Is ‘Virgin River’ a Real Place? Here’s Where the Netflix Show Was Filmed

Over a month after its fourth season premiered, Virgin River has risen to take the number one spot for the most streamed show in the United States. This is the second consecutive week it has been in the top spot. Meanwhile, Stranger Things and The Gray Man have the second and third spots. Virgin River is a romantic drama that is based on a book series, of the same name, by Robyn Carr. The series follows Melinda “Mel” Monroe (Alexandra Breckenbridge), a Los Angeles nurse who accepts a job as a midwife in a remote Californian town, Virgin River. However, the town and the people are not what, or who, she expected.

Virgin River season four seemed to have really stepped it up a notch, boasting a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Some viewers describe the show as escapism. Everything, from the beautiful scenery, to the caring, idealized small town, to the dreamy couple Mel and Jack make, is a sweet, gentle break from reality. Yes, it’s a little bit soap-opera-y, but in a good way. It’s the perfect blend of romance, realism, and drama to keep viewers interested while refraining from being melodramatic.

Due to its success, Virgin River has already been renewed for a fifth season. In fact, the season started filming in July of this year. This raises the question—where does filming actually take place? After all, anyone who has read the books or watched the show, has probably, at least once, had the thought of, Hmm, maybe I should move to Virgin River. Sure, there’s a lot of drama and some shady, illegal stuff going on, but it’s an absolutely gorgeous town, far removed from the hustle and bustle most of us are familiar with. So, can you actually move to Virgin River?

Is Virgin River a real place?

Sadly, no, you can’t move to or visit Virgin River because it is not a real place. Don’t feel bad if you thought it was real, though, because a lot of people have made that same mistake. Carr, the original creator of Virgin River, revealed to Entertainment Weekly that fans write to her all the time asking if the idealized town is real. She stated:

People always write and say, “Where is it? I want to go there,” and I have to remind them that it only exists in our hearts and minds. But to further that thought, we can have that sense of community in our own neighborhood or school or church group or community center or library association. All we have to do is try to create it.

Where is Virgin River filmed?

While Virgin River itself isn’t real, many of the scenic locations you see throughout the show certainly are real. Virgin River is primarily filmed in Canada, specifically in locations across Vancouver and British Columbia. Fans of the show can actually visit a few Virgin River filming locations if they wish to do so. For example, Jack’s Bar in the show is actually The Watershed Grill in real-life, a bar located just outside Vancouver in Brackendale. Meanwhile, Doc Mullin’s clinic, where Mel works, is actually a mansion-like home located in Queen’s Park of New Westminster.

The gorgeous scenery seen in the series was filmed in a variety of locations including Snug Cove on Bowen Island, Squamish, Shannon Falls Provincial Park, Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, and North Vancouver. Even though Virgin River isn’t an actual place, a trip to Vancouver can get you to most of the Virgin River locations. The show truly highlights the beauty and appeal of various locations throughout the Canadian province of British Columbia.

(featured image: Netflix)