Where was Resident Alien filmed? (filming locations)

Get ready for an intergalactic adventure without leaving Earth! As we eagerly count down the seconds to the release of Season 3 Episode 3 - 141 Seconds of our favorite sci-fi comedy series, Resident Alien, on Syfy this Wednesday, Feb 28, 2024, the anticipation is reaching extraterrestrial heights!

Resident Alien unfolds in the fictional quiet mountain town of Patience, Colorado – a place that seems too picturesque to be true! Amidst snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes, and the quirky charm of its residents, we can't help but wonder, if Patience, Colorado, is a real place, or just another Hollywood effect.

If you've also been wondering about the filming locations of the Syfy series, then you're in for a treat! Join us as we reveal the filming locations of Resident Alien, exposing the breathtaking views and backdrops that bring this out-of-this-world series to life below! Without further ado, let’s dive in.

Resident Alien filming locations

While the snow-capped peaks may scream Colorado, the SYFY original series Resident Alien was busy pulling off its extraterrestrial magic almost entirely in Vancouver, British Columbia.

According to location manager Ken Brooker, who spilled the cosmic beans to SYFY WIRE in 2021, “In real life, it was based here in Vancouver. That’s where 90 percent of the filming took place,”

"It’s where we had our stages; we had two sound stages and a handful of locations. We shot 10 episodes, so, on average, each episode probably had about a dozen or so locations within it."

- Ken Brooker

But if you ever find yourself on the west side of Vancouver, there are a few spots you can visit to soak in the Resident Alien vibes!

Ladysmith, Vancouver Island: The real Patience, Colorado

Ladysmith, a charming town accessible only by ferry on Vancouver Island, serves as the backdrop for Patience's exteriors and Main Street. Assistant location manager Kevin McLean shared, "We essentially filmed it at about three or four historical blocks of downtown. The architecture came from the early 1900s". Describing the meticulous planning involved, Ken Brooker explained:

"Talk about finding a needle in a haystack. You need to have the perfect locations individually for each of those things, but then they all have to be in geographic proximity, so we were very fortunate. Ladysmith was a real good find for us and it played well. It looks great on camera and the people there were very welcoming."

- Ken Booker

Other notable locations

While Ladysmith takes center stage, other locations contribute to Resident Alien's captivating backdrops. According to reports, The Vancouver Art Gallery cleverly doubles as the New York Public Library, and the enchanting pedestrian bridge in the woods from the season finale is tucked away in Capilano River Regional Park in North Vancouver.