“Where was Gilmore Girls filmed?” is a question that has popped up more than once for fans of the beloved TV show. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where Lorelai and Rory’s cozy Connecticut town really is, you’re not alone. While Stars Hollow may feel like a real place tucked away somewhere in New England, the truth is that much of the series was shot on a studio lot in California, with a bit of Canadian charm mixed in for the beginning.
For many, the show’s charm lies in its small-town feel and fast-paced banter, and the illusion of a real location plays a big role in that. So, whether you’re planning a fan trip or just curious about how TV magic brings a fictional town to life, this article walks you through where “Gilmore Girls” was filmed, the real-life spots you can visit, and what makes the behind-the-scenes setup so special.
So, if you’ve ever sipped coffee at a local café and imagined Luke’s Diner just around the corner, read on. You might find that Stars Hollow is closer than you think — or at least, a version of it is.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Where Was Gilmore Girls Filmed?
- The Canadian Start: Unionville, Ontario
- Life on the Warner Bros. Backlot in Burbank
- Can You Visit Stars Hollow?
- Other Real-Life Locations in the Show
- Frequently Asked Questions
Where Was Gilmore Girls Filmed?
So, you might be thinking, “Where was Gilmore Girls filmed?” and expecting a quaint town somewhere in New England. But the answer is a bit more layered than that. The majority of the show, including the iconic town square, Luke’s Diner, and Chilton Prep, was filmed on a backlot at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.
It’s actually pretty cool how the crew managed to create such a cozy, small-town atmosphere in the middle of a huge studio lot. The streets were built to look like a real town, right down to the cobblestones and vintage shopfronts. And while most of the show was shot there, the very first episode — the pilot — was filmed in a completely different place altogether.
So, to break it down, the series was mostly filmed in Burbank, California, but the pilot episode was shot in a real town in Canada. That’s right — the first time viewers met Lorelai and Rory, they were actually seeing a little village in Ontario.
The Canadian Start: Unionville, Ontario
Yes, it’s true — the very first episode of “Gilmore Girls” was filmed in Unionville, Ontario, a charming little village just outside of Toronto. The town’s historic Main Street stood in for Stars Hollow in the pilot, giving the show a bit of a Canadian start before it moved entirely to California.
Unionville is actually part of Markham, and its old-world charm made it a perfect fit for the show’s aesthetic. The crew used the town’s real streets, shops, and architecture to create the illusion of a small New England town. So if you ever visit Unionville, you might spot a few familiar spots from the pilot.
So why was the pilot filmed there? Well, it turns out that the showrunners picked Unionville because it had that quaint, small-town look they were going for. But once the show was picked up for a full season, the decision was made to move production to the Warner Bros. lot, where they could have more control over the sets and filming schedule.
So, while most of the show is a set built on a backlot, that first episode actually had a real-life location — and it just so happened to be in Canada.
Life on the Warner Bros. Backlot in Burbank
Once the show got past the pilot stage, most of “Gilmore Girls” was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. Specifically, the crew used a set called Midwest Street, which is part of the studio’s backlot and has been used for countless other TV shows and movies over the years.
Midwest Street is basically a full town built on a soundstage, complete with different buildings that can be dressed up to look like various American towns. For “Gilmore Girls,” they transformed it into the fictional Stars Hollow, complete with the town square, the gazebo, Luke’s Diner, and even the Dragonfly Inn.
One of the big advantages of filming on a backlot is that it gives the production team total control over the environment. They can keep the same sets up for years, tweak the lighting and weather conditions, and avoid any real-world disruptions like traffic or changing seasons.
So while Stars Hollow may feel like a real place, it’s actually a carefully constructed set that exists only on this California studio lot. But for fans of the show, that doesn’t make it any less magical — especially when you realize that so many of the town’s iconic spots were all just steps away from each other.
Can You Visit Stars Hollow?
Now, if you’re like most fans, you’re probably wondering, “Can I actually visit Stars Hollow?” The short answer is: not exactly. Since it’s a fictional town built on a studio lot, you can’t just show up and start walking around it like a real place. However, there are a few ways to get a taste of the show’s filming locations.
First, if you’re ever in Burbank, you can take a studio tour at Warner Bros., where you’ll get to walk through Midwest Street and see the sets used in “Gilmore Girls.” Depending on the tour, you might even spot Luke’s Diner or the gazebo from the town square. It’s not quite the same as strolling through the real Stars Hollow, but for fans, it’s pretty close.
There’s also a replica of the Stars Hollow set at a theme park in Virginia, though it’s a bit more of a niche experience. If you’re not planning a trip to either of those places, you can still explore Unionville, Ontario, where the pilot was filmed. While the town has changed a bit since then, you might recognize some familiar spots from the very first episode.
So while you can’t just hop on a train to Stars Hollow like Lorelai and Rory, you can still find pieces of it in real life — and that’s pretty exciting for any fan of the show.
Other Real-Life Locations in the Show
While most of the show was filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot, a few scenes were shot on location in other parts of California — and even in other states. For example, the Chilton Prep scenes were filmed at a real school in Hollywood, and some of the college episodes took place on actual college campuses.
One of the more famous locations is the Yale University campus, which stood in for Rory’s college experience. The production team actually shot some scenes on location at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut, giving those episodes a real New England feel. That’s one of the reasons those episodes feel a bit different — they actually took place in the region the show is set in.
There are also a few other hidden spots that fans might recognize. The Dragonfly Inn scenes were filmed on a soundstage, but some of the outdoor shots used real locations to give the inn a more authentic setting. So while most of the show is a studio creation, there are a few real-world locations mixed in to give it that extra bit of realism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was any part of “Gilmore Girls” filmed in Connecticut?
While the show is set in Connecticut, most of it was filmed on a studio lot in California. However, some scenes — particularly those involving Yale University — were filmed on location in New Haven, Connecticut. That’s one of the few times the production actually went to the state where Stars Hollow is supposed to be.
Can I tour the Stars Hollow set?
Yes, you can tour the Stars Hollow set by taking a studio tour at Warner Bros. in Burbank, California. The tour includes a walk through Midwest Street, where you’ll see many of the iconic locations from the show, including Luke’s Diner and the town square gazebo.
What other shows used the same filming location as “Gilmore Girls”?
Midwest Street at Warner Bros. has been used for many other TV shows and movies over the years. Some of the more famous ones include “Batman,” “The Dark Knight,” “Superman,” and “Ellen.” It’s basically a one-stop shop for small-town America in Hollywood productions.
So, if you’ve ever watched another show and thought, “Hey, this looks familiar,” there’s a good chance it was filmed on the same backlot as “Gilmore Girls.”
