The setting of Netflix's Stranger Things couldn't be more perfect, with the small town of Hawkins, Indiana hiding the dark, sinister, and terrifying Upside Down that changes all the main characters' lives. It's heartwarming when Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) appears at Benny's Burgers, meets Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), and becomes part of the community. While a TV show's setting is always important for establishing tone and feeling, Stranger Things does a particularly great job of showing that this is supposed to be a sleepy small town where nothing ever happens.
Is Hawkins a real place, or is there another town where the majority of the show's scenes are shot? What about when season 4 switches up the setting and features Jim Hopper (David Harbour) in prison and the Byers living their new lives in California? It's fun to learn about the real-life filming locations of Stranger Things.
Georgia Stands In For Hawkins, Indiana
According to Atlas Of Wonders, Stranger Things is filmed in Georgia. This is true of all 4 seasons that feature scenes in Hawkins, Indiana. In season 4, when the main characters spend a lot of time at the house that once belonged to Victor Creel, the real-life location is Claremont House, which was built in 1882 and is located at 906 E 2nd Avenue in Rome, Georgia.
Some of the best Stranger Things scenes take place in downtown Hawkins, as the characters investigate the weirdness happening in their hometown and bond with each other. The Butts County Probate Court is the filming location for the Hawkins Library and downtown Hawkins scenes, including Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder)'s job at Melvald's General Store, are shot in Jackson, Georgia.
Season 4 Was Filmed In Lithuania And Albuquerque
One of the best Stranger Things season 4 storylines was when Joyce and Murray (Brett Gelman) team up to save Hopper. According to Atlas Of Wonders, the season 4 scenes where Hopper has been taken prisoner in Russia were filmed in Lithuania. These scenes were filmed at what used to be a real prison called Lukiškės Prison in Vilnius, Lithuania. It definitely looks like a sad and terrifying place to spend time, which drives home how miserable Hopper is but how he never gives up hope.
While Stranger Things season 4 episodes are long, they do establish the distance between Mike and Eleven as she and the Byers family relocate to Lenora, Hills California. Atlas Of Wonders reported that these season 4 scenes were filmed in Albuquerque. When Eleven punches a bully at the Rink-O-Mania roller rink, the real place is called Skate-O-Mania. The high school scenes are filmed at Eldorado High School. And the address of the house where the Byers begin living is 13212 Montgomery Boulevard NE in Glenwood Hills, Albuquerque.
Hawkins National Laboratory Scenes Were Filmed At The Georgia Mental Health Institute
According to Arch Paper, the Georgia Mental Health Institute (GMHI) was used as the filming location for the Hawkins National Laboratory. Emory University bought the hospital and the surrounding area, which has 42 acres, when the hospital closed down in 1997. The publication reported that as of September 2022, Emory was planning to tear down the building.
This was the perfect filming location for the Hawkins Lab, as the exterior of the building looks tense and menacing, which suggests the horrors that have gone on inside as Eleven rebels throughout Stranger Things and refuses to be manipulated by Dr. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine). The outside of the building definitely sets the right tone.
Where Else Was Stranger Things Filmed?
Several Stranger Things filming locations including Benny's Burgers from the pilot episode, which was shot at Tiffany's Kitchen, which is located in Lithia Springs, Georgia at 7413 Lee Road. Some of the most memorable locations, including Merill's pumpkin patch and Hopper's cabin, can be found at the Sleepy Hollow Farm, which is close to Powder Springs.
Another important filming location is the Starcourt Mall from season 3. These scenes were filmed near Atlanta in a town called Duluth at the Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth. This is the setting for many big moments, including the introduction of Maya Hawke's character Robin Buckley, who is spirited, smart, and a great addition to the cast. Like Argyle (Eduardo Franco) in season 4, Robin feels like a seamless character who fits in perfectly with the already established friend group.
According to Atlas Of Wonders, the house where Billy (Dacre Montgomery) and Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) live is located in Stone Mountain, Georgia at 5280 Moore Street. The Stranger Things houses are mostly located in East Point, Georgia. This includes the homes where Barb (Shannon Purser), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), and Mike Wheeler live. Those addresses are 2980 Piney Wood Drive and 2530 Piney Wood Lane.
Several scenes are shot at Screen Gem Studios, which is located in Atlanta, Georgia. That includes any scenes inside the Hawkins Lab and also the inside of the Byers and Wheeler houses. These settings all work together well and make Hawkins a place Eleven is determined to save.