It’s nearly time to return to Virgin River! The Netflix series named after the small, fictional town is set to drop its sixth season in full on December 19. As we eagerly wait for the next 10 episodes (which feature a wedding!), we’re once again reveling in the ethereal filming locations that bring the quaint community—surrounded by dense forests, mountains, and waterfalls—to life.
While set in Northern California, Virgin River was actually filmed in Vancouver and its surrounding areas (as many productions are, including Hallmark movies). Ahead, we’ve compiled everything we know about the places that make up the lovely backdrops. From Mel’s cabin, which was once sinking in real life, to the restaurant that depicts Jack’s Bar, here’s everything curious fans should know.
Where Was Virgin River Filmed?
Canada’s British Columbia provides most of the scenery for Virgin River. Location manager W. Robert Millar, LMGI told Tudum that he’s always trying to “one-up each episode” of the series by finding a prettier view with more raw beauty than the last, or another thick forest that’s easy to access. “We always coordinate with the First Nations themselves,” Millar added, referring to Indigenous people of Canada. “The Squamish Nation has been really supportive of our show because we do a lot of filming on First Nations land.”
According to Vancouver’s tourism website, many establishing shots that portray the fictional town of Virgin River were taken in Snug Cove, a community of fewer than 4,000 people located on Bowen Island. Snug Cove’s sweet local library, main streets, and Artisan Lane were tapped for the series.
Mel’s Cabin
Perhaps the most popular filming location featured in the series is Mel’s cabin, which is represented by Murdo Frazer Cabin in North Vancouver. The abode has appeared in various productions including Once Upon a Time, The Flash, and Supernatural. But it turns out the location has as much drama as the show itself. Prior to filming season five, the Virgin River production team found out that the building was actually sinking. The District of North Vancouver got a heritage grant to refurbish the cabin—meaning the team likely wouldn’t be able to shoot there. Millar explained to Tudum: “The foundation is actually sinking into the soft earth by the water table with the pond that’s right beside it. They actually need to come in and do an actual house lifting, like those proper things you see on Discovery Channel where they lift a house up and jack it up.”
Luckily, the team was able to get a mix of day and night establishing shots using a “techno crane and drone” to include in season five. As for the interior of the cabin, it was built on a soundstage. Big photographic backdrops, similar to the ones used in Suits, create the illusion of the cabin’s window views. Millar noted that the hanging backdrops are “actually high-resolution photos taken of the area around the real cabin,” which encompasses “a beautiful little park with tennis courts and running trails and a pond on it with turtles.”
