Sullivan’s Crossing has made fans fall in love with the small Canadian town — but where is the hit show actually filmed?
Based on the book series by Robyn Carr, Sullivan’s Crossing follows neurosurgeon Maggie (Morgan Kohan) as she finds herself in legal trouble and returns to her hometown in rural Nova Scotia to reconnect with her estranged father, Sully (Scott Patterson).
Maggie quickly falls in love with the area — and the people — again and chooses to stay. Three seasons later, Maggie is planting roots in Sullivan’s Crossing with love interest Cal (Chad Michael Murray) but some viewers might be surprised to know that the town itself isn’t real.
Is Sullivan’s Crossing a Real Place?
The fictional town (and campground) of Sullivan’s Crossing is actually the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The show relies on areas such as Oakfield Provincial Park, Shandon’s Diner, Beaver Bank, Shubie Park and Eastern Passage to serve as backdrops for key scenes. There is also footage from Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park and the village of Peggy’s Cove.
Where Is Sullivan’s Crossing Located in the Book Series?
Chad Michael Murray, Morgan Kohan in Sullivan’s Crossing season 3 Jessie Redmond / ©CW/Freemantle / Courtesy Everett Collection
In Carr’s books, Sullivan’s Crossing is in the Rocky Mountains. Showrunner Roma Roth decided to change locations after Carr’s other book series — Virgin River — found success on Netflix.
“To ensure the show would feel distinctive from her [Carr’s] other adaptation, I decided to set it in Nova Scotia for Nova Scotia,” Roth told Variety in 2022 about moving from the states to Canada. “This meant diverging from the books slightly. However, having been born and raised in Canada it’s always been a personal goal of mine to create and write a Canadian content show that would reach a global audience.”
What Has the Cast Said About Filming in Canada?
Kohan — and the rest of the cast — have also praised the chance to spend time in Canada for the show.
“Oh my God, I love this city,” she told Brit + Co in 2023. “The nice thing about it too is it’s a city and then [a little bit] out, you can be out on a trail somewhere in a small community. There’s just so many different bits and pieces you can pick from.”
Murray referred to the area as a “hidden gem,” telling Parade in 2023, “It is the best kept secret in Canada. This place is absolutely magic. We’re out there every day and it’s just such a breath of fresh air filming. You’re among nature and you can’t help but feel so grounded. It’s pretty spectacular. It’s a place that people need to go.”
Meanwhile, Patterson spoke to Decider that same year about his love for Halifax, adding, “This is a beautiful place. I mean every day, if we’re not on the stage, we’re out in nature. And even surrounding the soundstage are wonderful nature views.”
He continued: “It’s hard to be away from my family for a month at a time or whatever it is. But if you’re gonna do that, this is a pretty nice place to be and work.”
Sullivan’s Crossing is currently streaming on Netflix.
