As was I! If you’re a Vampire Diaries fan, you now have the opportunity to be right on the Salvatore Brothers’ doorstep when you visit Covington, Georgia, aka The Real Mystic Falls. This Salvatore House tour has quickly become the go-to place for all the devoted fans and for all the right reasons!
From the bricks that form part of the entrance to framed pictures to the infamous Salvatore red couch and the iconic fireplace setting, adding this experience to your Mystic Falls trip is definitely a must!
Apart from getting an exclusive tour of this eye-opening replica of the Salvatore House, you can also shop for unique items related to TVD (The Vampire Diaries).
Now, before I go into the details and go all out about how exciting and bucket-list-worthy this tour of the Salvatore Mansion replica is, let’s go back to what happened to the original house that was dubbed as the Salvatore House in The Vampire Diaries.
The Legacy of Glenridge Hall: The Original Salvatore House
The historic mansion that served as the inspiration and filming location for the Salvatore House in the show was the iconic Glenridge Hall which was located in Sandy Springs, Georgia
Built in 1929, this impressive Tudor-style estate has become an iconic site where some of the series’ most striking moments occurred.
But way before Glenridge Hall became associated with The Vampire Diaries production, it was already an important historic landmark that had been listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Constructed by Thomas Glenn, son of a wealthy Atlanta businessman, the estate was an architectural masterpiece that represented the Tudor Revival architecture style demonstrating the grandeur and elegance of the early 20th-century architecture.
Unfortunately, in 2014 the property was acquired by Mercedes-Benz to develop the new North American headquarters. Its demolition was carried out in 2015 despite attempts by various groups to keep it alive.
This was (and continues to be) a significant hit on the historical architecture of Georgia and it deeply saddens me how designated National historic sites can be demolished just like that.
With the destruction of Glenridge Hall, we also said goodbye to one of the most epic shooting destinations for The Vampire Diaries.
Photos of Glenridge Hall: Mansions of the Gilded Age Public Facebook Group
Why This Tour is a Must-Visit for Vampire Diaries Fans
This incredibly awesome new lookalike tour of The Salvatore Mansion is located inside Mystic Mercantile, a new shop for all TVD fans that’s situated right on the Covington Town Square, just a minute’s walk from the Clock Tower and Mystic Grill.
This is a must-visit that makes it possible for everyone to experience what being inside the Salvatore House essentially felt like.
Upon entering the store, you’ll see the brown sofa used for the last picture taken of the cast…which is bittersweet, in all honesty. 🥲
You can browse the store and shop for many cute items like vintage-look diaries that look just like Stefan’s diary and the Petrova Vault which has all kinds of stunning jewelry—including Katherine’s necklace and Elena’s ring in sterling silver.
Some of the other unique TVD merch you can get at Mystic Mercantile are: “It’s Always Gonna Be Stefussy” shirts, Ms Cuddles PJs, the Bennett Witch Apothecary product line, and of course, blood bags.
Before entering the beautiful recreation of the Salvatore living room, notice the lamp at the door entrance. This lamp is actually the original one used on set!
The bricks surrounding the entrance door also include some of the original ones from Glenridge Hall Mansion.
After the house was demolished, several of the bricks were able to be saved and were later used to build the Salvatore Mansion sound stage set for filming.
As soon as you step inside, you will feel as though you’ve stepped right into the world of our beloved Salvatore Brothers!
The dark wood furnishings, vintage pieces, and warm lighting are all part of this epic experience.
Many of the props you see in this Salvatore living room replica are things that were used during the filming of the show.
Bourbon decanters with glasses, sofa pillows, books and bookshelves, pictures, and even the original chair where Damon was tortured by Mason Lockwood’s ghost in Season 3 Ep: 7 “Ghost World“.
Which in fact, appears to still have the fake blood stains and all!
🎥 Fun Fact: This Salvatore House replica in Mystic Mercantile was built by the same set designers from The Vampire Diaries. Original furniture and props from the TVD Universe were used to bring the Salvatore living room to life!
With all these details, it’s easy to see why this new attraction has instantly made its way to my list of best things to do in Covington for Vampire Diaries fans.
It’s also really cool to know that many of the props seen inside this Salvatore mansion replica were gathered from the set of all the shows—TVD and its spin-off series The Originals and Legacies.
This experience is a true homage to the original Salvatore House and The Vampire Diaries Universe.
Angi—the owner of Mystic Mercantile and her team, have gone to great lengths to capture the true essence of the iconic living room that sparks so much excitement in all of us, taking us back to some of the most memorable scenes filmed in the Salvatore House that kept us at the edge of our seats while watching the show.
How to Plan Your Visit to Mystic Mercantile
If you plan to visit Mystic Mercantile for the Salvatore House replica tour during your trip to Mystic Falls, there are a few things to know before you go to make your experience even MORE epic.
When we visited during their opening week, all guests were prompted to register for a time slot to attend the tour. This is an important detail to consider when planning your trip.
For instance, we went early in the morning and got our tickets for the 2:30 pm tour which was the next available. So, even though walk-ins are welcomed, you might not always get tickets close to the time when you go in.
- If you’re visiting during “Vampire Weekend“, which is what we tend to call it when the Epic Convention is taking place in Covington, then I would HIGHLY recommend you to register as soon as the shop opens.
- Tours run every 30 minutes and the tickets are $35 per person.
- Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11 AM – 8 PM, Fridays and Saturdays 11 AM – 9 PM
- Mystic Mercantile is located at 1114 Monticello St SW, Covington, GA 30014
Final Thoughts
To make the most of your visit to Covington, GA, don’t leave without a self-guided walking tour of the Vampire Diaries filming locations—one of those can’t-miss experiences in Mystic Falls (of course!).
As you walk around Covington, you’ll basically be living out your vampire fantasies right where it all started. It’s like stepping straight into the show—minus the actual bloodsucking! 🧛🏼
Furthermore, Mystic Mercantile’s location right in the center of the town square, makes it easier to support other small businesses in the area.
Stop for breakfast at Bread & Butter, have the most epic Vampire Diaries experience by having lunch at the Mystic Grill and shop at all the cute stores!
So, yes…definitely add this Salvatore Mansion tour to your itinerary as the perfect way to cap off your Vampire Diaries trip! 🩸
