Filming Locations Guide: Where is Riverdale filmed?
Welcome to the best guide to the filming locations of the series that you can find. Riverdale was filmed in and around Vancouver in British Columbia. The real Riverdale town location and the iconic Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe are intentionally ambiguous; It could be anywhere in the American Midwest, or along the Eastern Seaboard, or even a place in Canada, or a suburb in New York. According to Jughead's Double Digest magazine “Riverdale is more of a state of mind than an actual physical location”.
Everything looks perfect in the town with Pep, but nothing is as it seems. Riverdale is based on a darker, updated version of the classic American comic book of the same name, sharing universe with the new Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Everything looks perfect in the town with Pep, but nothing is as it seems. Riverdale is based on a darker, updated version of the classic American comic book of the same name, sharing universe with the new Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
The CW Network series revolves around the stories of romance, school, and mysteries of a medium-sized fictional town of Riverdale where Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and friends are living. The cast is led by the quartet of young actors K.J. Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, and Cole Sprouse.Archie and his gang are back for Season 5 with new adventures, and also new filming locations. We will be updating every week this report with new information and details of this intriguing show, set to be visually stunning. Over three seasons we've tried to keep spoilers at bay, and I think we've done a pretty good job:
Rocko's Diner is the real Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe
The restaurant Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe was built in a set located in the parking lot of the studio in Langley. You can go there and see it from the street! However, the pilot was filmed in Rocko’s Family Diner. This is the real inspiration for the popular hangout, that you can also visit in Mission, BC. In the series, the underground bar La Bonne Nuit is housed underneath Pop's - probably the speakeasy is also a set built in the studios.
(You can open all the locations on a Map by clicking on the link below in the captions ↴)
Image courtesy of The CW and Google Maps
Image courtesy of The CW and Google Maps
Our favorite High School is actually an amalgam of several locations. The exterior of the Riverdale High School was filmed at Lord Byng Secondary School in the West Point Grey neighborhood of Vancouver. Some interior rooms and the corridors were shot at the Burnaby Mountain Secondary School.
Image courtesy of CW - Maps: Lord Byng - Burnaby Mountain
The gymnasium where the Vixens train is located at the John Oliver Secondary School in Vancouver (pictured). The football games and some other outdoor scenes took place in the field near this school in Kerrisdale Park at Bear Creek Park in Surrey.
Image courtesy of CW - Maps: John Oliver - Bear Creek Park
The hall from the Point Grey Secondary School in Kerrisdale was the venue for several performances. Here was filmed the ball from one of the first episodes, a Josie and the Pussycats gig and Carrie: The Musical (S02E18).
The house of Archie and his father Fred Andrews (played by Luke Perry) is located at 2037 East 3rd Avenue in Vancouver.
Image by courtesy of CW - Map
The Permanent building in downtown Vancouver is the magnificent set of The Pembrooke. The luxurious apartment of Veronica's family is an elegant 1906 heritage loft that used to be a bank. Today it has been preserved and restored to serve as the venue for weddings and special events.
Image by courtesy of CW and Google Maps
The house of Betty Cooper is located at 111 Queens Ave in New Westminster.
Image by courtesy of CW - Map
Thornhill, the first Blossom Mansion, was filmed in two different properties. The main one is Copper Stone Mansion in South Langley, which served as the family residence until the end of season 1. The lower picture shows the Cecil Green Park House at the University of British Columbia, used only for the pilot (and the Bly Manor house). The interior and the pool of the house party were shot at the Minnekhada Lodge in Coquitlam.
Image by BC Locations and Wyn Lok - Maps: Copper Stone - Cecil Green - Minnekhada Lodge
The new Blossom Manor in season 2, called Thistle House, is also situated on the outskirts of Langley. This is the same location used for the Salvatore Boarding House in The Vampire Diaries pilot episode. Image courtesy of CW - Map
Blossom Maple Farms may look familiar as the location is the same as the Kent farm from Smallville (890 248 St in Aldergrove near Langley). This is the same farm near a town called Athens where Archie and Jughead arrive in the 3rd season episode titled 'The Man in Black' (S03E07). Image courtesy of CW - Map
Andrew's construction office was set near the Lighthouse Cafe in Mission. You can still see some of the elements used in the set in Google Maps (lower pic). Image courtesy of CW and Google Maps
The historic Fort Langley Community Hall appears in several episodes doubling as Riverdale's Town Hall. Image by Google Maps
The establishing shot of the town of Riverdale from the intro in every episode is aerial footage filmed at Harbor Springs in Michigan, in the United States. Image courtesy of CW - Map
The Sheriff's Office exterior that appears in the intro was shot in the Canada Post Office at 33191 1st Ave in Mission. However, the Ladner village post office in Delta served as the Riverdale Sheriff’s Office for the second season.
