20+ The Vampire Diaries locations to visit in Covington, GA

Covington, Georgia, considered the Hollywood of the South, is located around 45 minutes away from Atlanta and has been used to film hundreds of movies and tv shows, like Sweet Magnolias, Remember the Titans, and My Cousin Vinny. But if you’re reading this blog, you are mostly interested in the filming locations of The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Legacies, which are PLENTY!!! From the iconic town square to lesser shown locations, and even locations that weren’t used for filming but expand the TVD universe. 

All of these locations can be visited by yourself, for free, which is perfect for budget travelers. BUT, if you want a more immersive experience hearing tales from the tour guides who experienced the filming live, meet other TVD fans, and get exclusive access to the Lockwood Mansion and Elena’s front porch, then I recommend booking a tour with The Vampire Stalkers. The tour lasts 1 to 2 hours and takes you to most of the locations mentioned below, all for $55 USD per person. (As of April 2025)

So, without further ado, here are the… 

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Iconic places you MUST visit for the casual TVD fan

If you’re just a casual watcher or only have a few hours to visit Covington, Georgia, these are the 5 locations you HAVE to visit.

1. The Mystic Grill

This is a real-life restaurant in Covington that was inspired by the fictional Mystic Grill from the show. It’s a popular spot for fans to grab a bite and soak in the “Vampire Diaries” atmosphere.

Fun fact: The restaurant was opened by locals to capitalize on the show’s popularity, and it incorporates locally sourced ingredients into its menu. It’s a great place to enjoy a meal and feel like you’re in Mystic Falls. But beware, the inside looks NOTHING like it looks on the show. And if you’re lucky like I was, you’ll see the Salvatore brother’s cars parked outside. 

Location: 116 Clark St., Covington, GA. It is located in the Covington Square area.

2. The Clock Tower

The clock tower is a prominent feature in the Covington town square, which served as the backdrop for sooooo many scenes in “The Vampire Diaries.” It stands just next to the Mystic Grill, across the town square. You simply MUST take a picture here!

Location: 1124 Clark St., Covington, GA

3. Gilbert House

This is the house used for exterior shots of Elena and Jeremy Gilbert’s home. It’s a private residence, so respecting the owners’ privacy is crucial. While the exterior was used for filming, the interior scenes were shot on a soundstage.

Fun fact: The Vampire Stalker tour is the only way to get access to the porch and swing bench! It does cost an additional $10 per person to get access and take photos, but in my opinion, totally worth it! 🤩

Location: 2104 Floyd St., Covington, GA

4. Caroline’s House

Like the Gilbert house, this is a private residence. So please be respectful of the owners. This location is another residential home used for exterior shots in the series. And it’s located just across the street from the Gilbert house.

Fun Fact: You can rent it out on Airbnb HERE! Imagine visiting Mystic Falls and staying in Caroline’s house!

Location: 2118 Floyd St., Covington, GA

5. Lockwood Mansion

Worthington Manor was used for exterior shots of the Lockwood Mansion. Iconic scenes like The Founder’s Party in Season 1 to Klaus staking Mikael on the front steps of the Lockwood Mansion in Season 3, and many more were filmed right here! This location is also a private property, and access is typically only granted through organized tours like the Vampire Stalker tour.

Fun fact: If you meet the owners, they might tell you anecdotes of meeting the cast and having the crew film at their house. It’s also just down the street from Elena’s and Caroline’s house.

Location: 2129 East Street., Covington, GA

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Iconic places you MUST visit for the hardcore TVD fans

For the rest of us hardcore fans, and/or if you have more time to spend in Covington, here are more locations to add to your must-visit list. 

1. Visitor’s Center and Mystic Falls Sign

This is the essential starting point for any TVD fan’s journey! The iconic “Welcome to Mystic Falls” sign is a must-have photo op. Plus, it’s where the Vampire Stalker tour begins, which is a great way to get behind the scenes info, and access to private locations. 

