Yes, You Can Visit the 'When Calls the Heart' Filming Locations in Real Life
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When Calls the Heart is one of those shows that will have fans absolutely in awe of its beautiful scenery. It seems like every storefront has a unique face, and the tall trees complement the green, grassy grounds like no other. So, searching for the exact map coordinates of Hope Valley is a rite of passage that Hearties everywhere go through.
It's also one of the reasons why Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) is one lucky gal! Imagine getting to pursue your lifelong passion in a town where the Queen of Hearts exists? Sure, the hit Hallmark show based on Janette Oke's books may be set in the early 20th century. But the show is filmed in *this* century, so the filming locations have to exist somewhere... right? Listen, it's just that Hope Valley would be so fun to visit in real life, and most fans just want to figure out a way to make this a reality.
If you've ever thought about swinging by Hope Valley or learning more about the When Calls the Heart filming locations, then keep reading. All the good info is below!
So, is Hope Valley a real place?
Not to be the bearer of bad news, but facts are facts: Hope Valley is not an actual town. In fact, Hearties, it's not even based on a real town. Don't get too worked up, though. While the town fans have all grown to love may be fictional, the locations where When Calls the Heart is filmed are very real indeed!
Where is When Calls the Heart filmed then?
For the last 11 seasons, most of the scenes in this popular period piece are shot in Canada on MacInnes Farms in Langley, British Columbia, about an hour south of Vancouver. (Talk about consistency!) While some parts of the family-owned farm are still in operation, When Calls the Heart actually takes place on the Jamestown Movie Set within the property.
Who would have guessed that the charming facades of Dottie's Fine Apparel, Abigail's Cafe, and the local schoolhouse and church are all just part of a movie set?! To be fair, most of the saloon-inspired buildings actually are real so that helps explain things.
Production designer Brentan Harron told Huffington Post that before the show's 2014 premiere, a crew built a series of authentic row houses, complete with hardwood floors, scuffed walls, and real oil lamps.
A few years ago, John Tinker, the executive producer and head writer for When Calls the Heart, took to Instagram to reveal what the set looks like in the off-season.
"All the signage, the lamp posts, flowers and other plants, every stick of furniture is gone, making Hope Valley look like a ghost town," he wrote.
Speaking of spooky, here's a surprising fun fact for you. Believe it or not, the first movie to be filmed at this location was Scary Movie 4.
The horror parody used the farm to create scenes mocking The Village. Since then, Riverdale, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Once Upon a Time, Timeless, Beyond Sherwood Forest and The Book of Beasts have also filmed scenes at MacInnes farm, but When Calls the Heart is the primary occupant right now.
Cool! Can you visit the set?
When Calls the Heart fans are able to visit Hope Valley as part of the Hearties Family Reunion. The three-day event features meet-and-greets with the cast, meals from Abigail's Cafe, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Hope Valley. While the event was initially suspended due to the pandemic, all tours have been called back on! Just head to the social media account linked above for more information on future events.
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