Hallmark Turned a Family-Run Farm Into Hope Valley for 'WCTH'

When it comes to the world of period television, there are plenty of shows that fit the category. But in our minds, one stands out for being a long-running favorite: Hallmark's When Calls the Heart.

The premise of When Calls the Heart is relatively simple: the show follows Elizabeth Thornton (nee Thatcher) [Erin Krakow] as she ventures out to the Western frontier in Canada. She is sent to teach a group of young students in the mining town of Coal Valley (later called Hope Valley), which is laden with tragedy and despair. With her new teachings and approach to everyday life, the citizens find her energy something to aspire to... and they do so with hope, love and laughter.

Now that the TV drama is in the middle of airing season 12 on Hallmark, it's easy to forget that we're watching a fictional story come to life. But this also leads us to wonder where When Calls the Heart is filmed. As it turns out, there are some interesting things to know about the location where the series is set. Here's a quick breakdown:

Is Hope Valley a real place?

Much to the disappointment of When Calls the Heart fans, Hope Valley is not a real place. The quaint town comes from the imagination of writer Janette Oke, whose Canadian West book series was the inspiration for the period TV drama.

Where is When Calls the Heart filmed?

Most of the scenes for When Calls the Heart are shot on the family-owned MacInnes Farms in Langley, about an hour south of Vancouver, Canada. While the show films on the Jamestown Move set within the property, parts of the farm are actually still in operation. The farm is known for producing honey, hops, hazelnuts and barley, and caring for free-range chickens and 40 acres of cottonwood trees.

As for what the set looks like when not filming, the show's executive producer and head writer John Tinker revealed on Instagram what the set looks like in the off-season back in March 2020: "All the signage, the lamp posts, flowers and other plants, every stick of furniture is gone, making Hope Valley look like a ghost town," he wrote.

While the set offers bare bones — painted front porches, saloon-inspired buildings, and rustic exteriors — the crew is responsible for transforming it into the Hope Valley that fans have come to know.

What's more, here are some fun facts about how the show come to life. Per Parade, the When Calls the Heart sets that are built across two levels are often filmed on a separate set. For example, Lee (Kavan Smith) and Rosemary Coulter (Pascale Hutton)'s second-floor bedroom in their home is actually filmed in the schoolhouse/church. Additionally, the row houses featured in the show are actually made with special effects. It turns out there are just two houses on the property — and they likely are the ones used for Elizabeth and the Coulters' homes.

BTW: Erin gave a backstage look at what it takes to film When Calls the Heart when she toured the set with Entertainment Tonight in May 2019. She showcased some of Hope Valley's most iconic spots, including the saloon and schoolhouse.

Are other projects filmed on the When Calls the Heart set?

As it turns out, yes! Before When Calls the Heart came along, the MacInnes family was already in talks with Hollywood to turn part of their land into a movie set. First, the makers behind Scary Movie 4 expressed interest in using part of their cottonwood forest as a backdrop for a parody of The Village, the film showcased in the movie. From that point forward, "the movies kept coming after that," Melanie MacInnes told Langley Advance Times in October 2017.

Additionally, Melanie revealed When Calls the Heart is just another way to showcase all that their farm has to offer — including the crops grown on-site. "If we are doing barley, they'll use it in the background of their scene. They are actually promoting our farming more and more," she continued.

PSA: Along with Scary Movie 4, you may have seen the When Calls the Heart set on Riverdale, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Once Upon a Time, Timeless, Beyond Sherwood Forest and The Book of Beasts.

Can I visit the When Calls the Heart set?

For the last few years, a few hundred Hearties have been given the chance to visit Hope Valley as part of the Hearties Family Reunion. Dubbed a "one-of-a-kind fan experience," the three-day event features meet-and-greets with the cast, meals from Abigail's Cafe and a behind-the-scenes tour of Hope Valley.

While the event was suspended for a few years during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hearties Family Reunion is back on! The most recent reunion was in September 2024, with Erin, Kavan, Pascale, Chris McNally (who plays Lucas Bouchard), Kevin McGarry (who portrays Nathan Grant) and more coming to talk all things WCTH.

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