Discover Where ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ Is Filmed: Best Time to Visit, Wildlife, and More!

Written by Angie Menjivar
Updated: June 1, 2023
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Highlighting systemic racism while addressing corruption in prison systems is not an easy task. But ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ addresses these topics artfully, keeping you on your toes from moment to moment and episode to episode. Discover where the Mayor of Kingstown series was filmed and the best time to visit!

What is ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ About?

Mayor of Kingstown is a not-for-the-faint-of-heart crime drama that intertwines the themes of exploitation and racial discrimination. The show centers around the McLusky family, which is the powerhouse that rules a fictional town called Kingstown in Michigan. The economics in the town is fueled by private prisons, where desensitization between guards and inmates demonstrates how ethics fall by the wayside in these environments.

There’s no shortage of moments that leave you feeling like you’ve been punched in the gut, but the characters have depth and win you over. The town of Kingstown is failing miserably to establish order and deliver true justice. You can look intimately into how convoluted these matters get when there are so many entanglements. In the first episode, Mitch and Mike McLusky work together to bridge the space between those serving time and those in the community.

Where Was ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ Filmed?

Kingston, Ontario Canada

One of the Mayor of Kingstown filming locations was Kingston, Ontario in Canada.

©cvrestan/Shutterstock.com

Mayor of Kingstown was filmed in both Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Although the show is based in the fictional town of Kingstown, Michigan it’s representative of the real town in Ontario called Kingston. One of the show’s producers, Hugh Dillon, grew up in this Canadian town, and many of the themes throughout the crime drama highlight the realities he faced growing up in the true Kingston, where there were several prisons. His memories of his experience there have taken a pivotal role in shaping the show. Much of the first season was filmed in the original Kingston, including scenes shot at the maximum-security Kingston Penitentiary.

During the second season, however, Pittsburgh had already been scouted, and Dillon fell in love with the place. He wanted to do more for the second season, and Pittsburgh delivered with its decommissioned prisons, including SCI Pittsburgh and SCI Greensburg. The Carrie Blast Furnaces in the city served as the backdrop during the first season’s finale episode when riots erupted. There are also plenty of water scenes in season two, which was perfect since Lake Erie is north of the city. Another location in Pittsburgh includes the Hartwood Acres Mansion, where there are more than 600 acres of usable space.

Best Time to Visit Kingston, Ontario, Canada

The best time to visit Kingston is during the summer season, starting in June through August. This is when the weather is the most comfortable, with temperatures that range between 68°F and 77°F.

Best Time to Visit Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh downtown under a warm sunset light, viewed from Grandview Overlook across Monongahela River

Pittsburgh is nicknamed “Steel City” thanks to its steel production history.

©Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock.com

The best time to visit Pittsburgh is also during the summer, especially in the months of May and June. However, you could also stop by when fall rolls around, during the months of September and October. These are the most pleasant seasons because once the winter season starts, it’s frigid.

Wildlife in Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Eastern cottontail rabbit

If you visit the Kingston, Ontario area, a Mayor of Kingstown filming location, you might spot local wildlife, such as the eastern cottontail.

©Rabbitti/Shutterstock.com

In Kingston, wildlife is abundant. You can find a wide variety of animals here, like small mammals that include the eastern gray squirrel, eastern cottontail, and American red squirrel. There are red foxes, white-tailed deer, and plenty of birds as well. Birders can look for the American robin, northern cardinal, great blue heron, American goldfinch, red-winged blackbird, blue jay, and tons more. Reptiles and amphibians include the painted turtle, northern leopard frog, eastern red-backed salamander, and American toad.

Wildlife in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

close up of an eastern chipmunk

Chipmunks, rats, mice, piageons, and starlings are just a few of the wildlife species in Pittsburgh.

©iStock.com/rodmacpherson

Like in Kingston, there is plenty of wildlife thriving in Pittsburgh. Some small mammals include chipmunks, flying squirrels, ground squirrels, raccoons, opossums, and skunks. Rodents include rats and mice. Birds include pigeons, sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, and woodpeckers. There are deer and snakes in Pittsburgh as well.

Things To Do in Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Kingston Penitentiary, a federal maximum security institution for offenders serving over 2 years in Kingston, Ontario in Canada

Kingston Penitentiary in Kingston, Ontario is Canada’s oldest maximum security prison, and a filming location for the Mayor of Kingstown.

©Ritu Manoj Jethani/Shutterstock.com

Walk through the doors of Canada’s oldest and most notorious prison, the Kingston Penitentiary. This is where a major Mayor of Kingstown filming location, and if you visit the real Kingston, you can go for a tour at this exact location. The express tour is 45 minutes long in total and takes you on a journey through different parts of the institution, including a cell range, the North Gate, and the canteen. While there, you learn about past events that occurred there, including the 1971 riot.

Things To Do in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Sunset view over the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania offers plenty to see and do.

©ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com

Pittsburgh is a beautiful city with plenty of entertainment for tourists. There are food tours, museums, fine dining, and nightlife. It has a little bit of everything, depending on your preferences, and many great options to make your stay cozy in simple or luxurious environments.

Where is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Located on a Map?

Located at the convergence of three rivers, Pittsburgh is a city in western Pennsylvania that showcases its Gilded Age heritage through notable landmarks like the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, reflecting its past as a prominent industrial hub in the early 20th century.

Here is Pittsburgh on a map:

The photo featured at the top of this post is © cvrestan/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

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