Filming Locations Guide: Where was American Gods filmed?

Based on the 2001 bestseller novel by Neil Gaiman, American Gods was primarily filmed in Ontario (Canada), but also Oklahoma and Wisconsin. The Cinespace Studios in Toronto served as headquarters for the Starz series. The two main characters of the series travel across the country on a road trip, so potentially interesting filming locations are expected.
American Gods tells the quest of Shadow Moon and Mr. Wednesday to bring the Old Gods (from classical mythology) together and get ready for the war against the New Gods, invented by man. The gods are a bit like Marvel superheroes, but they also have real-life problems, like most common people do.
Leading the cast are Ricky Whittle (The 100) as Shadow, Ian McShane (John Wick, Pirates of the Caribbean) as Wednesday, and Emily Browning (A Series of Unfortunate Events) as Laura Moon.
We will be updating this report every week with the new shooting locations of season 3:
American Gods tells the quest of Shadow Moon and Mr. Wednesday to bring the Old Gods (from classical mythology) together and get ready for the war against the New Gods, invented by man. The gods are a bit like Marvel superheroes, but they also have real-life problems, like most common people do.
Leading the cast are Ricky Whittle (The 100) as Shadow, Ian McShane (John Wick, Pirates of the Caribbean) as Wednesday, and Emily Browning (A Series of Unfortunate Events) as Laura Moon.
We will be updating this report every week with the new shooting locations of season 3:

This scene from the pilot (with a sign of Shakamak State Park), was filmed at Gloss Mountain in Fairview, also in Oklahoma. Also a short scene was shot in the historic district of Ponca City.
Image courtesy of Starz - Maps: Gloss Mountain / Ponca

Laura's funeral was filmed at the Hamilton Cemetery in Burlington Heights (Ontario).
Image courtesy of Starz - Map

The neon lighted Motel America near the House on the Rock from the second episode also appears in season two. The New Plaza Motel is located at 4584 Kingston Rd, Scarborough (Toronto).
Image courtesy of Starz and Google Maps

Wyndham Street in Guelph, Ontario, was doubling as downtown Chicago. Here is located the bank from the third episode, the Dominion Public Building. Image courtesy of Starz - Map

The Starbrite Motel from episode 5 is located outside Toronto, off the Highway 400 at exit 89.
Image courtesy of Starz

The town of Vulcan in Virginia was filmed in Cambridge (Ontario). The filming took place in Queens Square, Main Street bridge, the Central Presbyterian Church, and in the Galt area. These are very familiar locations for The Handmaid's Tale fans. Image by JJ Losier - Map

The stunning coastal landscapes with the Irish girl from episode 7 are from Bay Roberts in Newfoundland (Canada).
Image courtesy of Starz - Map

The mansion of Easter, the Old Goddess of spring, from episode 8 is the Hawkridge Farm (the famous Eaton Family Mansion) in Caledon (Ontario). It was built by George Eaton, heir to the Eaton's Department store chain. At one point it was for sale and listed at 24$ Canadian million. It was the most expensive piece of real estate in the whole country. According to Inside Caledon, "the huge estate covers 150 acres that include forests, a freshwater stream, cattle pastures, walking trails, gardens and, a pond. The 24,000 square foot home has a large living room, formal dining room, a large kitchen, 11 bedrooms and, an indoor pool".
Image courtesy of Starz - Map - Thanks Tommy for your help finding this!

Several scenes taking place in Cairo were filmed in the streets of the historic downtown in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Image courtesy of Starz and Google Maps

In the second season, American Gods finally arrives at the House on the Rock in Wisconsin. This place plays an important role in the book, as here is located the Infinity Room. This is a real place situated between Dodgeville and Spring Green, Wisconsin. This Japanese-style home, built over a 60 feet rock in 1959, has become a unique attraction, filled-up with quirky artifacts and exhibits.
Image courtesy of Starz - Map

