Sullivan’s Crossing: A Canadian Gem Brought to Life on Screen

Sullivan’s Crossing has captured the hearts of viewers with its charming small-town Canadian setting, leaving many fans wondering about the real-life location of this picturesque community. The popular series follows neurosurgeon Maggie, portrayed by Morgan Kohan, who returns to her hometown in rural Nova Scotia after facing legal troubles. Her journey back home leads to reconnecting with her estranged father Sully (Scott Patterson) and ultimately falling in love with both the town and its residents—particularly her love interest Cal (Chad Michael Murray). What makes the show particularly fascinating is the beautiful backdrop that serves as the fictional Sullivan’s Crossing, which has left viewers curious about whether they could visit this idyllic location in person. Despite the authentic feel of the setting, the truth is that Sullivan’s Crossing isn’t an actual town you can find on a map, but rather a fictional creation brought to life through carefully selected filming locations across Nova Scotia.

The fictional town and campground of Sullivan’s Crossing is primarily filmed in and around Halifax, Nova Scotia, utilizing various scenic locations to create its distinct small-town charm. The production team has masterfully transformed areas such as Oakfield Provincial Park, Beaver Bank, Shubie Park, and Eastern Passage into the fictional setting viewers have come to love. Local establishments like Shandon’s Diner feature prominently in the show, while breathtaking natural landscapes from Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park and the picturesque village of Peggy’s Cove provide stunning backdrops for key scenes. These carefully selected locations work together to create the cohesive and inviting community portrayed on screen, giving Sullivan’s Crossing its authentic Canadian feel while showcasing the natural beauty of Nova Scotia. The visual richness of these real-life locations contributes significantly to the show’s atmosphere, making the fictional town feel like a place viewers might actually visit.

Interestingly, the show’s setting represents a significant departure from Robyn Carr’s original book series, where Sullivan’s Crossing is located in the Rocky Mountains of the United States. Showrunner Roma Roth made the deliberate choice to relocate the story to Nova Scotia, partly to distinguish it from Carr’s other successful adaptation, Virgin River, which found a large audience on Netflix. As Roth explained to Variety in 2022, “To ensure the show would feel distinctive from her [Carr’s] other adaptation, I decided to set it in Nova Scotia for Nova Scotia. This meant diverging from the books slightly.” This creative decision wasn’t just about differentiation—it was also deeply personal for Roth, who added, “Having been born and raised in Canada, it’s always been a personal goal of mine to create and write a Canadian content show that would reach a global audience.” This change in setting has proven successful, allowing the show to establish its own identity while showcasing Canada’s stunning landscapes to viewers worldwide.

The cast members have been effusive in their praise for filming in Nova Scotia, with their genuine enthusiasm for the location shining through in interviews. Morgan Kohan has expressed her deep appreciation for Halifax, telling Brit + Co in 2023, “Oh my God, I love this city. The nice thing about it too is it’s a city and then [a little bit] out, you can be out on a trail somewhere in a small community. There’s just so many different bits and pieces you can pick from.” This versatility of locations has allowed the production to capture both the community feel of small-town life and the breathtaking natural surroundings that make Sullivan’s Crossing so visually appealing. The blend of urban convenience and rural beauty has clearly made an impact on the cast, contributing to the authentic connection they bring to their characters who are meant to be deeply rooted in this fictional community.

Chad Michael Murray’s description of Nova Scotia as a “hidden gem” and “the best kept secret in Canada” reflects the sense of discovery that many viewers might feel when watching the show. In a 2023 interview with Parade, Murray elaborated on the transformative quality of the filming location, saying, “This place is absolutely magic. We’re out there every day and it’s just such a breath of fresh air filming. You’re among nature and you can’t help but feel so grounded. It’s pretty spectacular. It’s a place that people need to go.” His comments highlight how the natural setting doesn’t just serve as a beautiful backdrop but actively influences the production, bringing an authenticity and groundedness to the storytelling that might not be possible in a more manufactured environment. The way Murray describes the location suggests that the natural beauty of Nova Scotia has become almost another character in the show, silently shaping the narrative and the performances.

Scott Patterson’s reflections on filming in Halifax add another dimension to understanding how the location impacts the production. Speaking to Decider, Patterson noted, “This is a beautiful place. I mean every day, if we’re not on the stage, we’re out in nature. And even surrounding the soundstage are wonderful nature views.” His comments reveal how completely immersed the production is in Nova Scotia’s natural beauty, with nature present even when filming interior scenes on soundstages. Patterson also touched on the personal sacrifice involved in filming away from home, adding, “It’s hard to be away from my family for a month at a time or whatever it is. But if you’re gonna do that, this is a pretty nice place to be and work.” This sentiment captures the balance many productions must strike—creating an authentic sense of place often requires cast and crew to spend significant time away from their real homes. For Sullivan’s Crossing, now streaming on Netflix, the breathtaking Nova Scotia locations have proven worth the sacrifice, creating a fictional town so inviting and realistic that viewers can’t help but wish they could visit, even though it exists only on screen and in the imagination of its devoted fans.