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Netflix has brought Robyn Carr’s book series to life with their beloved drama series, Virgin River. The show focuses on the trials and tribulations of Melinda “Mel” Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), a nurse and midwife who brings her talents to the small town of Virgin River after her life in Los Angeles falls apart in the most traumatic ways.

As Mel settles into her new home, she becomes a pillar in the close-knit town, even falling for retired Marine and bar owner, Jack Sheridan (Martin Sheridan).

Netflix fans have fallen head over heels for Virgin River, as they watched Mel and Jack navigate their new relationships amid outside and past challenges. But is the drama series based on a true story?

Ben Hollingsworth as Dan Brady and Zibby Allen as Brie Sheridan sitting on a park bench in 'Virgin River'
Ben Hollingsworth as Dan Brady and Zibby Allen as Brie Sheridan in ‘Virgin River’ | Netflix

Where is ‘Virgin River’ filmed?

Virgin River is a fictional town located in Northern California. However, the town gets its name from the Colorado River which is located in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Fans might be supposed to know that the show is not even shot in the United States. Instead, the Netflix series is filmed in Vancouver, Canada, and the surrounding area. Other locations include Squamish, Burnaby, and Port Coquitlam, which are all towns in British Columbia. 

In fact, the Vancouver tourism board has put together an entire itinerary based on the show. Moreover, Mel’s cabin that once crumbling around her before Jack fixed it up is the caretaker’s cabin in Canada’s Murdo Frazer Park. The cabin was built in 1950, and the caretaker to Murdo Frazer Park still lives there.

Is ‘Virgin River’ based on a true story?

Virgin River is based on the well-loved book series by Robyn Carr. However, Carr’s entire Virgin River Universe is fictional. “I have to remind them that it only exists in our hearts and minds,” Carr told Entertainment Weekly. However, the prolific author also explained that creating a real-life community like Virgin River is something that fans of the books and the show could aspire to.

“We can have that sense of community in our own neighborhood or school or church group or community center or library association,” she said. “All we have to do is try to create it. We create it by being helpful neighbors and good friends and positive people.”

Related

‘Virgin River’: Why Are so Many Characters From Robyn Carr’s Books Missing From the Show?

When will ‘Virgin River’ Season 4 premiere?

Netflix has not yet renewed Virgin River for Season 4. However, some fans are convinced that the new season is already filming in Vancouver. Recently, The Watershed Grill in North Vancouver, which is the location Virgin River uses for Jack’s bar recently announced on Instagram via Hello! Magazine that they would be closed for a few days due to filming. After Virgin River fans began flooding their account, they quickly switched the wording to “maintenance.”

Moreover, Netflix Life is reporting that the cast and crew have been filming new episodes since July 2021 and that production is slated to end in November 2021. This means that the next season is likely to debut in May 2022, but hopefully, Netflix will take pity on Virgin River fans before then.

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