We love the cinematography of American Gods. The plane parked outside Don Q Inn is an ex-military Boeing C-97. It's on the way from Dodgeville to House on the Rock, so probably the director of photography couldn't resist the temptation of recording a road trip sequence here. This hotel is quite peculiar itself, with themed-rooms and a honeymoon suite located in a church steeple.
Image courtesy of Starz - Map

In season three, fate takes Shadow (now called Mike Ainsel) to the lovely Lakeside town in Wisconsin. The exterior shots where filmed in Port Perry (Ontario), situated on the shore of Lake Scugog. The Hinzelmann's store is the old mill and grain elevator.
Image courtesy of Starz - Map
Can you help to improve this post about the filming locations of American Gods?
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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To complete and correct this report, any feedback, info or images that you may have are more than welcome, thank you!
NOTICE: If you’re using this information on your website, please credit and link to this page as a source.
*****
Where did they film the last scene in episode 8?
ReplyDeleteIf you're thinking what I'm thinking, that looks like the turnoff to the midlothian castle, near Burk's Falls, Ontario.
Deletethe police chase to the house in Cairo is Niagara falls
DeleteHaving driven through that intersection a few dozen times, I would say it is at County Road 8 (Mono Centre Road) and 3rd line EHS in Mono Township, Dufferin County.
DeleteWhich is the South East corner of Mono Cliffs Provincial Park.
44.036812, -80.058900 is the coordinates on the Map
Was any of it filmed in Ireland?
ReplyDeleteNo Paul, we don't think so
DeleteThe motel is just off the 400 at exit 89, saw them filming
ReplyDeleteThanks Drew, updated!
DeleteVulcans house in the episode where they go visit him is the Scottish Rite masonic centre in Hamilton Ontario.
ReplyDeleteAwesome work!!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the motel location from the first episode?
ReplyDeleteIt says up top outside of toronto off a highway
DeleteThe motel is the 'Motel 400'. It is located in Ontario, Canada north of Toronto at Just off of Highway 400 at Highway 89. Here's a map link. Cheers. www.google.ca/maps/@44.1989663,-79.6576992,324a,35y,174.97h/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
DeleteTo the last book recommendation, I got the book on Audible after watching the show last year, they have a version of the 10th anniversary book that is performed by the Show's main cast members.
ReplyDeletewhere is the diner in nashville at in season 2 episode 7
ReplyDeletePretty sure the scene where Laura and Mad Sweeney steal the ice cream truck was filmed in Dundas Ontario at a place called Dyments. The same scene was used in an episode of The Umbrella Academy. It's in my hometown 🙂
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd post the map link to 'Easter's Mansion' www.google.ca/maps/place/17490+McLaren+Rd,+Caledon,+ON+L7K+1R8/@43.8221776,-79.9949951,807m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x882b05eebce8d683:0x8c4dc1cecb76c249!8m2!3d43.8221738!4d-79.9928064?hl=en
ReplyDeleteThe scene where Shadow and Mr. Wednesday walk into a Chicago diner was shot in my neighbourhood in Hamilton, On, right beside the steel factories
ReplyDeleteI lived in an apartment off of Queens Square in Cambridge and saw them film Handmaids scenes
ReplyDeleteThey never mention Hamilton.
ReplyDeleteThe Scottish Rite was in Episode 6 ft. Shadow ...
The scene where Shadow and technical boy ambush the security guy is filmed at McMaster University (where the gargoyle gateway is).
ReplyDeleteSeason 3 episode 4 where shadow is at a pay phone booth is in Toronto on eastern avenue just west of Leslie st. You can seethe Green of the fresh co. Behind it.
ReplyDeleteSeason 3, episode 5. Where's the restaurant that Shadow Moon and Belquis have a meal?
ReplyDeleteThe insane asylum where Demeter was committed looked like MacLean House at the Sunnybrook Hospital Campus - am I correct or is it elsewhere?
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure the inside bar scene s3e6 that gets blown up and the out side of the cancelled show in s3e6 is at the rock pile on Dundas in Toronto
ReplyDeleteAll comments are reviewed prior to publication