While many travelers seek out destinations featured in their favorite shows, those looking for Kingstown, Michigan, will find their search leads to a fascinating intersection of fiction and reality. The gritty, prison-centric city from the popular series "Mayor of Kingstown" is a fictional creation, a composite designed to represent the harsh realities of America's Rust Belt. This guide, however, serves as a unique travel itinerary to the real-world hidden gems that bring the fictional Kingstown to life, exploring the primary filming locations in Ontario and the Michigan cities that provide its soul, offering a journey into a landscape of history, industry, and resilience.
The Fictional City vs. The Real North America
On screen, Kingstown, Michigan, is a town where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. The narrative, co-created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, paints a bleak picture of a community grappling with systemic failure, corruption, and inequality. The city itself is a character, its decaying industrial facade and the looming presence of its multiple prisons defining the lives of everyone within it. However, this Kingstown does not appear on any map of Michigan.
The primary inspiration and filming location for this fictional American city is, ironically, not in the United States. Hugh Dillon, who also stars in the series, drew heavily from his own hometown: Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Known as the "Limestone City," Kingston has a long and storied history as a prison town, once housing several major federal correctional facilities, including the infamous Kingston Penitentiary. This Canadian city provides the physical backdrop and the atmospheric DNA for the show, while the thematic elements are deeply rooted in the struggles of post-industrial cities across the American Midwest, particularly those in Michigan.
Exploring the Primary Filming Location: Kingston, Ontario
For fans wanting to walk the streets of "Kingstown," the journey begins in Kingston, Ontario. This historic city, located where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River, offers a rich travel experience that goes far beyond its on-screen persona.
The "Real" Kingstown Prison: Kingston Penitentiary
The centerpiece of the show's fictional landscape is the Kingstown Prison, and its real-world counterpart is the formidable Kingston Penitentiary. This decommissioned maximum-security prison, which operated from 1835 to 2013, is a National Historic Site of Canada and the most tangible piece of the "Mayor of Kingstown" world that visitors can experience. The limestone walls and imposing guard towers seen in the series are not a set; they are part of a real institution that once held some of Canada's most notorious criminals.
Today, guided tours offer a chilling and fascinating look inside the prison's walls. Visitors can walk through cell blocks, the segregation wing, the main dome, and the workshops where inmates once worked. "You're not just seeing a building; you're feeling over 180 years of history," noted a local tour operator. "The stories these walls could tell are the very essence of what the show tries to capture."
Visitor Information for Kingston Penitentiary:- Tours: Operated by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, tours typically run from May to October. Booking in advance is highly recommended as they sell out quickly.
- What to See: Key areas include the main cell dome, segregation unit (the "hole"), the regional treatment centre, and the large inmate workshop.
- Location: 560 King St W, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Beyond the Walls: Discovering Kingston's Historic Charm
While the penitentiary provides the grit, the rest of Kingston offers a surprising contrast of historic charm and vibrant culture. The city's downtown core, with its beautifully preserved 19th-century limestone architecture, serves as the backdrop for many of Kingstown's street scenes. Visitors can explore:
- Market Square: A historic public square that hosts markets, events, and outdoor skating in the winter. It's surrounded by pubs and restaurants that capture the "local watering hole" feel seen in the series.
- The Waterfront: Kingston's scenic waterfront on Lake Ontario offers beautiful parks, walking trails, and boat tours, providing a peaceful escape from the grim atmosphere of its fictional counterpart.
- Local Establishments: Several local businesses, including The Kingston Coffee House and the Toucan & Kirkpatrick's Pub, have been used as filming locations. Visiting these spots allows fans to literally sit where the characters have been.
The Michigan Connection: Soul of the Rust Belt
While the bricks and mortar of Kingstown are largely Canadian, its spirit is pure Michigan. The show's themes of economic decay, industrial decline, and the struggle for survival are deeply resonant with the history of many Michigan cities. To truly understand the world the series portrays, a visit to the Great Lakes State is essential.
Detroit's Industrial Echoes
No city embodies the Rust Belt narrative of collapse and rebirth more than Detroit. While not a primary filming location, its post-industrial landscapes serve as the show's spiritual touchstone. The vast, abandoned factories and the resilient, artistic communities that have sprung up in their shadows mirror the world of Kingstown. A traveler seeking this aesthetic could visit:
- The Russell Industrial Center: A massive former auto factory complex that has been transformed into a sprawling hub for artists, artisans, and small businesses. It's a living example of post-industrial adaptation.
- The Packard Automotive Plant: A haunting symbol of Detroit's decline, the ruins of this enormous factory complex offer a powerful visual of the industrial might that once was.
- Downtown and Corktown: These neighborhoods showcase Detroit's revitalization, where historic architecture stands alongside new developments, creating a complex urban tapestry of old and new.
Port Huron: A Border Town Perspective
Kingstown's strategic location near a border is a key element of its identity, facilitating the flow of contraband and conflict. The real Michigan city of Port Huron, located across the St. Clair River from Sarnia, Ontario, offers a perfect real-world parallel. The constant traffic over the Blue Water Bridge and the interplay between two nations create an atmosphere ripe with the kind of tension depicted in the show. Visiting Port Huron allows one to experience the unique culture of a border town, where law enforcement jurisdictions blur and economies are intertwined. A walk along the riverfront, watching massive freighters pass under the bridge, provides a tangible sense of the strategic importance and inherent friction of such a location.
Crafting Your "Kingstown" Inspired Itinerary
For the traveler intrigued by this unique blend of fiction and reality, a multi-day tour offers the best experience. This is not a journey through sunny resorts, but an exploration of the complex history and resilient character of North America's industrial heartland.
A 3-Day Rust Belt Discovery Tour
Day 1: The Prison City (Kingston, ON)
Start your journey in Kingston. Dedicate the morning to an in-depth tour of the Kingston Penitentiary. In the afternoon, explore the historic downtown, walking along Ontario Street and stopping in Market Square. For dinner, find a historic pub like The Toucan, which has been featured in the series, to soak in the local atmosphere.
Day 2: Crossing the Border (Kingston to Detroit, MI)
The drive from Kingston to Detroit takes approximately four to five hours. The act of crossing the international border at Port Huron via the Blue Water Bridge is part of the experience. Stop in Port Huron for lunch and observe the dynamics of this border town before continuing to Detroit for the evening.
Day 3: The Industrial Heart (Detroit, MI)
Spend the day exploring Detroit's rich history. Visit the Henry Ford Museum for a look at the industrial innovation that built the region. For a more "Kingstown" vibe, explore the architecture of Corktown and the Eastern Market, witnessing the city's ongoing transformation.
Ultimately, Kingstown, Michigan, exists as a state of mind, a fictional amalgam of very real places and struggles. While you cannot buy a postcard from the town itself, you can stand before the imposing walls of Kingston Penitentiary, feel the pulse of a Detroit neighborhood being reborn, and watch the endless flow of traffic between two countries in Port Huron. This journey offers a travel experience that is deeply informative, providing a look into the hidden gems of the Rust Belt that are rich with the stories of hardship, history, and an unyielding will to survive. It is in these real places that the heart of the fictional Kingstown truly beats.
