4 Stunning Southern Locales Where ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Was Filmed

Sometimes it’s fun to watch stories about places we’d never want to go (like, say, Stranger Things’ Upside Down). Other times, it’s nice to spend some time in the kinds of idyllic small towns that seem to only exist in fiction, like Gilmore Girls’ Stars Hollow or the non-evil parts of Twin Peaks. The most recent addition to the cozy-town canon is Serenity, S.C., the sweet Southern hamlet featured on Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias.

The series, which is best enjoyed beneath a heavy blanket with a steaming cup of tea, follows a trio of besties — Maddie Townsend (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Helen Decatur (Heather Headley), and Dana Sue Sullivan (Brooke Elliott) — as they navigate life’s peaks and valleys, be they romantic, economic, or familial.

Serenity, as you may have guessed, is not a real town in South Carolina. Sherryl Woods, who penned the books upon which the series is based, wrote in the intro to 2007’s Stealing Home that it’s based on the state’s very real city of Sumter (more on that below). It may come as a surprise, then, that Sweet Magnolias is filmed in Georgia, not South Carolina.

Of course, that doesn’t make its locales any less gorgeous. Mix yourself a margarita and read on for more about where Sweet Magnolias is filmed.

Covington, Ga.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Maddie Townsend and Justin Bruening as Cal Maddox in ‘Sweet Magnolias’ season 4.

Courtesy Netflix

The vast majority of Sweet Magnolias is filmed in Covington, Ga., a small town that’s roughly a 40-minute drive from Atlanta. Location manager Brad Smith confirmed to PEOPLE that its tidy, quaint downtown is as pretty in real life as it is on the series, with only cosmetic changes being made to the area during filming.

For example, the soaring clock tower featured in the show’s opening credits (and in the background of numerous scenes) is part of the Newton County Courthouse. Visitors won’t be able to miss it, as it’s nestled right in the town square.

The same goes for the gorgeous Greek revival manor that is home to the show’s Corner Spa. Do note, though, that it’s actually a law office (the Law Offices of Wm. Thomas Craig, to be specific), so don’t pop in expecting a facial — we don’t think they teach that in law school.

Another Sweet Magnolias spot you can visit is Sullivan’s, the local restaurant owned by Dana Sue, but know that it’s actually called Mystic Grill. (Amusingly, Mystic Grill got its name from another show that shot in Covington, The Vampire Diaries.) Alas, only the exterior of the restaurant — including the terrace up top — is featured on the show. Interior scenes were shot on a soundstage in Atlanta, so grab a table outside if you want to nosh like a true Magnolia.

Dion Johnstone as Erik Whitley and Chris Medlin as Isaac Downey at Sullivan’s in ‘Sweet Magnolias’ season 4.

Courtesy Netflix

According to IMDb, more than 250 films and series have been shot in Covington — Remember the Titans (2000), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), and Doctor Sleep (2019), among them — and a local company, Hollywood of the South Tours, can guide you through the locations featured in Sweet Magnolias and beyond.

Decatur, Ga.

‘Sweet Magnolias’ season 4.
Eliza Morse/Netflix

Roughly an hour drive from Covington is Decatur, a 25,000-strong city that is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. It’s here that the residents of Serenity come to find a little serenity, as the area’s Oakhurst Presbyterian Church doubles as Sweet Magnolias’ Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. You may remember the building’s impressive stained glass windows during scenes set during services or Bible school.

Decatur is a busy shooting area, having been featured in series like HBO’s Watchmen, Marvel’s The Falcon and Winter Soldier, and Hulu’s Candy. The local Agnes Scott College, in particular, has been seen in films like Scream 2 (1997), Life of the Party (2018), and the Oscar-winning The Blind Side (2009).

McDonough, Ga.

‘Sweet Magnolias’.
NETFLIX

Located 40 minutes southeast of Covington is McDonough, a picturesque town of about 30,000. All of the scenes shot at Serenity High School were filmed at Henry County Middle School. According to a post from I ♥ McDonough, Georgia, the series also features shots of the school’s baseball field


Credit: ew.com