Since its debut in 2016, Stranger Things has become a global phenomenon, captivating audiences with its nostalgic 1980s setting, supernatural mysteries, and compelling characters. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, the series expertly blends small-town charm with chilling suspense, making viewers wonder if such a place could actually exist. But for fans asking “Where Is Stranger Things Shot?”, the answer might surprise you. While Hawkins is a creation of the Duffer Brothers, the filming locations are very real and mostly situated in the state of Georgia, USA, a popular filming hub due to its attractive tax incentives and diverse landscapes.
Although Stranger Things is geographically set in Indiana and even ventures to locations like California and Russia in later seasons, the production predominantly utilizes the versatile backdrops of Georgia. This strategic choice allows for a cohesive visual style while taking advantage of the state’s film-friendly environment. For season four, the storyline expanded, taking the characters to different in-universe locations, including Southern California (represented by Albuquerque, New Mexico), Hawkins (Atlanta, Georgia), and a Russian prison (Vilnius, Lithuania).
Ready to explore the real-world settings behind your favorite show? From everyday places transformed into iconic Stranger Things locales, here’s a guide to some filming locations you can actually visit. Just remember, while you’re exploring, watch out for any portals to the Upside Down! (Spoiler alert for the locations below).
1. Bradley’s Big Buy Grocery Store (Piggly Wiggly)
Palmetto, Georgia
Located about 25 miles southwest of Atlanta in Palmetto, Georgia, the Piggly Wiggly grocery store, formerly known as Bradley’s Big Buy, has become an unexpected tourist hotspot for Stranger Things enthusiasts. Since the show’s premiere, this unassuming grocery store has welcomed fans from around the world, all eager to stand in the aisles where Millie Bobby Brown’s character, Eleven, famously shoplifted Eggo waffles in the first season.
This location returned in the second season when the gang sought medical supplies after Eleven’s encounter with the Mind Flayer’s influence. In a dramatic scene, Billy Hargrove, controlled by the Mind Flayer, discovers Eleven’s blood in the store, initiating his relentless pursuit of her.
Despite rebranding as a Piggly Wiggly franchise in 2019, the store continues to attract devoted fans. Manager David Johnston embraces the store’s fame, even offering informal tours and pointing out Eleven’s fictional path through the store during her waffle heist, making it a must-visit for fans tracing “where is Stranger Things shot”.
2. Hawkins Police Department (Former Douglasville Town Hall)
8485 Courthouse Square W., Douglasville, Georgia
While the on-screen town of Hawkins is represented by Jackson, Georgia, the Hawkins Police Department building is situated in Douglasville, Georgia, approximately 75 minutes by car from Jackson. This recognizable building, featured prominently as Sheriff Jim Hopper’s (David Harbour) workplace, is actually the former town hall of Douglasville.
Fans looking to immerse themselves in the Stranger Things world can easily visit this location and imagine Sheriff Hopper tackling supernatural cases within its walls. The building’s classic architecture is a key element in establishing the show’s small-town American atmosphere.
3. Hawkins Laboratory (Emory University’s Briarcliff Campus)
Atlanta, Georgia
The ominous Hawkins Laboratory, a central location for many of the series’ unsettling events, is depicted by a building on Emory University’s Briarcliff Campus in Atlanta. This brutalist structure serves as the exterior for the infamous lab, where tragic incidents, including a massacre of telekinetic children, occurred. Interior scenes of Hawkins Lab were filmed on soundstages, but the exterior is instantly recognizable.
Interestingly, the Briarcliff Campus has its own intriguing history. It was once the estate of Asa Griggs “Buddie” Candler Jr., son of Coca-Cola’s co-founder, and later housed the Georgia Mental Health Institute for over three decades. While visitors cannot enter the building, the exterior remains a popular photo opportunity for fans tracing the “where is Stranger Things shot” question.
4. Starcourt Mall (Gwinnett Place Mall)
Duluth, Georgia
In Stranger Things season three, the vibrant Starcourt Mall becomes a hub of activity and a secret Russian base. The real-life Starcourt Mall is Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, Georgia. This mall had already faced challenges and closed its doors a few months before filming commenced, making it a fitting location for the storyline’s hidden secrets.
To recreate the nostalgic 1980s mall atmosphere, parts of Gwinnett Place Mall were extensively remodeled, including the reconstruction of storefronts and interiors for around 40 fictional stores. Although the interior is currently closed to the public, Gwinnett County has acquired the property with plans for redevelopment into a mixed-use space, potentially preserving elements of its Stranger Things fame.
5. Hawkins Community Pool (South Bend Pool)
Atlanta, Georgia
The Hawkins Community Pool, where Billy Hargrove worked as a lifeguard in season three, is actually the South Bend Pool in Atlanta. Conveniently located just half a mile from Screen Gems Studios, where many Stranger Things interior scenes are filmed, this real community pool served perfectly as the backdrop for summer scenes and Billy’s lifeguard storyline.
