Season 5 of Virgin River is officially here and it has all the makings for the ultimate comfort watch: a storybook romance, Hallmark-level drama and a quaint yet cozy backdrop. If you can look beyond Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson)'s obvious chemistry, you'll be met with sweeping views of redwood trees and surrounding mountain ranges, along with local staples like Jack's bar and Doc Mullins' (Tim Matheson) clinic. The gorgeous scenery alone may inspire some Virgin River fans to a take a trip out west in hopes of experiencing the town's charm in real life. But this begs the question: Is Virgin River a real place?
Before the show's release in 2019, the author of the Virgin River book series, Robyn Carr, confirmed that the hit Netflix drama is merely a figment of the imagination. "It’s idealized, it’s utopian, it’s the perfect small town," she told Entertainment Weekly in October 2018. "People always write and say, 'Where is it? I want to go there,' and I have to remind them that it only exists in our hearts and minds."
In her eyes, Virgin River can be just about anywhere if you try hard enough: "But to further that thought, we can have that sense of community in our own neighborhood or school or church group or community center or library association. All we have to do is try to create it." During a 2012 conversation with the New York Times bestselling author, Robyn described Virgin River as "a character" since everyone in the fictional town needs to "rely on each other."
The Virgin River that Carr created in the books and TV show is set in northern California with a fictional population of 600 people. But Netflix isn't loyal to the Golden State for filming purposes. The show is actually filmed in Vancouver and select areas in British Columbia, such as Snug Cove in Bowen Island, Burnaby, or Port Coquitlam, as revealed by Country Living.
The exterior of Jack's Bar, which serves as the town's unofficial meeting spot, is reportedly Watershed Grill in Brackendale, located north of Vancouver on the Squamish River. All interior scenes, however, are shot at a local studio.
The other town landmarks — Doc's clinic, Mel's cabin, and Paige's Bakeway — are located throughout the Vancouver area. The scenes at Doc's clinic are reportedly filmed in an actual house in the historic Queen's Park of New Westminster, which was recently listed for $2.3 million.
It's important to note that the Virgin River is indeed an actual body of water in the United States — a small tributary of the Colorado River. Technically speaking, that means you can visit Virgin River ... but sadly, without Jack, Mel, and everything else that makes the show what it is.
You've Watched the Show, Now Read the Books in Order
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
