Filming Locations Scream Queens: Spots You Can Visit Now
- 01. Filming Locations of Scream Queens
- 02. Where the series was shot
- 03. Season 1 locations
- 04. Season 2 locations
- 05. Key production data
- 06. Why Tulane worked
- 07. How the show used locations
- 08. What fans notice
- 09. Frequently asked questions
- 10. Was Scream Queens filmed at a real university?
- 11. Location impact
Filming Locations of Scream Queens
The primary filming locations for Scream Queens were Tulane University in New Orleans for season 1 and Los Angeles-area studios and sets for season 2, with production also using 20th Century Fox Studios for controlled interior and exterior work. The show's real-world geography was split between a distinctly Southern campus look in 2015 and a more studio-driven California production footprint in 2016.
Where the series was shot
Scream Queens was not filmed at a single purpose-built campus or at one "real" university matching the fictional Wallace University. Instead, the production blended an actual college campus, studio backlots, and city locations to create its satirical horror-comedy world. That mix is why the series feels physically grounded even when the story is highly stylized.
- Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, served as the main exterior and campus setting for season 1.
- 20th Century Fox Studios, Century City, Los Angeles, was used heavily for season 2 production.
- Los Angeles, California, provided additional season 2 filming locations and production support.
- New Orleans also supplied local street and neighborhood backdrops during the first season's shoot.
Season 1 locations
The first season centered on the fictional Kappa House and Wallace University, but the most recognizable real location was Tulane University. Tulane's Uptown campus stood in for much of the school environment, including quads, dining areas, classroom spaces, and paths that gave the show its privileged-campus aesthetic. The university's architecture and landscaping made it a strong visual match for the series' glossy, ominous tone.
According to Tulane's campus coverage, the production filmed across multiple parts of the Uptown campus, including the Lavin-Bernick Center, Newcomb Quad, Gibson Quad, and classroom buildings such as Richardson and Hebert. That breadth matters because it shows the show was not just grabbing one iconic facade; it was building an entire fake university geography from a real campus footprint. In practical terms, the show used the campus almost like a large, open-air set.
Season 2 locations
Season 2 shifted the production center to Los Angeles, making the series more studio-oriented than the first season. IMDb's location listings identify Los Angeles, California, as a main season 2 filming base, along with 20th Century Fox Studios in Century City. That change reflects a common TV production pattern: once a show settles into its rhythm, it often moves more work to studio infrastructure for scheduling flexibility and cost control.
The shift also changed the look of the series. Season 1 leaned on the lived-in realism of a real university campus, while season 2 felt more manufactured and controlled, which fit the new hospital-heavy storyline. The result was less "college gothic" and more "surgical nightmare," even when the show kept its campy visual style.
Key production data
The production timeline helps explain why the show's locations changed between seasons. Filming for the series began in March 2015, and location records show season 1 work in New Orleans before later production periods in Los Angeles for season 2. The show's two-season run was brief, but its location strategy was unusually specific for a network horror-comedy.
| Category | Location | Role in the show |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 campus | Tulane University, New Orleans | Wallace University exteriors and campus life |
| Season 1 city support | New Orleans, Louisiana | Street and neighborhood scenes |
| Season 2 studio base | 20th Century Fox Studios, Los Angeles | Main production hub and controlled sets |
| Season 2 filming city | Los Angeles, California | Additional filming locations and production support |
Why Tulane worked
Tulane University worked because it looked expensive, polished, and slightly intimidating, which matched the show's satire of elite campus culture. The campus also gave directors enough space to stage movement-heavy scenes without making the set feel cramped. For a show about sorority politics, murder, and social performance, that visual scale was an important storytelling tool.
"The uptown campus of Tulane University is seeing its share of gore as the highly anticipated comedy-horror series 'Scream Queens' films its debut season using Tulane as its backdrop."
That quote, from Tulane's own news coverage, captures the core value of the location: it was not just a backdrop, but an active part of the show's identity. The campus provided the contrast the series needed, pairing polished academic surfaces with absurd violence. The comedic effect depends on that contrast, and Tulane delivered it naturally.
How the show used locations
The production approach was efficient and visually strategic. Rather than scattering scenes across dozens of disconnected sites, the show concentrated many campus scenes into a few recognizable areas, then recycled them through camera angles, lighting, and costume design. That means viewers often saw a small number of real places presented as a much larger fictional world.
- Use a real campus as the backbone of the fictional university.
- Layer in street and neighborhood shots to broaden the setting.
- Move interiors to studio stages for tighter control over production.
- Shift the balance in season 2 toward Los Angeles-based studio work.
This workflow is common in television, but Scream Queens used it with unusual style discipline. The show's tone relied on over-the-top visuals, yet the location strategy kept the world believable enough for the satire to land. The polished reality of the locations made the parody sharper.
What fans notice
Fans visiting the filming sites often expect to find one iconic "Scream Queens house" or one clearly marked college gate, but the production was more layered than that. The series built its world from multiple real spaces, so the recognizable feeling comes from the composition of the locations rather than one single landmark. That is why the campus shots are memorable even when the exact scene locations are hard to isolate.
For viewers rewatching the series, the biggest giveaway is the contrast between the airy, real-world Tulane exteriors and the cleaner, more controlled studio look of the second season. That visual shift mirrors the show's narrative shift and also explains why the two seasons feel slightly different on screen. The locations are part of the storytelling, not just the scenery.
Frequently asked questions
Was Scream Queens filmed at a real university?
Yes. Season 1 used Tulane University in New Orleans as the main stand-in for Wallace University, including quads, campus buildings, and common outdoor areas.
Location impact
The filming locations helped turn Scream Queens into more than a generic campus thriller. Tulane gave the show legitimacy, while the Los Angeles studio work gave it flexibility and precision. Together, those locations created the polished-but-deranged atmosphere that made the series visually distinctive.
That mix also explains why the series still gets attention from location-focused viewers. A real university, a major studio lot, and a city production base created a map of the show that is easy to describe and rewarding to explore. For a short-lived series, that is a surprisingly durable legacy.
What are the most common questions about Filming Locations Scream Queens Spots You Can Visit Now?
Was the whole series filmed in New Orleans?
No. New Orleans was central to season 1, but season 2 shifted primarily to Los Angeles and 20th Century Fox Studios for a more studio-based production setup.
Can visitors see the filming locations today?
Many exterior areas at Tulane are part of an active university campus, so they can be seen from public or permitted areas, but access depends on campus rules and current operations. Studio locations in Los Angeles are generally not open for casual touring.
Why did the filming locations change between seasons?
The move from New Orleans to Los Angeles likely reflected practical television production needs, including studio access, scheduling, and cost efficiency, while also supporting the show's changing story setting.
What is the most famous filming location from the series?
The most famous location is Tulane University, because it became the visual identity of the show's fictional college and appears most prominently in season 1.