Image courtesy of CW - Maps: Mission / Ladner
Gabby's Country Cabaret in Langley was turned into the Whyte Wyrm, the local hangout of the Southside Serpents and the Ghoulies gangs. Image by CW and Google Maps
In S01E06 Betty and Jughead were visiting the Sisters of Quiet Mercy, recorded at the old Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam. This large mental health facility reappears in Season 3. The location was used in Season 2 as Southside High, during the protests when the school is about to be turned into a prison. Exteriors for Southside High were filmed at James Kennedy Elementary School in Langley. Image by courtesy of CW and Google Maps
Outdoors for the Sweetwater river were shot around Alouette Lake, in Golden Ears Provincial Park, and Alice Lake in Squamish. Some more secondary locations from Season 1 are: Rebel Without a Cause was the last movie projected at Aldergrove's Twilight Drive-in in S01E04. The Port Moody Station Museum served as Riverdale bus station. The City Centre Motor Hotel in Vancouver doubled as the Mustang's Motel from episode 8.
Image courtesy of CW - Map
The New Locations from the Second Season Onwards
Fort Langley Marina Park (pictured) appears several times in season 2. Some other scenes in Fort Langley were filmed at Jacob Haldi Bridge (S02E22), Mavis Ave, and Church Street. The exterior of the Riverdale's hospital in the season premiere is the Wayward Pines Academy building recycled, located at Kerrina Dr in Coquitlam. The dream wedding scene was filmed at Barnet Marine Park in Burnaby.
Image courtesy of CW - Marina Park / Hospital / Barnet Marine Park
The temple used for Veronica's confirmation with the Lodges is the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Vancouver. At the end of the midseason 2 finale, there is a key scene filmed at the old Albion Ferry exit in Fort Langley, that in the series looks like a bridge.
Image courtesy of CW - Maps: Church - Albion Ferry
Cheryl (played by Madelaine Petsch) goes with some friends to the movies at The Park Theatre on Cambie Street, also in Vancouver (S2E14). The cabin in the woods by the lake (the Lodge Lodge) from this episode was recorded at Fairweather Lodge in Cowan’s Point, Bowen Island. The funeral from S2E19 was set at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.
The prison and the fighting pit in an empty pool from season 3 were the former site of Burnaby Youth Correction Center (Willingdon at Canada Way). The trial was filmed in one of the buildings of Vancouver Art Gallery, the old Vancouver Law Courts.
Image courtesy of CW - Maps: Correction Center / Art Gallery
The motel featured in several episodes of season 4 is the Pacific Inn Resort in Surrey, also known as the Pink Palace. This former hotel closed in 2018 but remains open to production companies to film in this large property located just north of the U.S./Canada border with a swimming pool, 420 parking stalls, 150 hotel rooms, and an airplane hanger sized atrium.
Image courtesy of CW - Map
Is the Stonewall Prep manor from season 4 a real place or is it just a CGI image? Can you help to improve this article about the shooting locations of Riverdale? To complete and correct this report, any feedback, info or images that you may have are more than welcome, thank you!
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Betty Coopers house is 111 Queens Avenue in New Westminster, BC
ReplyDeleteCool, Thanks a lot Meg!
DeleteBetty’s house looks like the house in Blue Bloods. Is it?
DeleteCheryl's house is the Cecil Green Park House at UBC.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot!
DeleteThe Sherriff's department exterior is a building on main Street in Mission BC, I believe it used to be an old Post office.
ReplyDeleteThanks, updated!
DeleteIt still is the Post Office.
DeleteSource: I live in Mission, BC.
pretty sure the football field in episode 2 is ubc!
ReplyDeleteNo it's at Bear Creek Park in Surrey (I think it's Surrey)
DeleteThe lunch scenes at the picnic tables in episode 1 are also at Point Grey Secondary
ReplyDeleteIn the episode "Chapter Five: Heart of Darkness," Archie visits a songwriting teacher named Oscar. The exterior establishing shot for Oscar's location was shot at University of Southern California, specifically the PE Building there.
ReplyDeleteThe train station at the beginning of the pilot is in Fort Langley.
ReplyDeleteI'll second that.
DeleteI believe that they are walking along the Coquitlam river in Port Coquitlam while they are out looking for Betty's sister 'Polly"
ReplyDeleteI believe the Riverdale sign is on a bridge on Chilliwack Lake road and the lake and part of the river is Chilliwack Lake and Chilliwack River
ReplyDeleteI second that opinion. I also thought Chilliwack river immediately
DeleteEpisode 9 when Archie is talking to Val is outside Fort Langley Cemetery
ReplyDeleteWheres the trailer park Jughead dad lives in?
ReplyDeleteWanna know that tooo!
DeleteThere's constant filming being done at a house on 208th St and approx 100th ave in Langley, is this Riverdale too?
ReplyDeletesouth side high is James Kennedy Elementary in langley
ReplyDeletePretty sure They were filming on 208 st near 98th Ave in langley on aug17-18.
