Where was Smallville filmed?
2001
City Locations
Colwood (Canada), Vancouver (Canada), Cloverdale (Canada), Aldergrove (Canada), Anmore (Canada)
Location Types
University, Mansion, House, Cafe
Location Styles
Beachfront, Modern Building, Modern Car
About Smallville
Smallville is a beloved American television series developed by producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The superhero series follows the adventures of Clark Kent, a.k.a Superman, as he grows from a young boy into a superhero. The show, aired for 10 seasons starting in 2001, featuring an ensemble cast that included Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack, John Glover, and Annette O’Toole. It was broadcasted by the WB channel before merging with UPN and continuing on The CW until its final episode in 2011. The series follows Clark Kent’s journey as he discovers his superhuman powers while growing up in the small town of Smallville and learning to embrace his destiny as Superman. Along the way, Clark faces struggles with evil forces like his closet friend Lex Luthor and other villains he encounters around his small town. All the while, he learns to control his powers and finds strength through the support of family and friends. Despite all of the hardships he must face on his mission to save humanity, Clark eventually discovers the hero within him and learns how to use hope to overcome any obstacle. The success of Smallville is attributed to its great storytelling combined with high production value. With over 200 episodes created, fans have been able to follow Clark’s adventures on binge-watching sessions, and thankfully the show is still available to watch on streaming services like Prime Video.
Smallville Locations
Smallville, the beloved television series, was primarily filmed in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. The production design team took great care to find or create locations that captured the essence of a fictional small town in Kansas. The city streets of Vancouver and its surrounding region were meticulously chosen to stand in for Smallville’s main drag. Filming locations ranged from bustling cityscapes to quaint rural backdrops with breathtaking mountain views. Locations spanned from Burnaby to Abbotsford, allowing viewers around the world to experience the beauty of British Columbia through Smallville's narrative. The backdrop of Vancouver and its surrounding region provides unique opportunities for filmmakers. Downtown Vancouver alone offers a fast pace atmosphere with towering skyscrapers and buzzing street life while the surrounding suburban areas offer tranquil pastoral sights filled with rolling hills and lush green scenery. Through the show, viewers had an opportunity to explore the beauty of Stanley Park and its natural wonders as well as take trips up Grouse Mountain for some breathtaking views of the metropolitan Vancouver cityscape below. Visiting the filming locations responsible for bringing Smallville to our screens would be a worthwhile experience for any fan of the show. From experiencing the stunning vistas atop Grouse Mountain or exploring the mysterious Stanley Park forest trails, visitors have a chance to truly immerse themselves in their favorite moments from Smallville’s narrative world. They also get a chance to appreciate how much care went into creating the fictitious midwestern town within one of Canada’s most beautiful cities-Vancouver!
Fun Facts:
An interesting fact about this series is that it was nominated for numerous awards every season including several Emmy Awards for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in 2004 and 2005 for the exceptional visual effects used throughout each episode. Furthermore, Smallville holds the record for being the longest-running North American science fiction series ever broadcasted on television, with an impressive 10 seasons released.
Clark and Whitney’s fight scene in Smallville
Aldergrove, Langley Twp, BC, Canada
Clark Kent (Tom Welling) and his friends first encounter the villainous character of Whitney Fordman (Eric Johnson), who is dating Clark's love interest, Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), in what turns out to be unpleasant circumstances. As the group walks, they come across Whitney and Lana having a romantic moment. Clark feels a sense of jealousy and frustration as he watches them, leading to an argument between Clark and Whitney, which quickly escalates into a physical fight. Aldergrove, situated within the Langley Township of British Columbia, Canada, is a quaint little town that offers a serene countryside ambiance, surrounded by verdant green fields, forests, and farmlands. The town prides itself on its peaceful and laid-back environment, making it an idyllic retreat from the city's hustle and bustle. Established as a farming community in the 1800s, Aldergrove has a rich heritage that is still reflected in its present-day involvement in agriculture and the presence of several farms and produce stands scattered around the region. If you have access to a car or rental, drive to Aldergrove by taking the Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 E. Take exit 73 for 264 St toward Aldergrove/Lynden USA, turn left onto 264 St and continue straight until you reach Aldergrove. Alternatively, take the bus from Vancouver or Surrey to Aldergrove using the Translink service. Bus #503 travels directly from Surrey Central Station to Aldergrove Exchange, while Bus #66 travels from Langley Centre to Aldergrove Exchange.
