Stranger Things season 1 masterfully blends 1980s nostalgia with supernatural mystery, and much of that atmospheric feel comes from its carefully chosen filming locations. Understanding where key scenes were shot helps explain the show’s authentic small-town charm and visual depth.
From exterior shots to interior sets, the production leveraged real and constructed environments to build a world that feels both familiar and unsettling. This guide breaks down the main shooting sites and how they shaped the season’s look and mood.
| Location Type | Specific Site | Town/City | Purpose in Season 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Street | Main Street | Jackson, Wyoming | Downtown Hawkins establishing shots and exterior walks |
| Interior Soundstage | Pinewood Atlanta Studios | Senoia, Georgia | Upside Down, Hawkins Lab, and interior sets |
| Exterior Residential | Brazier Mansion | Jackson, Wyoming | Wheeler household exterior and select indoor scenes |
| Exterior Park & Forest | Various national forest areas | North Georgia | Woods scenes and monster movement sequences |
| Interior Apartment | Apartment complexes | Atlanta area | Clinic and residential interiors when not in Wyoming |
Filming in Jackson, Wyoming for Hawkins Downtown
The production used Jackson, Wyoming, to capture the crisp, wide open feel of small-town Midwest America. Key downtown blocks stood in for Hawkins’ main street, giving the season its iconic main strip backdrop.
Wyoming’s clear skies and mountain proximity helped create the clean, bright visuals for daytime scenes, while the surrounding forests quickly transitioned into the darker woods where the supernatural unfolds.
Pinewood Atlanta Studios and the Upside Down
Soundstage Construction and Visual Effects
Most of the interior nightmare world was built from the ground up at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Senoia, Georgia. Elaborate sets allowed precise control over lighting, fog, and creature movement, making the Upside Down feel tactile and dangerous.
Hawkins Lab and Key Interiors
Sections of the lab and other institutional interiors were crafted on soundstages, enabling complex camera moves and controlled environments for horror beats that would have been impossible on location.
Residential and Exterior Shooting Spots
Specific homes and properties across Jackson provided the recognizable facades for character residences. These locations grounded the fictional story in real neighborhoods, enhancing emotional stakes for viewers.
Outside the town, regional forests offered thick, atmospheric backdrops for wooded searches, bike rides, and creature ambushes, blending seamlessly with studio work to maintain narrative flow.
Coordinating Multiple States for Consistency
Balancing locations in Wyoming and Georgia required detailed planning to keep Hawkins feeling like one cohesive town. Color grading, set dressing, and consistent production design tied disparate sites together visually.
This multi-state approach also influenced scheduling, transportation, and permits, but it ultimately delivered a richer visual palette that contributed to the show’s immersive quality.
Key Takeaways for Understanding Stranger Things Season 1 Filming
- Jackson, Wyoming supplied the recognizable downtown and residential blocks for Hawkins.
- Pinewood Atlanta Studios housed most interior sets, including the Upside Down and Hawkins Lab.
- North Georgia forests provided authentic wooded environments for pivotal outdoor scenes.
- Post-production effects tied real locations to constructed sets for seamless world-building.
- Coordinated color grading and production design kept the season visually consistent across states.
FAQ
Reader questions
Where were the Hawkins exterior shots filmed in Stranger Things season 1?
Most Hawkins exterior shots were filmed in Jackson, Wyoming, which provided convincing downtown and residential street scenes.
How were the Upside Down scenes created for the season?
The Upside Down was primarily built on soundstages at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Senoia, Georgia, with extensive visual effects added in post-production.
What real locations doubled for the Wheeler house in season 1?
The Wheeler house exterior was shot at Brazier Mansion in Jackson, Wyoming, with some interior scenes adapted from nearby properties.
Were any woods scenes in season 1 filmed in actual forests?
Yes, wooded areas in national forests across North Georgia were used for forest sequences and creature encounters.