diaries TV Series
Where is the Salvatore mansion located?
Glenridge Hall in Sandy Springs, Georgia played the outside of the original Salvatore Boarding House. Its interior was recreated on a soundstage, and the real house was demolished in 2015.
How old is Elena in Season 1?
The character, Elena, was 17 years old in Season 1. The actress, Nina Dobrev, was 20 years old when she was cast for the part.
Final Thoughts
Georgia has a lot to offer if you enjoy hiking, swimming, and other outdoor activities. The weather is great most of the time. In fact, because it’s nice and warm, you can plan to pack light! I should note that it has been known to get snow in the winter.
It’s also very inexpensive to visit Georgia. You can get by on $30-35 a day depending on your activities. The best time to visit Georgia is May, June, or September. These months are not as warm as the summer months.
Have you ever been to Georgia? Would you go to visit the Vampire Diaries locations? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Jay Neill
Jay Neill is the founder and managing editor of iFILMthings and believes everyone should have access to the film resources they need to plan their filmmaking project, which is why he’s dedicated iFILMthings to helping all filmmakers.