Open to the public seasonally, fans can even take a swim in the same pool featured in the series, further connecting them to the Stranger Things universe and offering a tangible answer to “where is Stranger Things shot”.
6. Stone Mountain Park
DeKalb County, Georgia
Stone Mountain Park, a sprawling 3,200-acre park located 15 miles east of Atlanta, provided the setting for many of Stranger Things‘ outdoor wooded scenes. Georgia’s most visited attraction, Stone Mountain Park, offers diverse landscapes, including forests and railroad tracks, which were utilized throughout the series.
The park’s railroad tracks are featured in season one as the kids walk along them with Eleven, and the forests serve as the backdrop for Dustin and Steve’s demodog hunt in season two. With year-round activities, Stone Mountain Park allows fans to explore the very woods where some of the show’s most memorable scenes unfolded.
7. Downtown Hawkins (Jackson, Georgia)
Jackson, Georgia
Downtown Jackson, situated approximately 50 miles south of Atlanta, serves as the primary location for the town of Hawkins itself throughout Stranger Things. This charming downtown area is where key locations like Melvald’s General Store, where Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) and Bob Newby (Sean Astin) worked, are located.
Local businesses in Jackson have embraced their connection to the show. Lucy Lu’s Coffee Cafe, which opened after the first season’s release, even created a Stranger Drinks menu inspired by the series, demonstrating the town’s welcoming attitude towards fans searching for “where is Stranger Things shot”. Key locations to visit include Melvald’s General Store at 2 Second Street and the Butts County Courthouse, used as Hawkins Library.
8. Rink-O-Mania (Roller King)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
For season four, the storyline shifts to California, and the Rink-O-Mania roller rink, a setting for a pivotal and dramatic scene, is actually Roller King in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thanks to a unique agreement, Roller King retained many of the set decorations from filming.
Roller King’s proximity to other Albuquerque locations used for the California storyline, such as Will and Eleven’s new high school and home, made it a practical choice. The rink underwent a four-month renovation for filming, transforming it into an authentic 80s roller rink. Today, fans can visit Roller King and experience a piece of the Stranger Things world, skating amidst the preserved set decor.
9. Lenora Hills High School (Eldorado High School)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Lenora Hills High School, the new school for Will, Jonathan, and Eleven in California, is represented by Eldorado High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This prestigious high school provided the backdrop for scenes depicting Eleven’s struggles to fit in and her journey to regain her powers.
Eldorado High School has prior Hollywood experience, having been featured in the first episode of Breaking Bad. Fans interested in “where is Stranger Things shot” in California can visit the exterior of Eldorado High School and recognize it as Lenora Hills High.
10. Hawkins Cemetery (Stone Mountain Cemetery)
Stone Mountain, Georgia
The emotionally charged Hawkins Cemetery, the setting for Max’s poignant monologue and confrontation with Vecna in season four, is Stone Mountain Cemetery in Stone Mountain, Georgia. This historic cemetery, established in the 1850s, with graves dating back to the Civil War, provided a somber and atmospheric location for these critical scenes.
It’s worth noting that Will Byers’ funeral scene in season one was filmed at Bethany Cemetery in Fayetteville, demonstrating the show’s use of multiple locations even for similar settings. Stone Mountain Cemetery offers another tangible point of connection for fans exploring “where is Stranger Things shot”.
11. Surfer Boy Pizza (Aliberto’s Mexican Food)
3476 NM-47, Los Lunas, New Mexico
Surfer Boy Pizza, the workplace of season four fan-favorite Argyle (Eduardo Franco), is actually Aliberto’s Mexican Food in Los Lunas, New Mexico. This unexpected location serves up authentic New Mexican cuisine and doubles as the exterior for the pizza place in the show.
While you can’t order Surfer Boy Pizza here, you can enjoy delicious New Mexican dishes. For those craving a slice of Surfer Boy Pizza, frozen versions are available at Walmarts nationwide, bridging the fictional pizza place with the real world.
12. Kamchatka Prison (Lukiškės Prison)
Vilnius, Lithuania
The chilling Kamchatka Prison, where Hopper is imprisoned in Russia in season four, is actually Lukiškės Prison in Vilnius, Lithuania. This historic prison, built in 1904, provided a stark and authentic setting for the Russian prison storyline.
Lukiškės Prison operated for over a century before being transformed into a cultural space, Lukiškės Prison 2.0, in 2019. Ironically, this former prison now houses a music venue, artist residencies, and a dance club. Fans interested in the international locations of “where is Stranger Things shot” can explore Lukiškės Prison and its unique history.
From the familiar streets of Hawkins to far-flung locations representing California and Russia, Stranger Things utilizes a diverse range of filming locations to bring its captivating story to life. For fans wondering “where is Stranger Things shot?”, the answer is a fascinating journey through Georgia, New Mexico, and even Lithuania, offering a real-world connection to the beloved series. Exploring these locations provides a unique way to experience the magic of Stranger Things and appreciate the artistry behind creating its immersive world.
