Where is Sweet Magnolias filmed? The Serenity, South Carolina, Filming Location
Posted by Ra Moon
The Netflix hit series Sweet Magnolias is set in the fictional town of Serenity in South Carolina.
Following the steps of the romantic drama set in California, Virgin River, the show is also based on a best-selling novel series, created by American writer Sherryl Woods.
Now coming back for season two, Sweet Magnolias was primarily filmed in Covington, a small, nice city in Georgia.
Following the steps of the romantic drama set in California, Virgin River, the show is also based on a best-selling novel series, created by American writer Sherryl Woods.
Now coming back for season two, Sweet Magnolias was primarily filmed in Covington, a small, nice city in Georgia.
The story revolves around the lifelong friendship of three women supporting each other through relationships, family, and business, ready for whatever life throws at them.
The starring trio is composed of JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Once Upon a Time) as Maddie Townsend, Brooke Elliott (Drop Dead Diva) as Dana Sue Sullivan, and Heather Headley (Chicago Med) as Helen Decatur.
Here is our spoiler-free guide to the filming locations of Sweet Magnolias - Stay tuned for season 2 location updates on this page!
Welcome to Serenity, South Carolina
The cute town of Covington in Newton County doubles as Serenity, SC. Downtown Covington features many beautiful historical buildings and has one of the prettiest squares in Georgia.
The town has been featured in many movies and TV shows, including The Walking Dead, The Vampire Diaries, and Doctor Sleep.
The iconic clock tower building featured in the series opening is Covington's Newton County Board of Commissioners.
The interior of the courthouse hall, pictured, was also filmed at the historic Newton County Board of Commissioners.
Several scenes with the characters talking and sitting on the bench are filmed in the town square, ornamented with a 1906 Confederate Monument and a war memorial obelisk.
Where was Sweet Magnolias filmed?
The Alley at Mystic Grill gift shop, located just across the street from the Newton County old Courthouse, served as Dana's restaurant, The Sullivan's.
The interior was filmed here, apart from the kitchen which was shot in a studio in Atlanta.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
Watch out for Vampires! Mystic Falls is the fictional town where The CW series The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Legacies are set.
The Mystic Grill diner, the favorite hangout for all the creatures of these supernatural series, was also shot at this same location.
The real Mystic Grill restaurant where you can have a meal is placed next door, on the terrace upstairs that appears in the fifth episode of the second season, "Great Expectations".
At the beginning of the first episode "Pour It Out", the kids are walking through the scenic Southview Cemetery in Covington, also a popular destination for the Mystic Falls vampire hunter tours.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
A key location in the show is the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, filmed at the Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur.
The Serenity Summer Market in the third episode of the second season, "The More Things Change", was also recorded here.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The Sweet Magnolias House
We were wrong about the location of the gorgeous old house that Helen buys to turn it into The Corner Spa, for the women of Serenity.
At first, we thought that it was a famous Newton County historic home, the Lee-Porter Mansion, an early 20th-century Greek-revival manor in Covington that was also used for filming scenes of HBO's Bessie movie starring Queen Latifah.
However, as a local website and one of our readers confirmed, the house exterior is the Law Offices of Wm. Thomas Craig at 1144 College Avenue, also in Covington, which is very similar to the Lee-Porter Mansion.
Almost all the other websites reporting on the filming locations of Sweet Magnolias have this wrong -sorry- as they took the information from Atlas of Wonders or the websites that copied us (and apart from a few honorable exceptions, we have not been cited as a source).
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
Serenity High School is the Henry County Middle School in McDonough.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The pizzeria from the second episode "A United Front" is The Depot Sports Bar and Grill, hosted in an old railroad depot at 4122 Emory Street NW in Covington.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The Spring River Medical complex is the Piedmont Newton Hospital in Covington.
Image courtesy Netflix - Map
The park with the small waterfall pond in the fourth episode of the second season, "Walk of Faith", is Costley Mill Park outside Conyers.
The white chapel from the scene in the same episode (lower picture) is also located in this park containing many beautiful settings.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The True Bew Daily café from season two is the cozy Awake Coffee Co at 909 Commercial Street NE in Conyers.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The lake with the three gazebos in Charleston where Helen and Erik are at in episode eight, "The Rules of the Game", is Joels Lake in Stonecrest, DeKalb County.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
Where are the Serenity Sentinel offices? And the Z's jazz club?
Can you help to improve this article about the filming locations of Sweet Magnolias? 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.
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Can you help to improve this article about the filming locations of Sweet Magnolias? 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.
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5 comments:
1- Mrs. Nelson - Feb 22, 2021 at 10:18 PM
I've lived in Covington my entire life... my husband's roofed Maddie's house as well as the spa filming location (which your address is incorrect, its 1144 college avenue, a block from Conyers Street.) I have lived less than a qtr mile away from the square my whole life and know every one of these locations. Also, the obelisk on the square is a war monument, not just WW1. My uncles' name is on it, who died in WW2 in Iwo Jima. It's also about the Vietnam War. If you have any questions just ask I'll do my best to answer.
2- Karen - Jan 26, 2022, 12:29 AM
I've just checked out the two addresses on Google Earth (a favorite pastime of mine), and whilst the two houses are very similar, it's easy to see that your address is the correct one. What are the addresses of Maddie's, Dana's, and Helen's houses? (I'm not going to go stalking them... I live in Australia lol).
3- Anonymous - Feb 8, 2022, 12:51 PM
I've been to the coffee shop they use in season 2! The name of it is Awake Coffee Co, and the address is 909 Commercial St NE, Conyers, Ga 30012. Cute and very cozy place, it looks almost identical to how they use it in the show, with a few minor changes.
4- Kayli - Feb 8, 2022, 1:21 PM
I just searched all throughout my google maps, and I believe that the lake Helen and Erik are at in Season 2 is Joel’s Lake, right between Conyers, Ga and Decatur, Ga in DeKalb county.
5- Carrie - Feb 11, 2022, 5:19 AM
I'm wondering if the lake and waterfall in "Walk of faith" is Costly Mill Park maybe?
1- Mrs. Nelson - Feb 22, 2021 at 10:18 PM
I've lived in Covington my entire life... my husband's roofed Maddie's house as well as the spa filming location (which your address is incorrect, its 1144 college avenue, a block from Conyers Street.) I have lived less than a qtr mile away from the square my whole life and know every one of these locations. Also, the obelisk on the square is a war monument, not just WW1. My uncles' name is on it, who died in WW2 in Iwo Jima. It's also about the Vietnam War. If you have any questions just ask I'll do my best to answer.
2- Karen - Jan 26, 2022, 12:29 AM
I've just checked out the two addresses on Google Earth (a favorite pastime of mine), and whilst the two houses are very similar, it's easy to see that your address is the correct one. What are the addresses of Maddie's, Dana's, and Helen's houses? (I'm not going to go stalking them... I live in Australia lol).
3- Anonymous - Feb 8, 2022, 12:51 PM
I've been to the coffee shop they use in season 2! The name of it is Awake Coffee Co, and the address is 909 Commercial St NE, Conyers, Ga 30012. Cute and very cozy place, it looks almost identical to how they use it in the show, with a few minor changes.
4- Kayli - Feb 8, 2022, 1:21 PM
I just searched all throughout my google maps, and I believe that the lake Helen and Erik are at in Season 2 is Joel’s Lake, right between Conyers, Ga and Decatur, Ga in DeKalb county.
5- Carrie - Feb 11, 2022, 5:19 AM
I'm wondering if the lake and waterfall in "Walk of faith" is Costly Mill Park maybe?
Ra Moon
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