Fun Fact: The Visitor Center is full of props from The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Legacies, and other movies/tv shows filmed in Covington, GA.

Location: 1143 Oak St., Covington, GA

2. The Alley Shop under the Mystic Grill

Located directly below the Mystic Grill, this alley shop is a must visit for any TVD fan. From souvenir items, like the main character’s daylight rings, to a whole section with wardrobe wore by the actors, you could spend a good amount of time perusing this store. And the alley itself is featured in numerous scenes so snap a pic here.

Fun Fact: They put Sheriff Forbes’ bench in the alley so don’t forget to take a quick pic with it as well.

Location: 116 Clark St., Covington, GA

3. Matt’s House

This is the exterior of Matt Donovan’s home, everyone’s favorite 😉 human. Sadly we don’t get to see Matt’s house very often on the show, but you can take a peak at the exterior in Season 3, episode 6. https://vampirediaries.fandom.com/wiki/Donovan_House 

Location: 1133 Conyers St., Covington, GA

4. Alaric and Caroline’s House

This is the house that Alaric and Caroline share after the twins are born. It is the location of the heart wrenching scene where Stefan looks through the window to see the life that could have been in Season 7.

Location: 2130 Conyers St., Covington, GA

5. 60’s decade dance filming location

This is the location where they filmed the 60’s decade dance in Season 2, where Klaus is inhabiting Alaric’s body before showing his true appearance. A very memorable episode if you ask me!

Location: 2134 Conyers St., Covington, GA

6. Scoops 

While not really featured on-screen, Scoops is a real-life ice cream parlor that the cast frequented during filming. And it’s located right on the town square.

Location: 1131 Church St., Covington, GA

7. Bread and Butter

This coffee shop and bakery has leaned into “The Vampire Diaries” fandom by offering “blood bags,” a playful nod to the show! (PS. It’s just tea). It is a great place to grab a cup of coffee (or blood? 😜), and talk about the show while overlooking the town square.

Fun Fact: Ian Somerhalder’s TVD star is located right in front of the entrance to Bread and Butter.

Location: 1124 Monticello St., Covington, GA

8. 1864 Lockwood Mansion (Twelve Oaks Bed & Breakfast)

This beautiful bed and breakfast served as the 1864 Lockwood Mansion, providing a glimpse into the family’s opulent past. It was used for flashback scenes in Season 2 during the First Founders’ Party.

Although I opted for a more budget friendly Airbnb, I think staying here would be an awesome way to enhance your visit and step back in time! Seriously, look at pics of the interior! It’s so rustic and beautiful! 😍

Location: 2176 Monticello St., Covington, GA

9. Academy Springs Park 

This unassuming park is the backdrop for several scenes in The Vampire Diaries! From the iconic Season 6 Damon and Elena’s rain kiss and sadly, Jenna’s funeral, to a few Whitmore College outdoor scenes (like when Elena is running with Jeremy and tells him Bonnie is alive in the 1994 prison world!)

Fun Fact: I don’t want to spoil the awesome info you get on the tour, but the way they moved things around and repurposed that park is pretty amazing.

Location: 3120 Conyers St., Covington, GA

10. Grams’ House 

This is the exterior of Grams’ house, used briefly in Season 1.

Location: 2136 Conyers St., Covington, GA

11. Rebecca’s House

This is the exterior of Rebeka’s’ house, used briefly in Season 4. This is another private residence, so please be respectful of the owners’ privacy.

Location: 3115 Pennington St., Covington, GA

12. 100 Dead Witches Mansion 

This location was used for the outdoor shots of the mansion where 100 witches had died, as seen on Season 3.

Location: 3188 Conyers St., Covington, GA

13. Whitmore College (Oxford College of Emory University)

While not in Covington itself, Oxford College was used for exterior shots of Whitmore College, where Elena and Caroline attended in Seasons 5 and 6. But not to worry, it’s only a 5-10 minute drive from Covington. (Sorry! Didn’t take any photos. 😅)

Location: 801 Emory St., Oxford, GA 

14. The Vampire Stalker Shop

This shop is the base for the Vampire Stalker tours, and it’s a great place to shop for TVD, The Originals, and Legacies merchandise and souvenirs.

