Unveiling the Magical Realms: Where Once Upon A Time was Enchantingly Filmed

Summary

Once Upon a Time was filmed in various locations in British Columbia, including Steveston and North Vancouver, to bring the magical realms to life.

New York City served as the sole filming location outside of British Columbia for season 2 scenes in the hit fantasy drama show Once Upon a Time. The show transported its characters across various enchanting worlds and narratives, brought to life through the use of multiple filming locations. Drawing inspiration from both classic and contemporary fairy tales, including Snow White and Frozen, Once Upon a Time weaved its main storyline in the fictional town of Storybrooke, Maine, while also exploring numerous magical realms throughout the series. The show's filming locations played a crucial role in adding a unique twist to familiar characters, stories, and landscapes, resonating with viewers who grew up with these timeless tales.

7 Steveston, British Columbia

Once Upon a Time crafted its narrative through two distinct timelines. The first timeline unraveled the enchanting lives of fairy tale characters residing in the Enchanted Forest before they were tragically cursed by the Evil Queen. This curse banished them to the Land Without Magic, where they now live their present lives in the town of Storybrooke. Such storytelling technique not only led to jaw-dropping twists but also shed light on their intriguing backstories and allowed for a deeper exploration of the magical world. As the series progressed, the lifting of the curse opened up new possibilities, thrusting our beloved characters into other realms, courtesy of the numerous villains encountered throughout Once Upon a Time's later seasons. Here, we reveal the actual locations that served as filming sites for Storybrooke, the Enchanted Forest, and a multitude of other captivating worlds.

The majority of filming for Once Upon a Time occurred in Steveston, a fishing village located in Richmond, British Columbia. Steveston served as the primary filming location for scenes set in Storybrooke, the fictional seaside town. Its small village atmosphere perfectly captured the desired ambiance for both exterior and interior shots of the town. Once Upon a Time's main street, Moncton Street, mirrored the show's main street as well, featuring key locations like the library with its iconic clock tower and Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop.

The official tourism site for Richmond provides detailed information on how fans of Once Upon a Time can explore the filming locations in Steveston. According to the site, from July to September, visitors have the opportunity to obtain a Once Upon a Time walking map and visit key spots showcased in the series. These include the renowned Cannery Café, which was transformed into Granny's Diner, the central gathering place in Storybrooke where characters like Ruby toiled and where Emma and others devised their plans over meals. Steveston's significance to Once Upon a Time is evident, as the village wholeheartedly embraces the show. In fact, various locations within the village even offer Once Upon a Time-themed food and beverages, enhancing the immersive experience.

6 North Vancouver, British Columbia

Once Upon a Time was filmed in British Columbia for all seven seasons, as reported by Geek Trippers. The Canadian province provided a diverse range of locations that were transformed into captivating sets, including some situated in North Vancouver. In the enchanting Enchanted Forest, the picturesque woodsy terrain of the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve played a crucial role. Notably, the Spur 4 Bridge within this area served as the renowned T(r)oll Bridge in Once Upon a Time. Beyond the North Vancouver forest lies the Haswell Residence, which served as the delightful filming location for Granny's Bed and Breakfast, distinct from her diner in Steveston.

5 Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver served various purposes on Once Upon a Time, primarily functioning as a substitute for real-life cities beyond the fictional town of Storybrooke. The city is a renowned hub for film production, often chosen to shoot scenes that would be too expensive to film in cities like Los Angeles or New York. In the case of Once Upon a Time, Vancouver was utilized for scenes in the pilot episode set in Boston, as well as flashbacks depicting Emma and Neal's backstory in Portland. Certain New York City scenes were also filmed in Gastown, a neighborhood located in downtown Vancouver.

In addition to these urban scenes, another prominent location in Vancouver used frequently in Once Upon a Time was Kerrisdale Elementary School. This school served as the setting for the schools in Storybrooke, where Henry attended and Mary Margaret taught. Furthermore, the exterior shots of Jefferson's mansion were captured at a stunning house in Vancouver, with his character serving as an inspiration for the unsuccessful spinoff Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. Remarkably, Vancouver's Helijet Heliport was even utilized in Once Upon a Time season 2 for the meeting between Neal and August.

4 New York City

3 New Westminster, British Columbia

New Westminster, situated in Canada, is recognized as one of the costliest mid-size cities. This attribute made it an ideal location for the opulent residences of Regina and Mr. Gold. Not only were they prominent figures in Storybrooke and the Once Upon a Time narrative, but they were also among the wealthiest individuals. They capitalized on the curse to uphold their influence and indulge in luxury. Regina resided in the John H. McDonald House, a colonial revival property, while Gold occupied the Charles Murray Residence, a mansion showcasing Queen Anne revival-style architecture. Both of these exquisite dwellings could be found in New Westminster.

2 Fort Langley, British Columbia

1 Burnaby, British Columbia

Mayor Mills, also known as the Evil Queen, was undeniably the standout villain in season 1 of Once Upon a Time, before her journey towards redemption. Her influence extended beyond the impressive castle that towered in the Enchanted Forest; it also encompassed her reign over Storybrooke from the town hall. The remarkable Storybrooke Town Hall, situated in Fort Langley, British Columbia, was none other than the Fort Langley Community Hall, exquisitely showcased primarily in the show's early seasons. Interestingly, this distinct yellow structure has graced the screens of other acclaimed television series, such as Riverdale, which, much like Once Upon a Time, embraced the awe-inspiring offerings of British Columbia.

Burnaby may not be a city name that immediately rings a bell, but it is the birthplace of the renowned Canadian film studio, The Bridge Studios. Alongside Jumanji and another ABC action-adventure show, MacGyver, Once Upon a Time joins the long list of previous projects filmed at this location. Due to its fantasy-focused storyline and magical elements, not all scenes of Once Upon a Time could be shot on location. Hence, the studios provided the perfect solution by allowing the production team to set up a green screen. With the help of the visual effects team, the studios made it possible to bring the enchanting magic of Once Upon a Time to the screen, even though it may not always follow traditional logic.

Burnaby also served as a filming location for Once Upon a Time. The Burnaby Village Museum was converted into the Convent of The Sisters of Saint Meissa in the series. An intriguing aspect of the storyline was that all the fairies became nuns after Regina cast the First Curse, and the convent became their residence. Additionally, Burnaby provided outdoor locations for the show. Deer Lake Park was used for Aurora and Mulan's camp scenes in season 2, while Central Park was prominently featured throughout the series, particularly to depict Camelot in season 5.

Sources: Visit Richmond BC, Geek Trippers