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Clark visits Lex's mansion scene in Smallville
Hatley Castle, 2005 Sooke Rd, Victoria, BC V9B 5Y2, Canada
Clark (Tom Welling) visits Lex's (Michael Rosenbaum) mansion to give back the truck keys before school. He informs Lex that he cannot keep the truck and Lex deduces that it is because Clark's father (John Schneider) does not approve of him. Although Lex assumes it's due to his audacity, Clark discloses that it's a consequence of the actions that Lex's father (John Glover) has taken in the town. Hatley Castle is a magnificent estate located in Colwood, a suburb of Victoria, British Columbia. Constructed in 1908, the castle served as a private residence for James Dunsmuir, a wealthy industrialist and former Premier of British Columbia, and his family. Later, the property was sold to the Canadian Armed Forces and used as a naval training facility known as Royal Roads Military College. The castle and its surrounding gardens are now part of the Hatley Park National Historic Site and are owned by the Royal Roads University. By car, drive to 2005 Sooke Rd, Victoria, by following the Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 W and taking exit #14 toward Langford/BC-14 W/Sooke. Turn right onto Sooke Rd/BC-14 W, and continue straight for about 3.6 km until you reach your destination.
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Lana working in Talon scene in Smallville
Clova Cinemas, 5732 176 St, Surrey, BC V3S 4C8, Canada
Lana was employed at the Talon all summer long. While she is working during a heat wave, Clark discovered his new ability, heat vision, within the Talon, nearly igniting the building in flames. Meanwhile, Lex, who is being manipulated by Desirée Atkins, visits the Talon to convey to Lana that it would be shut down in 24 hours. After they crack the mystery, Lex returns Talon's ownership to Lana. Clova Cinemas is a historic movie theatre located in the heart of downtown Cloverdale, Surrey. The theatre was originally built in 1947 and has been a beloved landmark ever since. It is one of the last remaining single-screen movie theatres in the Lower Mainland and offers a unique and charming movie-going experience. If you have a car or rental, drive to 5732 176 St, Surrey, by following Highway 1 East and taking exit 53 for 176 Street toward Cloverdale. Turn left onto 176 St and continue straight for about 2 km until you reach your destination. You can take Bus #320 from Surrey Central Station, which stops at 176 St and 57 Ave, about a 5-minute walk from the destination.
Chloe’s keys scene in Smallville
Buntzen Lake, Anmore, BC, Canada
Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) mentions her previous school field trip and talks about accidentally dropping her keys. She also recalls how Jake Pollen (Harris Allan) retrieved the keys for her and stayed submerged for six minutes. Chloe adds Jake to her list of individuals who could have been influenced by the meteor rocks since he displayed some peculiar characteristics afterward. Later on, it is affirmed that Jake had developed gills, although it was never revealed how he came to possess such abilities. Located in Anmore, British Columbia, Buntzen Lake is a stunning man-made water body that attracts both tourists and locals. It is an excellent spot for leisure activities such as hiking, kayaking, swimming, and fishing. The lake is surrounded by lush green forests and picturesque mountain views, making it an idyllic place for nature lovers. Hikers can choose from a variety of trails around the lake, ranging from effortless to challenging, to bask in the magnificent views of the nearby wilderness. If you have access to a car or rental, drive to Buntzen Lake by taking the Trans-Canada Highway east and then exiting onto Exit 44B towards Port Moody/Anmore/Buntzen Lake. Follow the signs for Buntzen Lake until you reach your destination.
Clark and Chloe chatting scene in Smallville
University of British Columbia, Robson Square Campus, 800 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2E7, Canada
Clark is walking down a hallway while talking to his friend Chloe. As they continue walking and chatting, they pass by a few students studying in groups. The conversation between Clark and Chloe centers on their investigation of some strange occurrences happening around the school, which they suspect could be linked to meteor rocks. The University of British Columbia (UBC) Robson Square Campus is a satellite campus located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. The campus occupies several floors of the iconic Robson Square complex, which also houses the Provincial Law Courts and the Vancouver Art Gallery. The campus is known for its state-of-the-art facilities, including lecture halls, seminar rooms, computer labs, and study spaces. The school’s library offers access to a vast collection of resources, including books, journals, and online databases. By car, drive to 800 Robson St by taking the Granville St Bridge to W Georgia St, turn right onto Seymour St, then left onto Robson St until you reach 800 Robson St.
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Conclusion
Smallville retains its spot as a beloved TV series in fans' hearts, more than two decades since it premiered on our screens. Following the life of Clark Kent and his journey from Smallville, Kansas to a full-fledged superhero, the show was filmed primarily in Vancouver, British Columbia, and other parts of Canada. For ten seasons, viewers were treated to stunning visuals and intricate locations as Clark navigated his teenage years and learned to embrace his superpowers. Along the way, he had a variety of adventures that included visiting farms, caves, rural towns, and bustling cities. In addition, fans got to enjoy sights of locations such as the Kent Farm and the Fortress of Solitude. Every episode took place in different yet familiar places that allowed viewers to imagine being in Smallville with Clark himself. The show was even more special because of its dedication to showcasing diverse locations that added dynamic elements to each storyline. Smallville captured small-town charm as well as big-city excitement which gave viewers an array of options when it came to exploring alongside Clark Kent. With its incredible settings and captivating stories, it's no wonder why this series remains popular among fans today.