ReplyDeleteI know where the Blossom's real house is and where the trailer is but I'm not telling! :) This isn't totally accurate.
ReplyDeleteIs someone knows where will be next filming
Deletethe bus station jughead goes to at the end of season one is the port moody museum in port moody
ReplyDeleteThe blossom manor interiors/house party scenes and out by the pool were filmed at the minnekhada lodge in coquitlam
ReplyDeleteWhere are the studios in Vancouver located? Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteThe studios are located at 20146 100A Avenue in Langley
DeleteDo you know if they allow tours of the studios?
DeleteNo they do not, it is closed to the public.
DeleteDoes anyone know if the actors come out for photos and autographs while on breaks from filming at this studio?
DeleteI’ve seen them go outside gabby’s For pictures and autographs before
DeleteRiveredale Hospital/Wayward pines academy is on the Riverview Mental Hospital site.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.ca/maps/@49.247345,-122.8076877,3a,75y,293.82h,88.61t,359.97r/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0VFlC4nCn1GvrlDto71R6Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
Thanks for your help, updated!
DeleteIt's pretty hard to tell from Google Street View. Kevin Keller's house is located at 8904 Nash St. in Langley.
ReplyDeletewhere i can send the fan post ? exist there any official address
ReplyDeletethanks for answer my question
Where they catch the black hood in season 2 midseason finale is the old ferry exit in fort langley
ReplyDelete-Breanne & Dan
Thanks for this one!
Deletewhere is lodge lodge
ReplyDelete^^^ I'm interested as to where it is also!!!
DeleteAs far as we know, in Bowen Island.
DeleteFilming in Abbotsford Sept 24/18
ReplyDeleteThey also filmed the musical episode at The Act in Maple Ridge
ReplyDeleteWhere is the filming location of La Bonne Nuit?
ReplyDeleteWe reckon that La Bonne Nuit is just a set built in the studios in Langley.
DeleteDoes anyone recognize the tattoo Penny Peabody's office is located in? Season 2 episode 2
ReplyDeleteFun Fact: Where the Riverdale studio is located on 100A Avenue in Langley is actually quite popular for filming - "Supergirl" is in the studio next door... and "The 100" shoots in the studio across the street.
ReplyDeleteSeason 2 episode 22 When the Serpents leave the south side they are crossing the Jacob Haldi Bridge in Fort Langley. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/23/f5/c4/23f5c4c0b9a8625a188d51e52472499b.jpg
ReplyDeleteI think this is the house in 2x14 https://bowenislandmuseum.ca/portfolio/1599/
ReplyDeleteComparing to the screenshots we can confirm that it is the same lodge! Thanks for your help :)
DeleteThanks for putting this together read it all
ReplyDeleteTwilight drive in is in Enderby
ReplyDeleteno, it's not. The show is filmed in Langley. Would it not make more sense to film at the Langley drive in not hours away at the one in Enderby? I also looked up the Enderby one on google. It has a dirt lot. The one in the show has paved aisles. Also, on the show there are trees behind the screen. In Enderby it's clear behind the screen. And the building doesn't match. If you watch the episode with the drive in again at it panned in you can see the street signs. It's on fraser hwy. And if you look up pics of the Langley drive in you can see the pics match, the building is identical and the interior is the same.
DeleteSeason 2 episode 7 tales from the dark side. Jughead and farmer mcginty stop at a gas station cafe. It is filmed at iron mountain store in maple ridge bc. 28568 dewdney hwy. It's not a gas station, the gas tanks were fake and added for the show.
ReplyDeleteThe drive in scenes from season one are filmed at the Langley drive in. If you check it out on google maps you can see the building is identical. You can also make out fraser hwy on the street sign as it pans in. It's located just off fraser hwy but the drive in sign is located on fraser hwy with the list of movies playing. This is a pic of the Langley drive in, it's where jughead spray paints "jughead was here" in the show on season one episode 4.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.ca/maps/place/Twilight+Drive-In+Theatre/@49.0630718,-122.5021256,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipMj1QtcyzLOHQs2MZCC3JRTh90-dshJt95Veo8P!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMj1QtcyzLOHQs2MZCC3JRTh90-dshJt95Veo8P%3Dw203-h103-k-no!7i4928!8i2519!4m5!3m4!1s0x5485cbfaeddfcd3d:0x20640fa761c01efc!8m2!3d49.0630719!4d-122.5021257#
Episode 4x3, does anyone know the location when Edgar is on the phone with Betty? I swear I’ve been there but I can’t place it. My first thought was Newton Wavepool...but I don’t think it can be. They’ve done major renos since I was there on a field trip in the 90s. Maybe an old hotel?
ReplyDeleteSeason 4 When Edgar is in the pool talking to Betty, it is filmed at the pacific inn hotel in south surrey. Also know as the pink palace. 1160 King George blvd. Other episodes around the same time involving Edgar are filmed there.
ReplyDeleteAll comments are reviewed prior to publication