“I’m not a vagrant. I’m a hobo.” No other quote quite encapsulates Jack Reacher’s (Alan Ritchson) nomadic way of living in Prime Video’sReacher.Based on the novels byLee Child, Reacher is no ordinary human being. Apart from his colossal physique and no-nonsense mentality, Reacher isan ex-military police investigator whose brain matches his brawn.
With three seasons currently under its belt, each installment of the show follows Reacher in a random city in America as he tackles a different case — usually out of his own reluctance. But when he learns that these investigations are much more personal than he realizes, nothing is stopping the big guy from taking down whoever’s responsible for the pain they have caused. Presenting a new adventure in every season, check out the real-life filming locations ofReacher.
‘Reacher’ Season 3 Review: Alan Ritchson’s Action Series Stumbles in Story — Despite the Extra Muscle
‘Reacher’ Season 3 premieres February 20 on Prime Video.
‘Reacher’ Season 1 Locations
Based on the novel “Killing Floor”,ReacherSeason 1 introduces the larger-than-life, veteran military police investigator who’s settled for a simpler life as a civilian drifter. With no phone, no address, and only the clothes he’s wearing, he initially travels to Margrave, Georgia for leisure (and his love for blues music). But when Reacher is accused of a murder he did not commit, Reacher painfully learns just how connected he is to this isolated town in the middle of nowhere. In real life, Margrave is a fictional city, and it’s definitely not filmed in Georgia, U.S.A. Instead, much ofReacherSeason 1 (and its following two seasons) is filmed in Ontario, Canada.
Pickering, Ontario
With Margrave being a fictional town, the team behindReacherhad to build a temporary village from scratch. Instead of doing it in Georgia, the setwas built on an undeveloped cornfield in Pickering, Ontario. For the longest time, Canadahas been a go-to filming location for most U.S. shows, andReacheris no different. Since filming for Season 1 occurred during the pandemic, the charming town of Margrave, with all its stores, main square, police station, town hall, and more, is well isolated from neighbors for better control and to prevent shutdown.
Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston
In true Reacher fashion, the guy gets arrested the moment he steps into Margrave. When Chief Detective Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin) doesn’t buy Reacher’s story, the drifter gets transferred to a local prison, where he butts head with murderous inmates. The prison building is actually Kingston Penitentiary in Kingston. Designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990, the former maximum security prison has housed some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Today, Kingston Penitentiary is no longer in operation.
Lakeview Restaurant, Dundas Street, Toronto
Dundas Street is home to Lakeview Restaurant at 1132 Dundas Street W, serving as the backdrop where Reacher’slong-distance PI confidante and fellow Army mate Frances Neagley(Maria Sten) first visibly appears in the show. InReacher, Neagley is just as low-profile as Reacher — if not even more. The only way Reacher could locate her meet-up point is by relying on what he already knows about Neagley, such as the type of accommodations she likes to stay in and the eateries she prefers to dine in. With its long history since 1932, Lakeview Restaurant is the ultimate go-to Toronto establishment.Reacherisn’t the only series that’s filmed in the diner — big hits such asUmbrella Academy,Mayor of Kingstown, andStark Trek: Strange New Worldsonce took a seat in the eatery as well.
Maple Leaf Motel, Scarborough
With Reacher being a drifter, motels are a big deal in the show. Not only are they cheap, but they are also inconspicuous enough for the guy to hide and flee from his enemies at his convenience. One establishment that appears in the show is the Maple Leaf Motel. Following their cute little Patsy Cline dance moment in a bar on the outskirts of Margrave, the two are unable to drive home due to a sudden flooding. Not wanting to get stranded in the rain, the two check into a motel, where they later open up in a moment of vulnerability before falling asleep. The actual Maple Leaf Motel might not be located in Georgia, but it boasts humble services and the utmost hospitality.