Fun Fact: This location was used in a scene for the Legacies series, where Lizzie is doing community service and she’s cleaning the window’s of a shop in the town square in Season 1. 

Location: 1102 Monticello St., Covington, GA 

15. The Clock Tower Escape Room

The Clock Tower Escape Room is a Vampire Diaries-Inspired escape room that offers a fun and interactive experience for fans like us, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the “TVD” world. Can you beat the clock? We barely did. 😅

Price: $30 USD per person (as of April 2025)

Location: 1106 Monticello St., Covington, GA

16. Find little gems like the main actor’s stars

Try to find all the main actor’s Hollywood of the South stars in Convington’s town square. They’re all a little spread out, but you should be able to find Nina’s, Paul’s, Ian’s and even a The Vampire Diaries star. And if you pay extra attention, you might find Elena’s doctors office as well. Good luck finding!

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For as much as they filmed TVD in Covington, there are a few filming locations outside Covington that are definitely worth a visit. And they are all less than 30 minutes away from Covington. 

Wickery Bridge

This bridge holds immense emotional significance, as it’s the site of the tragic car accident that killed Elena’s parents, setting the entire series in motion. Not to mention it appears in so many more iconic scenes throughout all the seasons! Definitely worth a visit!

Fun Fact: Despite its pivotal role in the show’s backstory, the bridge is located in a unassuming area. Although the area seems relatively quiet, we encountered a good amount of traffic at some point so be careful out there.

Location: 5098 Klondike Rd, Lithonia, GA

1864 Salvatore Mansion

This location was used for flashback scenes of the Salvatore estate in 1864 in multiple seasons, but most famously in Season 1, Episode 6. It provided a glimpse into the Salvatore brothers’ past with Katherine and their lives before becoming vampires. Unfortunately I wasn’t in Covington long enough to visit, but I would still recommend checking it out if you can.

Location: 617 Dixie Ave, Madison, GA

Salvatore Boarding House from The Legacies

Featured in The Legacies, this location is the iconic Salvatore Boarding House, a central hub for much of the drama and supernatural happenings in the sequel to The Vampire Diaries. This is also a private residence, so please be respectful of the owners.

Location: 5520 Kent Rock Rd, Loganville, GA 

“New Orleans” (Olde Town Conyers)

Olde Town Conyers is a town between Covington and Atlanta, and served as a stand-in for New Orleans’s French Quarter in both The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. A few outdoor scenes were filmed on the streets of Conyers, especially during festival scenes, and even inside a few of the bars and shops, like the Celtic Tavern (a.k.a. Gillespie’s Pub in The Originals). 

Fun Fact: Walking through the main street of Olde Town Conyers really makes you feel like you’re in New Orleans, even though it’s located in Georgia, because many of the building facades are very similar to those found in the french quarter. While there, grab a drink at the Celtic Tavern and visit the Historic Train Depot for more TVD info and photo ops. 

Location: Historic Train Depot, 901 Railroad St, Conyers, GA

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So there you have it, fellow TVD fanatics! Whether you’re a casual viewer looking to snap a pic at the Mystic Grill or a die-hard devotee ready to trace Elena’s footsteps across Covington (and its surrounding areas!), Covington offers a supernatural journey you won’t soon forget. With a little planning and a rental car to tackle those slightly-out-of-town locations, you can experience the magic of Mystic Falls without breaking the bank.

From the iconic town square to hidden filming locations, this Georgia getaway is a budget-friendly dream for any fan wanting to immerse themselves in the world of vampires, witches, and werewolves. Pack your bags, grab your vervain (just in case!), and prepare for an adventure that’ll leave you feeling EPIC!