Where was “Stranger Things” filmed? 8 iconic locations from the show

You can visit many iconic locations from the show in real life.

What happens when a small town in Indiana gets tormented by Dungeons & Dragons-esque creatures? Well, things turn upside down. Luckily, a group of kids outsmarts the supernatural forces — with the help of a few adults, of course. When Stranger Things premiered on Netflix in 2016, fans became obsessed with the ‘80s nostalgia and the mystical twists and turns. With the fifth and final season on the horizon, Entertainment Weekly is revisiting the series and exploring its famous filming locations.

Most of the filming happened in Georgia, but when the gang splits up in season 4, we find some of our favorite characters in California (New Mexico IRL) and Russia (Lithuania IRL). So, where can you snap some iconic Stranger Things photos? Read on to find out where Stranger Things was filmed.

Hawkins National Laboratory (Emory University Briarcliff Campus, 1256 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, Ga.)

Unbeknownst to the residents of Hawkins, there was a shady government operation just under their noses. Dr. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine) of Hawkins National Laboratory conducted experiments on children with psychokinetic powers for a confidential project known as MKUltra. But when one of these test subjects opens a gate to an alternate dimension, the lab’s secrets are threatened to be revealed.

The real-life filming location is part of the 42-acre Briarcliff property that Emory University purchased in 1998. The laboratory itself is Briarcliff Building A, which used to be the Georgia Mental Health Institute that operated from 1965 to 1997. Lobbies, conference rooms, offices, auditoriums, lab and clinical spaces, and a basement with underground tunnels populate the five-story lab. (Do you think the Demogorgon is down there?) The Briarcliff property also includes the Candler Mansion, the former residence of Asa G. Candler, Jr., the son of Coca-Cola’s founder.

If you want to visit the infamous Stranger Things laboratory, you might want to make your plans soon. In spring 2022, Emory University announced that the Briarcliff property would soon be converted into a senior living community. This plan includes demolishing the former mental health center and renovating the Candler Mansion.

The Wheeler’s house (2530 Piney Wood Lane, East Point, Ga.)

The Wheeler’s house was the meeting spot for Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) and his friends Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), and Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) for their Dungeons & Dragons sessions. We witness many iconic moments at the residence throughout the show, including Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) getting his flirt on with Mrs. Wheeler (Cara Buono) in season 2 and police grilling Lucas, Dustin, and Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) in season 4.

The house used for exterior shots of the Wheeler’s residence is located in East Point, Ga. It’s important to note that this is somebody’s real home, so try to remain respectful should you visit. As your Stranger Things walking tour continues, head up the street to see Lucas’ house at 2550 Piney Wood Lane.

Benny’s Burgers (Tiffany’s Kitchen, 7413 Lee Road, Lithia Springs, Ga.)

We meet Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) for the first time at Benny’s Burgers as she stuffs her face with delicious french fries. When restaurant owner Benny Hammond (Chris Sullivan) catches her, he cooks her a meal and discovers the tattooed 011 on her wrist. But when Benny calls social services, things unfortunately turn sideways (or should we say upside down?).

The scenes at Benny’s Burgers were filmed at Tiffany’s Kitchen in Lithia Springs, Ga. You can order your favorite southern comfort food during their open hours, which are Tuesdays through Sundays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Or if you want to be like Eleven and just eat a hamburger, they’ve got that too.

Bradley’s Big Buy (Piggly Wiggly, 504 Center Street, Palmetto, Georgia)

When Mike gives Eleven an Eggo waffle the morning after the gang finds her, an addiction is born. And if you’re like us, watching Eleven scarf down the crispy breakfast treat makes your stomach rumble. Luckily, you can visit the grocery store portrayed as Bradley’s Big Buy and buy your own waffles.

Now a part of the Piggly Wiggly franchise, the grocer is located in Palmetto, Ga. You can walk the exact path Eleven did when she stole her favorite food in season 1. (But unlike her, we suggest you pay for them.) Bradley’s Big Buy also appears in season 3 when the gang takes supplies from the now-abandoned store with Mind Flayer Billy hot on their trail.

Hawkins Community Pool (South Bend Pool, 2000 Lakewood Avenue SE, Atlanta, Ga.)

The Hawkins Community Pool is the place to be for the residents of Hawkins, Ind. That’s where the kids spend their summer break, and even the moms have a little fun watching their favorite lifeguard Billy. But his summer takes a turn for the worse when he becomes possessed by the Mind Flayer.

The pool scenes in season 3 were filmed at South Bend Pool in Atlanta, Ga. If you want to take a dip, it's open seasonally in the summer from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Want to know something even sweeter than a cone of Scoops Ahoy ice cream? Admission is free.

Rink-O-Mania (Skate-O-Mania, 400 Paisano St NE, Albuquerque, N.M.)

When Mike visits Eleven, Will, and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) in California, he can’t wait to meet her new friends. But what he doesn’t know is that Eleven has been hiding how miserable she is in her new home. And when Will awkwardly third wheels their date at Rink-O-Mania, she reaps the consequences of her lies, which involves a chocolate milkshake catastrophe.

Reliving this Stranger Things moment isn’t hard. The retro skating rink Skate-O-Mania (formerly known as Skate King) will make you feel like you're rolling all the way back to the ‘80s. It even still has some of the set decorations on display. Skate-O-Mania hosts several special events, including Retro Night on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and skating lessons on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. You can check out their full schedule on their website.

Roane Hill Cemetery (Stone Mountain Cemetery, 1025 Silver Hill Road, Stone Mountain, Ga.)

The town of Hawkins sees a fair amount of casualties, like when Billy sacrifices himself to save his stepsister Max and her friends. His death haunts her throughout season 4 as she becomes Vecna’s (Jamie Campbell Bower) next target. In what she believes are her final moments, she visits Roane Hill Cemetery to see Billy’s grave. But as Max reads a letter she wrote to him expressing her grief and guilt, Vecna takes over.

If you plan on visiting the cemetery in real life, you might want to bring a cassette tape of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” just in case. This crucial season 4 scene was filmed at Stone Mountain Cemetery in Stone Mountain, Ga. Many graves date back to around 1850 when settlers first formed the graveyard. It’s since become the final resting place for veterans dating all the way back to the Civil War, plus modern-day civilians and everyone in between.

Surfer Boy Pizza (Aliberto’s Mexican Food, 3476 NM-47, Los Lunas, N.M.)

It’s Argyle (Eduardo Franco) to the rescue! When Eleven frantically tries to find a way to get back to Hawkins in time to save Max from Vecna, the gang comes across a Surfer Boy Pizza in Nevada. After a quick bribe and some preparation, they’re able to make a bath that Eleven uses to increase her powers and contact Max.

Surfer Boy Pizza is actually Aliberto’s Mexican Food in real life. While you won’t be able to order a slice, you can indulge in tacos, burritos, and chimichangas. Roberto De la Torre started the chain restaurant after settling in the United States in 1979. Now, there are twelve locations throughout Arizona and New Mexico. As Argyle says, you should “try before you deny.”

Related content:

• Linda Hamilton considered retirement before landing Stranger Things role: 'I’m tired of being tough'

• Stranger Things star Joe Keery has 'very convoluted' feelings about the show ending

• Finn Wolfhard sees Stranger Things final season as a 'graduation' for the cast

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.