Serenity may be fictional, but the places that bring Sweet Magnolias to life are very real—and very visitable. While the series is set in “Serenity, South Carolina,” the show is filmed primarily in Georgia, with one South Carolina stop that matters for a different reason: it inspired the town on the page.
The 4 Southern locales behind Serenity
Covington, Georgia (the main “Serenity”)
The vast majority of Sweet Magnolias is shot in Covington, about 40 minutes from Atlanta, and its downtown square is essentially Serenity’s beating heart. The show’s opening-credits clock tower belongs to the Newton County Courthouse, and several familiar storefronts are real-world businesses dressed with light cosmetic changes for filming.
Two fan-favorite landmarks are especially easy to spot: the “Corner Spa” exterior is actually a law office in Covington, and Dana Sue’s restaurant “Sullivan’s” is represented by Mystic Grill—though the interior restaurant scenes were filmed on a soundstage in Atlanta, not inside the building itself.
Decatur, Georgia (Serenity’s church)
For Serenity’s Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, the production used Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur, a location within the Atlanta metro area. Scenes set during services and church events were filmed there, making it one of the most recognizable “outside Covington” stand-ins in the series.
McDonough, Georgia (Serenity High School)
When the story shifts to the teens’ world, the show heads to McDonough, where Henry County Middle School doubles as Serenity High School. Coverage notes the production also incorporates other local visuals, including school athletic spaces and bits of the town’s main thoroughfare.
Sumter, South Carolina (the inspiration, not a filming location)
This is the one that surprises people: author Sherryl Woods has said Serenity is based on Sumter, South Carolina, and Entertainment Weekly notes Woods wrote about that inspiration directly in the book series’ introductory material.
However, EW is also clear that no scenes were filmed in Sumter—it’s the “real-life” heart behind Serenity’s tone, not the on-camera backdrop.
