Where Was Hawkins Lab Filmed? The Real Georgia Mental Health Institute
The psychiatric hospital that became Stranger Things' most iconic location
When Netflix searched for the perfect building to portray Hawkins National Laboratory, they found something better than a set. They found a real abandoned psychiatric hospital with a history darker than fiction.
📍 LOCATION DETAILS
Official Name: Georgia Mental Health Institute (GMHI)
Address: 1256 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Operated By: Emory University & State of Georgia
Years Active: 1965 - 1997
Current Status: Scheduled for demolition (2025)
The Building's Real History
The Georgia Mental Health Institute opened in 1965 as a psychiatric facility operated by Emory University. What the Duffer Brothers may not have known: Emory's Chair of Pharmacology, Dr. Carl Pfeiffer, conducted MKUltra experiments on minors. His experiments ended in 1964. GMHI opened in 1965.
Timeline: From Hospital to Hollywood
Georgia Mental Health Institute opens
J.L. v. Parham lawsuit - 46 children improperly institutionalized
GMHI closes permanently
Emory purchases property for $2.9 million
Stranger Things Season 1 films here
Building scheduled for demolition
What Was Filmed Here?
🎬 FILMING LOCATIONS WITHIN GMHI
• Main Lobby and Reception Area
• Laboratory Corridors
• The Rainbow Room (children's playroom)
• Dr. Brenner's Office
• Underground Tunnel Network
• Morgue Facilities
⚠️ DO NOT ATTEMPT TO VISIT ⚠️
The building is fenced and being demolished.
In December 2025, a 19-year-old died exploring this site.
The complete investigation.
Every source cited.