The hit teen drama Dawson's Creek premiered back in 1998 and 23 years later, it's still a show that people look back on fondly. The coming of age tales of the entire cast were memorable, dramatic, and showcased the lives of struggling teens pretty flawlessly, becoming ingrained in fan's minds for decades. Another aspect of the show that became permanently ingrained in the minds of fans was the setting in which it took place, thanks to its summer-all-the-time-type of vibe.
The show was set in the fictitious Massachusetts town of 'Capeside' but, in reality, it was never filmed anywhere near New England. The show itself was filmed much further south, in a town that's even more beautiful and summerlike than what's seen on TV.
How Wilmington Became Capeside
When the concept for Dawson's Creek first came about by then-film assistant Kevin Williamson, it was based on Williamson's own childhood. He spent his youth growing up in a small town in North Carolina, near a creek, of course.
Williamson also idolized Stephen Spielberg as a kid who aspired to be a film director, so it's not surprising that the main character of the show - Dawson - had the same dream. After meeting with Columbia TriStar Television, the studio requested that he move it to be set in Boston - however, the compromise ended up being a beachy, creekside town called Capeside. While the show was theoretically set in Massachusetts, the crew managed to find its idyllic location in none other than Wilmington, North Carolina.
The Beauty Of Wilmington And Its Island Film Sets
Over the entirety of the show's running time, all of its 128 episodes were filmed in North Carolina. The beachy vibe of the fictional town of Capeside was achieved with the use of North Carolina's gorgeous islands, which helped to create the waterside aesthetic that's so prominent throughout the TV show. The landmarks that are seen in the show, including the Icehouse, school, and the creek, all still exist in Wilmington to this day. Fans still visit Wilmington just to see the locations that were used in Dawson's Creek and there are tours that bring fans by its most recognizable film sets.
The Icehouse
While the Icehouse is a fictional restaurant (as most TV show restaurants are), the actual location still exists in Wilmington today. The name of this establishment in real life is Elijah's Restaurant, which can be found on Wilmington's Riverwalk. As seen in the TV show, the restaurant features prominent water views with a rustic and beachy interior.
- Address: 2 Ann Street
With that being said, there were two Icehouses: the one featured early on in the show and the one featured at the end, known as (spoiler alert) 'Pacey's Icehouse.' The first Icehouse in the show, also known as the original restaurant, can be found a couple of blocks north where it originally stood.
- Address: 115 South Water Street
When facing the water, the 'Icehouse' was actually filmed at the Dockside Restaurant.
- Address: 1308 Airlie Road
Capeside High School
One of the most iconic locations from the show (besides Dawson's house, of course) is Capeside High School. This is where the cast went through many growing pains and experienced a roller coaster of emotions with one another (including wicked teachers and teen romance). In reality, the school isn't a high school but rather UNC Wilmington. The college campus is as serene and green as it is in the show, and the Kenan Auditorium is the most notable location in the school.
- Address: 601 South College Road
The Docks And Marina
Many of the show's scenes were filmed outdoors with various docks and marinas in the background. While fans could easily be fooled into thinking that these were shot somewhere around Boston, they were also filmed in Wilmington. The Wilmington Riverwalk was where a majority of these scenes were filmed, including Pacey and Andie's iconic first kiss.
- Address: The length of Water Street
Another recognizable setting from the show that's seen fairly early on in the first few seasons is the Bank's Channel. This waterway serves as the backdrop during many waterfront scenes and is part of Wrightsville Beach. The beach is home to a system of docks and a marina, and various vantage points can be seen during different scenes. Additionally, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk and the Carolina Beach State Park served as even more outdoor settings during scenes where cast members were walking, or during the inevitable serious teen conversation.
- Address: 101 State Park Road