Netflix has officially released Virgin River Season 5, continuing the love story of Jack (Martin Henderson) and Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and other tales in the small town of Northern California. But five seasons into the series, fans still wonder whether Virgin River is a real place or not. Thankfully, cast members Henderson, Breckenridge, and other cast members finally answered this burning question.
Virgin River Season 5 premiered on September 7. Aside from the cast, the series’ plotline, and the latest season’s major cliffhangers, its location has been the talk of the town. It can’t be denied that the show’s scenery has played a major role in its story, so is it real or not?
In an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, Breckenridge revealed Virgin River is real in their “heart of hearts.” Alternatively, Henderson claimed there’s “a lot of real” in the series, like the emotion that makes the people “connect to the characters and believe in the relationships,” making the show much more relatable.
Tim Matheson, who plays Doc, also chimed in and said the place of Virgin River is real for them, while Colin Lawrence, who portrays Preacher, asserted it’s “real as you want it to be.” They all play coy, not giving the answer fans want to hear, but Sarah Dugdale and Kai Bradbury, who are Lizzie and Denny in the series, both say it’s not real.
Is Virgin River a real place?
We hate to break it to you, but Virgin River is not a real place. It’s a fictional location created by the author Robin Carr, who wrote the novels of the same name on which the show is based.
Carr revealed to Entertainment Weekly that many had asked her for this location but told them, “It only exists in our hearts and minds.” She constructed this beautiful place in her mind, imagining it as a small town surrounded by the redwoods in North California.
Well, who won’t fall in love with the place’s scenic view, with its stunning interior, exterior, dense forest, and waterfall? A lot of viewers have already expressed their desire to visit this place.
Where is Virgin River Season 5 filmed?
Though Virgin River Season 5 takes place in the United States, specifically in Northern California, it’s filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, and surrounding mountainous areas. According to Vancouver’s tourism website, many scenes were filmed in Snug Cove on Bowen Island, which serves as the fictional town of Virgin River.
Location manager and scout W. Robert “Fluffy” Millar told Tudum they provided several physical options for the recent season’s location. In looking for a filming spot, he explained they had to choose an environment where the actors could “feel a certain way,” while the place’s real beauty could steal the viewers’ attention from the scenes and pique their interest.
Fans may have probably binge-watched Virgin River Season 5 by now and once again stunned by its picturesque location. Sadly, it may take a little while before Virgin River Season 6 comes out due to the ongoing writers’ strike.
