'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3: Is Anchor Bay a real prison? Here's what we know

'Mayor of Kingstown' is an American crime thriller drama series created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon
Inside iconic prison setting in Jeremy Renner's riveting show, 'Mayor of Kingstown' (@paramount+)
Inside iconic prison setting in Jeremy Renner's riveting show, 'Mayor of Kingstown' (@paramount+)

KINGSTOWN, MICHIGAN: Since the debut of 'Mayor of Kingstown', Mike McLusky (Jeremy Renner) has been deeply involved in efforts to maintain peace and order in Kingstown. His journey begins within the walls of Anchor Bay, a prominent and influential prison in the region.

Mike's work inside Anchor Bay is crucial, as the prison serves as a microcosm of the larger issues facing Kingstown. He deals with the complicated relationships between inmates, guards, and different groups at Anchor Bay.

Following the prison riot in the final episodes of 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 1, he dispatches a group of gang leaders to Anchor Bay to negotiate and establish peace.

However, there's always the question of whether Anchor Bay is a real prison. 

Inside iconic Anchor Bay Prison in the hit series 'Mayor of Kingstown'

Jeremy Renner in a still from ' Mayor of Kingstown' (@paramount+)
Jeremy Renner as Mike McLusky in a still from ' Mayor of Kingstown' (@paramount+)

Anchor Bay, depicted in Paramount+'s thriller, 'Mayor of Kingstown', is a fictional prison. Western Penitentiary, originally located at 3001 Beaver Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a real correctional facility that has since been renamed the State Correctional Institution (SCI) Pittsburgh. This institution, with its imposing architecture and historic significance, served as the visual inspiration for the portrayal of Anchor Bay in 'Mayor of Kingstown,' as reported by 90.5 Wesa. The transformation of this real-life facility into the fictional Anchor Bay involved a lot of effort.

Western Penitentiary was operational until 2017. While SCI Pittsburgh no longer operates as a prison, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who worked there and the inmates who were once housed within its walls.

SCI Pittsburgh had been in operation for decades, housing inmates and playing a role in the state's criminal justice system. Notorious individuals such as George Feigley, who was accused of leading a sex cult, and Alexander Berkman, a Russian-American anarchist, were incarcerated at Western Penitentiary.

The Pennsylvania Department of General Services reportedly wants to demolish the penitentiary and redevelop the site into an industrial hub, with the aim of generating additional job opportunities within the city, as reported by WTAE. 

Western Penitentiary serve as key shooting location for film and TV productions

(Instagram/@billkardos)
'Mayor of Kingstown' was shot in Western Penitentiary (Instagram/@billkardos)

In recent years, Western Penitentiary, with its historic architecture and imposing presence, has emerged as a key shooting location for film and television productions. 

Western Penitentiary's proximity to Pittsburgh's film industry and its experienced workforce make it a convenient and practical choice for production houses. 

'A League of Their Own,' a 1992 American sports comedy-drama film, was shot in this location, as reported by 90.5 Wesa. Netflix's globally renowned crime series 'Mindhunter' chose Western Penitentiary as one of its key shooting locations, as reported by 90.5 Wesa. The collaboration between 'Mindhunter' and Western Penitentiary not only showcased the versatility of the location but also highlighted the city's growing reputation as a hub for film and television production.

The shooting of 'Mayor of Kingstown' further increased Western Penitentiary's popularity as a filming location. The collaboration between 'Mayor of Kingstown' and Western Penitentiary provided a boost to the local economy, creating job opportunities and generating revenue. 

In 2021, 11 projects filmed in Western Penitentiary, contributed to $330 million in economic development. Productions that specifically used the prison location invested approximately $500,000 to ensure the safety of the cast and crew.

How to stream 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3?

Jeremy Renner's riveting show, 'Mayor of Kingstown,' Season 3, is generating buzz (@paramount+)
Jeremy Renner as Mike McLusky in a still from ' Mayor of Kingstown' (@paramount+)

'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3 Episodes 1 and 2 are exclusively available for streaming on Paramount+. New episodes of 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3 are released every Sunday.

Don't have a Paramount+ subscription? Worry not! We have got you covered.

Paramount+ Essential plan, priced at $5.99 per month, offers subscribers access to a wide range of content but includes ads during streaming.

Paramount+ with Showtime plan, priced at $11.99 per month, provides an ad-free streaming experience and includes access to Showtime's premium content library.

'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3 trailer



 

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