Fans of the gripping series “Mayor of Kingstown” often find themselves wondering about the authenticity of its setting. Is Kingstown, Michigan, a real place, or is it a creation for the screen? Before we delve into where “Mayor of Kingstown” is filmed, it’s essential to clarify this key point.
Kingstown, Michigan, as depicted in the show, is indeed a fictional town. However, like many compelling fictional settings, it draws inspiration from a real-world location. According to Decider, Kingstown is actually based on the city of Kingston, Ontario, in Canada.
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Hugh Dillon, the co-creator of “Mayor of Kingstown,” has personal ties to this inspiration. Growing up in Kingston, Ontario, Dillon experienced firsthand the unique dynamic of a town deeply intertwined with the prison system. In an interview with Newsweek, he shared insights into his upbringing: “You know, as a kid, my mom was a teacher my friend’s parents were prison guards, one was a warden, other friends were convicts and it was, you know, in this perfectly cultivated civilized world there’s this brutality and these institutions.” This duality, the juxtaposition of everyday life with the harsh realities of incarceration, forms the core of Kingstown’s narrative.
Kingston’s history with prisons is extensive. Queen’s University Library notes that as of 2018, Kingston still housed six active penitentiaries. The most notorious among them is Kingston Penitentiary, which operated from 1835 to 2013 and has since become a site for public tours. This real-world backdrop heavily influences the atmosphere and storylines of “Mayor of Kingstown.”
For fans intrigued by the show’s setting, visiting Kingston Penitentiary in Canada offers a tangible connection to the series’ inspiration. The authenticity of the prison environment in the show is further enhanced by the fact that actual prisons were used for filming. Let’s explore this further.
Filming Inside Real Walls: Mayor of Kingstown’s Prison Sets
What contributes to the raw and authentic feel of “Mayor of Kingstown”? A significant factor is that many prison scenes were filmed within the walls of the actual Kingston Penitentiary, as reported by Atlas of Wonders.
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Kingston Penitentiary, often called “Kingston Pen,” provides a genuinely imposing and historically rich setting. Its availability for tours and potential redevelopment adds another layer of intrigue for fans wanting to experience the show’s atmosphere firsthand.
Beyond the iconic prison, “Mayor of Kingstown” utilizes a range of locations to bring its fictional Michigan town to life. But was Michigan itself a filming location?
Beyond Michigan: Unveiling the True Filming Locations
Despite being set in Michigan, “Mayor of Kingstown” wasn’t primarily filmed there. So, where is “Mayor of Kingstown” really filmed?
The series primarily utilized locations in Ontario, Canada, specifically Toronto and the post-industrial city of Hamilton, as detailed by Atlas of Wonders.
Toronto offers a diverse urban landscape that stands in for various Kingstown settings. Fans can even visit some recognizable spots. The Lakeview Restaurant in Toronto, for instance, transformed into the “Red Carriage Diner” in the show. This location, situated on Dundas Street, has also appeared in productions like “The Shape of Water” and “The Boondock Saints.”
jail set with rolling bars and cots
Another notable Toronto location is the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant in Scarborough, which served as the exterior for the prison where the McLusky family matriarch works. This Art Deco building boasts a film-friendly resume, having appeared in movies like “In the Mouth of Madness” and “Half Baked.”
Hamilton, Ontario, played a crucial role in establishing the overall look of Kingstown. Atlas of Wonders highlights Hamilton as the backdrop for many establishing shots of Kingstown. Its post-industrial aesthetic allows it to convincingly double for Detroit, Michigan, in numerous Canadian productions and in “Mayor of Kingstown.” The city’s bridges and waterfront areas are prominently featured, creating the visual identity of Kingstown. Even a drive between Hamilton and Toronto may reveal familiar sights from the series.
Season 2 and the Shift to Pittsburgh
After establishing its look in Ontario, “Mayor of Kingstown” shifted filming locations for its second season. Where is “Mayor of Kingstown” season 2 filmed?
Season two relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hugh Dillon explained to Trib Live that Pittsburgh became the new home for the series, and it appears to be a long-term move. “We wanted to scale up for season two,” Dillon stated. “Pittsburgh had all of these decommissioned prisons. And when I scouted it (again for season two), I just fell in love with it. That place is it. We got 10 seasons mapped out. So yeah, we’re not leaving. ‘Kingstown’ will never leave Pittsburgh.”
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Lake Erie provided the setting for all water scenes in season two. Crucially, Pittsburgh offered access to two abandoned prisons: SCI Pittsburgh and SCI Greensburg, which became the primary locations for prison interiors and related scenes.
In Conclusion: While Kingstown, Michigan, is fictional, its spirit is rooted in the reality of towns like Kingston, Ontario. The filming of “Mayor of Kingstown” has spanned across Ontario and now Pittsburgh, utilizing real locations, including decommissioned prisons, to enhance the show’s gritty realism. This commitment to authentic settings significantly contributes to the immersive experience for viewers as they explore the complex world of “Mayor of Kingstown.”
If you appreciate the realistic locations in “Mayor of Kingston”, you might also be interested in discovering the filming locations of “Yellowstone“!