Stratford Suburban Motel
The dark parking area at Stratford Suburban Motel is where Reacher fought a bunch of guys KJ hired to give the military vet a bloody lesson. Of course, Reacher decides to return the favor by breaking all of their arms (except for one guy, whom Reacher purposely leaves out so he can drive his cronies to the hospital with his limbs still attached.) When the cameras aren’t rolling, the Stratford Suburban Motel is a family-owned establishment that’s been standing for three decades. Having accommodated thousands of guests, the motel is only a 10-minute drive from Queens Park and typically opens during festival months.
Port Perry, Ontario
Port Perry is home to Perry Street and Queen Street — both making up the exterior of Roscoe’s apartment. The real-life area is home to shops and pubs, making it the perfect scene for Reacher and Roscoe’s romantic encounter. On the opposite spectrum, Port Perry’s Piano Inn and Cafe serves as the backdrop for Reacher and KJ’s (Chris Webster)’ physical brawl. When Reacher discovered that someone had spray painted the word “whore” on Roscoe’s truck, Reacher’s instincts drew him to KJ, who just so happened to be having lunch in the quaint little cafe. Outside of the show, the Piano Inn and Cafe is a historical building that serves Canadian food, soups, and high-end accommodations.
‘Reacher’ Season 2 Locations
Based on “Bad Luck and Trouble”, Season 2 ofReacherreunites the veteran with his former U.S. Army unit — in the worst way possible. When Reacher learns from Neagley that members of their 110th MP Special Investigations Unit are kidnapped and murdered one by one, the two rush to find other surviving mates before they meet their demise. Luckily, the two encounter members David O’Donnell (Shaun Sipos) and Karla Dixon (Serinda Swan), both of whom are already aware of the situation. With their lives at stake, the four race to uncover a potential terrorist conspiracy that could endanger the lives of innocent civilians in the air.
Unlike the first season, Season 2 ofReachernever stays in the same place. One minute, they’re in New York City. The next, they’re in Atlantic City. By the season’s explosive ending, they’re all somewhere in the Catskill Mountains. But in terms of filming location, not much has changed. Most of the production is still done in Canada.
Cayuga, Haldimand County
In the opening scene ofReacherSeason 2, viewers may remember Reacher visiting a thrift shop before he stops a carjacking incident. The clothing store is no production set — it’s an actual consignment store called The Thrifty Dresser. Located in the quaint community of Cayuga, the store might’ve only appeared for a brief moment in the season, but it’s where the show sets the tone for Reacher’s devil-may-care attitude.
Brampton, Greater Toronto Area
Although the exact filming locations aren’t revealed to the public, the Reacher production crew were found to stage their action scenes within the area. As Canada’s 7th largest city, Brampton is home to major business clusters, ranging from manufacturing to wholesale trade. With its skyscrapers and industrial buildings, it makes an appropriate backdrop for the crew’s many dealings.
‘Reacher’ Season 3 Locations
Based on “Persuader”, Reacher goes undercover when he is recruited by Susan Duffy (Sonya Cassidy) to rescue a DEA informant held hostage by Zachary Beck (Anthony Michael Hall),the owner of a shady rug business. But first, Reacher will have to infiltrate his sprawling estate and offer himself to become Zachary’s bodyguard. The mission becomes even more personal for Reacher when an old enemy of his, originally presumed to be dead, rises back from the grave with a newfound hunger for vengeance.
Escarpment House, Ontario
Much ofReacherSeason 3 is filmed in Zachary’s private residence, which in this case, is a small mansion complete with a massive pool and a garden. The estate is actually the Escarpment House. In the show, the estate is situated right by the coast, complete with crashing waves. However, the seaside surroundings are nothing but visual effects. In real life, the Escarpment House is a luxury villa nestled in the middle of lush forests.
When retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher is arrested for a murder he did not commit, he finds himself in the middle of a deadly conspiracy full of dirty cops, shady businessmen and scheming politicians. With nothing but his wits, he must figure out what is happening in Margrave, Georgia. The first season of Reacher is based on the international bestseller The Killing Floor by Lee Child.
