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| Where Was The Abandons Filmed? Full Guide to Every Shooting Location of Netflix’s New Western Series (Photo: Netflix/Screencap) |
If you’re one of the many viewers swept up by The Abandons—yes, the gritty new Netflix western starring Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson—you’ve probably spent half the series thinking: Hold on… where on earth did they film this?
And fair question. The landscapes are dramatic, the frontier towns feel ridiculously real, and the wide-open plains look straight out of a classic western. But here’s the twist: not all filming locations were publicly revealed during production. And that’s normal—crews often keep things quiet to prevent over-enthusiastic fans from turning up and derailing filming. Fair play.
Still, plenty of locations have now been confirmed, and many are open to the public—perfect if you're plotting a little “walk in the footsteps of your favourite characters” sort of trip. Tonboriday has gathered everything known so far, plus a few bonus details Netflix recently dropped.
Let’s break it all down.
ICYMI: The Abandons Season 2 Rumours.
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The series is set in the Washington Territory of 1854, where two strong-willed matriarchs lead their families into a showdown for control of their frontier town. Think power struggles, forbidden romance, messy loyalties, and a whole lot of dust and danger.
Kurt Sutter (yes, the mind behind Sons of Anarchy) said he was drawn to the story because he's fascinated by how “good transforms into something darker”. And across these seven episodes, you really do see characters pushed beyond moral limits—mostly rooted in love, grief, and the instinct to protect their own.
But the scenery is a major scene-stealer too.
Where Was The Abandons Filmed? Full Breakdown of Every Confirmed Location
Filming ran from May to October 2024, with a few extra shoots done after Sutter’s exit from the project. Although the story is set in Washington, USA, the entire backdrop you see is actually Alberta, Canada—a longtime favourite of western filmmakers.
Below is a clean, list-style breakdown of every known filming location, plus a bit of background on each spot.
1. Calgary, Alberta — Main Production Base
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What it is:
The heart of production. Calgary’s surrounding plains became the series’ 1850s frontier towns.
Why it was used:
Calgary has a strong filming infrastructure and massive areas of untouched land that already look period-appropriate. Crews built sets, transformed open fields into dusty roads, and shaped the world of the Van Nesses and the Abandons.
Fun note:
The main photography schedule ran five months here—so basically everything major passed through Calgary at some point.
2. Southern Alberta — The Classic Western Look
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What it is:
A region famous for old towns, long dirt roads, wide plains, and dramatic horizons.
Why it was used:
It allows filmmakers to shoot westerns without heavy CGI or set-building. Nature does the heavy lifting.
Why fans love it:
If you’re planning a trip, this is where you’ll get that “I’m literally in the show” feeling.
3. Nakoda Lakeside Lodge, Seebe
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What it is:
A once-closed lakeside lodge west of Calgary, currently being revived into a community hub.
Role in the show:
Appears as a major backdrop in Episode 1. It sets up the tense dynamic between the wealthy Van Ness family and the Abandons clan.
Why it’s special:
It wasn’t previously open to the public for years—so seeing it in the series feels a bit exclusive.
4. Stoney Park Campground, Mînî Thnî
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What it is:
A scenic campground in Stoney Nakoda territory.
Role in the show:
Serves as the primary location for the Van Ness homestead.
So any dramatic scenes involving that powerful family are most likely filmed around here.
Why it matters:
This is one of the few sites where the show’s central locations were publicly confirmed.
5. Stoney Nakoda Region
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What it is:
Land west of Calgary, home to stunning scenery and Indigenous communities.
Role in the show:
Casting calls were specifically held here for Indigenous extras, hinting that scenes capturing authentic regional culture or untouched wilderness were filmed in this area.
Why it stands out:
The terrain brings a raw, grounded realism to the series—perfect for frontier storytelling.
6. Kananaskis Country
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What it is:
A picturesque mountain-and-forest region of the Canadian Rockies.
Role in the show:
Used to capture sweeping, cinematic wide shots that make the series look far more expensive than it actually cost.
Ideal for fans:
If you love hiking, this is the place you'd want to visit. It's film-worthy even without context.
7. Crossfield & Cochrane
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What they are:
Two towns north and west of Calgary, respectively.
Role in the show:
Supplementary filming happened here for roads, outposts, and natural scenery that matched the 1850s atmosphere.
Worth visiting?
Absolutely—Cochrane especially has that charming small-town flavour.
Why Alberta Works So Well for a 1850s Western
Southern Alberta gives everything a western drama needs:
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long stretches of untouched land
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rugged mountain backdrops
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old-style roads and buildings
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weather that naturally adds drama (wind, dust, moody skies)
It’s the same reason other productions—big and small—keep flocking to this region.
Would You Visit These Places?
If you’re the type who loves film tourism, Alberta is a dream destination—especially with so many Abandons locations open to visitors. Wide plains, mountain views, frontier-style roads… it’s all there waiting.
Tonboriday will keep updating this list as more filming spots become public knowledge.