Where Was “Sweet Magnolias” Filmed?
Is Serenity, South Carolina from “Sweet Magnolias” a real place?
One of the first things fans are probably wondering when they watch “Sweet Magnolias” is whether or not the town of Serenity, South Carolina is an actual place. This is the first thing we want to establish when answering the question: where was “Sweet Magnolias” filmed?
To discover where the real Serenity, South Carolina is located, we turn to an article in Good Housekeeping. It confirms that the town is not actually a real place, but was created by Sherryl Woods based on her experiences in the town of Sumter, South Carolina.
They go on to share a quote from the author that explains why the town meant so much to her. “Each year as I travel from my home in Key Biscayne, Florida to my family’s summer cottage in Colonial Beach, Virginia, I make a stop in Sumter, South Carolina, to visit one of my family’s oldest and dearest friends, Donnie Clemons.”
It’s no wonder that the author settled on Sumter as the inspiration for Serenity. The town’s website says that they experience a moderate climate all year round that is perfect for outdoor activities. They also have a rich history, including the Sumter Opera House, which was built in the late 1800s and is still being used to put on shows for all ages to this day.
Did they film “Sweet Magnolias” on location in Sumter, South Carolina?
Now we know what the inspiration for Serenity, South Carolina is. Next, we can move on to answering the question: where was “Sweet Magnolias” filmed?
According to travel magazine This Is My South, the series was actually filmed not far from Sumter in the city of Covington, Georgia. This is no surprise considering its proximity to the filming hub that is Atlanta, and the town’s history as the production location for shows such as “Dukes of Hazzard,” “The Vampire Diaries,” and movies like “Remember The Titans.”
If you find yourself in Covington and want to check out a wide swath of locations that have been seen on screen, make sure you go on their Walk of Stars Tour. They boast over 30 pavers that you can check out–you’re sure to have seen something that was filmed there!
Covington, Georgia “Sweet Magnolias” filming locations
We can finally get to some of the specific locations from the show that you may recognize, now that we have the preliminary answer to the question: where was “Sweet Magnolias” filmed?
We’re going to turn to an article by Atlas of Wonders to start our tour, beginning with Dana’s restaurant, The Sullivan’s. Feel free to stop into The Alley at Mystic Grill in Covington if you want to see the actual interiors where they shot the show and grab a delicious bite to eat! Apparently this was the same restaurant that was used in “The Vampire Diaries.”
Next up, we want to cover one of the more memorable locations from the show, the mansion that Helen transforms into her business, the Corner Spa. Atlas of Wonders writes that you can find this at 1144 College Avenue in Covington.
Don’t expect to get a relaxing spa treatment while you’re there, because the property is actually the location of a law office. The last location in Covington to address is the Spring River Medical Complex – the real-life counterpart to that is the Piedmont Newton Hospital.
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