Outer Banks Film Locations Tour Review 2025: A Real Look

So, we’ve all spent a fair few hours binge-watching the Pogues, right? It’s pretty hard not to get pulled into their non-stop hunt for treasure and, to be honest, dream just a little about that sun-drenched, marshy life on Kildare Island. Apparently, a lot of people feel that way, and now there are tours that let you step right into their world. Well, you kind of step into their world. Before you put down your money for the 2025 season, there’s actually a pretty big secret about the show’s setting that you should probably know. The thing is that the show isn’t actually shot in the Outer Banks of North Carolina at all. I mean, virtually the entire series is brought to life in and around Charleston, South Carolina, which, frankly, was a bit of a surprise to me, too.

Stepping into Kildare County (Well, Charleston Actually)

Alright, getting that one big fact out of the way first sort of changes things, you know? It’s not a knock against the experience, just a little bit of a mental shift you have to make. Instead of the wild coast of North Carolina, you’re actually exploring the charming, old-world streets and waterways of Charleston. Honestly, our tour began in a way that felt just right for the show. There was no big, fancy coach bus; instead, we piled into a slightly beat-up passenger van that you could almost picture John B trying to fix up. Our guide, for example, had this really relaxed attitude and an amazing amount of behind-the-scenes stories to share. Actually, the vibe was pretty much perfect from the get-go, creating a feeling like you were on a real adventure with friends. So, it’s just a different kind of magic, more or less the Lowcountry version of Kildare County.

Visiting The Chateau and John B’s World

Seriously, the number one spot everyone wanted to see was John B’s house, The Chateau. You can obviously feel the excitement build as you get closer. And then, well, you see it. It is literally just there, sitting on a little patch of land on the water, and it’s almost smaller in real life. Still, seeing that rickety-looking porch and the dock where so many important conversations happened is a pretty cool moment for any fan of the show. So, our guide gave us the full rundown. The house is actually on private property, so you obviously can’t go inside or hang out on the dock. We basically just stopped on the road nearby for pictures. It’s a quick stop, as a matter of fact, but an absolutely necessary one. Frankly, just seeing it in person is enough to make the whole trip feel real.

Exploring Figure Eight’s Opulence and Kook Territory

Anyway, after getting a taste of Pogue life, the tour made a hard turn into Kook territory. It’s pretty striking how the scenery changes. You just go from simple, waterside shacks to these enormous, fancy homes with perfect lawns. Of course, the main event is the stand-in for Sarah Cameron’s house, which in real life is a stunning historic venue known as Lowndes Grove. You can’t exactly walk up and ring the doorbell, but seeing those huge white columns and that massive front yard is, in a way, just like watching the show. You could almost hear Ward Cameron making some kind of shady deal inside. We also, you know, drove past some of the fancy shops and streets in Charleston that were used for Figure Eight scenes. It really gives you a feel for the two very different worlds the characters live in, which is sort of the whole point of the show’s setup.

Chasing the Royal Merchant: Docks, Lighthouses, and Key Scenes

Okay, the tour wasn’t just about the houses; it covered a lot of other places where big moments happened. For instance, we spent a good amount of time around Shem Creek, which is a really busy area with shrimp boats and waterfront restaurants. This spot, basically, is used for tons of the dock scenes where the Pogues are working on their boat or, you know, getting into some kind of trouble. We also took a boat out for a little bit to see the Morris Island Lighthouse from the water. You sometimes can’t get too close to it, but it’s definitely the one you see in the show, and it’s got a very mysterious, kind of lonely look about it. This part of the day was really immersive. Frankly, being out on the water, you really start to feel that coastal adventure spirit that the show captures so well. It’s arguably one of the better parts of the whole experience.

Is the Outer Banks Locations Tour Worth It? My Honest Take

At the end of the day, you probably want to know if this tour is a good use of your time and money. My take is that it completely depends on how much you love the show. I mean, if you’re a die-hard fan who knows every scene by heart, then absolutely, you will likely have an incredible time. It’s just a little bit of real-world magic to see these places with your own eyes. However, if you’re just a casual viewer or traveling with someone who has never seen the show, some of the stops might feel a little pointless, you know? Many spots are just quick drive-by photo ops from the road. The whole thing tends to be a bit fast-paced. So, you should probably just keep a few things in mind before you book your spot.

“Actually, being out there on the water and seeing the real spots, you kind of get it. You really feel that Pogue-for-life vibe, even if it’s just for a few hours. It’s less about a perfect copy of the show and more about catching its feeling.”

Here are just a few thoughts on what you might want to know beforehand:

• You’re in Charleston, not the OBX: Just go in with that knowledge. Charleston is a fantastic place on its own, so enjoy it for what it is! It’s still really cool to see how filmmakers transformed one place into another.
• Manage expectations on access: Honestly, many key locations like The Chateau and the Cameron house are private homes. So, you will be looking from a distance, which is completely understandable but good to know in advance.
• The tour is really for the fans: Like, your friends who haven’t watched the show might get a little bored. It’s a pretty specific tour, and the fun is in connecting what you see to the story you already love.
• Ask lots of questions: Our guide really knew their stuff. As a matter of fact, the best parts were hearing stories about the actors, the shooting process, and little details you would never catch on screen. So, you should definitely speak up!

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