If you’re a fan of Stranger Things, you’ve undoubtedly fallen for Hawkins Indiana—the small, tree-lined town where Eleven, Mike, and the gang uncover supernatural secrets, battle demogorgons, and navigate the chaos of the Upside Down. But while Hawkins Indiana exists only in the minds of the Duffer Brothers and on our screens, its iconic locations have real-world counterparts that have become pilgrimage sites for fans worldwide. The question “where was Stranger Things filmed?” leads directly to these hidden gems in Georgia, where the show’s creators brought Hawkins to life with stunning attention to 1980s detail.
Hawkins Indiana – A Fictional Town With Real Roots
Hawkins Indiana is portrayed as a quintessential 1980s Midwestern small town—complete with a downtown square, a local high school, and a sense of tight-knit community that masks the eerie happenings beneath the surface. But the Duffer Brothers didn’t film in Indiana; instead, they turned to several towns in Georgia to capture Hawkins’ nostalgic vibe. Georgia’s mix of historic architecture, tree-dense neighborhoods, and retro diners made it the perfect stand-in for the fictional Hoosier State town. Towns like Jackson, Fayetteville, East Point, and Duluth have all played key roles in bringing Hawkins to life, each contributing unique locations that fans instantly recognize from the show.
Iconic Hawkins Locations and Their Real-World Counterparts
Let’s dive into some of the most beloved Hawkins spots and where you can find them in real life:
Hawkins National Laboratory
The sinister Hawkins National Laboratory, where Eleven was experimented on and the portal to the Upside Down was opened, is actually the Georgia Mental Health Institute (GMHI) in Decatur. Though the institute closed in 1997, its imposing, mid-century modern building provided the perfect backdrop for the lab’s eerie scenes. Fans often visit the site to snap photos of the iconic entrance, which has become synonymous with the show’s supernatural mystery. The lab’s interior scenes were filmed at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Atlanta, but the exterior of GMHI remains the face of Hawkins Lab for viewers.
Hawkins High School
The home of the Hawkins Tigers—where Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Eleven attended classes and plotted their next move against the Upside Down—is Jackson High School in Jackson, Georgia. The school’s brick exterior, gymnasium, and even the parking lot have all been featured in the show. During filming, the school’s hallways were transformed into 1980s-era corridors, complete with vintage lockers, posters of 80s movies like The Goonies and Back to the Future, and band flyers for groups like Duran Duran. Even the school’s mascot, the Tigers, was kept intact to maintain authenticity.
Starcourt Mall
Starcourt Mall, the bustling 1980s shopping center that served as the main setting for Stranger Things Season 3, is none other than Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, Georgia. Once a thriving mall, it had fallen into disuse before the show’s creators chose it for Starcourt. The mall was renovated to look like a classic 1980s shopping destination, with neon signs, retro storefronts (like Scoops Ahoy ice cream parlor and The Gap), and a food court filled with 80s staples like Orange Julius and Burger King. After filming, parts of the mall retained their Starcourt aesthetic, drawing fans from far and wide to walk through the same halls where Eleven and Max bonded over shopping.
Hawkins Downtown Square
The heart of Hawkins, where residents gather at the local diner or browse the shops, is filmed in the historic downtown square of Jackson, Georgia. The square’s charming brick buildings, old-fashioned theater (the Jackson Theatre), and the iconic “Hawkins Police Department” sign (which is actually the Jackson City Hall) have become instantly recognizable to fans. Local businesses in Jackson have embraced their connection to Stranger Things, with some even offering themed menus—like the “Eleven’s Eggo Waffle” special at a downtown diner—or selling Stranger Things merch to cater to visitors.
The Impact of Stranger Things on Hawkins’ Real Filming Towns
The success of Stranger Things has had a profound impact on the Georgia towns that stand in for Hawkins Indiana. Tourism has boomed, with fans flocking to these locations to walk in the footsteps of their favorite characters. For example, Gwinnett Place Mall saw a surge in visitors after Starcourt Mall was featured in Season 3, and local tour companies like Atlanta Movie Tours now offer dedicated Stranger Things tours that take fans to all the key spots. These tours often include fun facts about filming—like how the Starcourt Mall food court was stocked with real 1980s snacks for the cast and crew. Jackson, Georgia, has also benefited from the attention—its downtown square is now a popular spot for fan photos, and local restaurants report increased business from tourists who want to experience the “Hawkins vibe.”
Why Hawkins Indiana (and Its Real Locations) Resonate So Much
Hawkins Indiana resonates with viewers for several reasons. First, it taps into 1980s nostalgia—from the fashion and music to the small-town charm that many people associate with that era. Second, the town’s idyllic surface masks a dark, supernatural underbelly, creating a compelling contrast that keeps viewers hooked. But perhaps most importantly, the real locations in Georgia bring Hawkins to life in a way that feels authentic. The historic buildings, tree-lined streets, and retro diners in these towns haven’t changed much in decades, which made it easy for the show’s creators to transform them into the Hawkins we know and love. This authenticity makes it easy to believe that Hawkins is a real place—one that viewers can almost reach out and touch.
Conclusion
Hawkins Indiana may be a fictional town, but its real-world counterparts in Georgia have become just as beloved by Stranger Things fans. From the sinister Hawkins National Laboratory to the charming downtown square, these locations have captured the essence of the show and turned into must-visit spots for anyone who loves the series. The question “where was Stranger Things filmed?” isn’t just about finding a location—it’s about discovering the places that helped create the magic of Hawkins. Whether you’re planning a road trip to Georgia to walk through Starcourt Mall or just curious about the behind-the-scenes magic, the real Hawkins is waiting to be explored. For fans, these towns aren’t just filming locations—they’re a chance to step into the world of Stranger Things and relive their favorite moments from the show.