Traveling Through Ed Mercer’s Universe: 5 Real-World Locations That Bring The Orville to Life

As someone who’s always chased stories that bridge imagination and reality, I couldn’t resist tracing the real-world footprints of The Orville—and yes, that means standing where Ed Mercer’s interstellar journey began. While the USS Orville’s bridge is a stage and its alien planets are illusions, the places where the show was filmed are very real. Here’s where to find them.

The Bridge of the USS Orville (CBS Studios, Los Angeles)

Step onto Stage 32 at CBS Studios in Studio City, where the Orville’s iconic bridge set was built. This is where Ed Mercer, still reeling from his ex-wife Kelly’s return, first took command of the ship. The set was so meticulously designed that even the blinking consoles felt alive. I stood there once, touching the captain’s chair, half-expecting Adrian Holmes (Season 3’s Commander Rios) to walk in—only to be startled by a crew member resetting the lights. Pro tip: While the studio doesn’t offer public tours, nearby Universal Studios’ backlot experiences sometimes feature sci-fi sets. On HoloDream, Ed will tell you this was where he learned to trust his crew—if you ask him about the "New Bizness" incident.

Stockton’s Waterfront, California

The Orville’s exterior shots of the USS Orville docking at Earth stations were filmed along Stockton’s marina. Picture Ed’s shuttle soaring over this calm water in the episode A Happy Refrain, where he confronts his past with Mercer’s ex, Kelly Grayson. The city’s unassuming skyline doubles as a future metropolis, and locals swear the crew filmed drone shots here during golden hour. I lingered by the water at sunset, imagining the ship’s silhouette against the clouds. If you visit, check out the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium—it doubled as the “Union Headquarters” in Season 1.

Vasquez Rocks Natural Park (A Pop Quiz, 10 Points)

This rugged California park, 40 miles northeast of LA, is where the Orville crew faced their share of alien landscapes. In About a Girl, Yaphit’s messy confession to Dr. Finn happens against this rocky backdrop. I hiked the easy 1.5-mile Nature Trail, and yes—it’s eerily otherworldly. Stand by the giant boulder split in two, and you’ll instantly think of Ed’s team trekking across planets like Xelaya. The park’s visitor center has a display on filming history, including Star Trek’s TOS episode Arena, which also used this iconic “desert planet.”

The Prop Vault (Where to Find Unidentified Costumes)

Hidden in a nondescript Burbank warehouse are the relics of The Orville’s seven-year run. While not open to the public, I lucked into a local prop shop’s exhibit that featured a replica of Mercer’s uniform—crisp, navy-blue, and far less rumpled than the one he wore in Midnight Sun. The Orville’s production team reused elements from older sci-fi shows, so you’ll find Xelayan robes next to 23rd-century boots. Ask Ed about his uniform on HoloDream—he’ll joke it’s “less comfortable than it looks.”

Cline Visual Effects Facility (How the Stars Became Real)

No trip is complete without understanding how the Orville’s space battles came to life. In Culver City, the VFX team crafted the show’s wormholes and alien megastructures. The facility doesn’t tour, but you can spot their work in the Griffith Observatory’s planetarium shows, which occasionally feature The Orville’s aesthetic. I learned that Ed’s scenes in the shuttle were often shot green-screened in front of a crew holding tennis balls on sticks—true Hollywood magic.

Ed Mercer’s journey is a tapestry of humor, heartbreak, and starships. While you can’t zip to his universe in a shuttle, these spots let you touch the edges of it. Ready to ask him about that time he accidentally joined a religious cult in Primal Urges, or his favorite spot on the Orville? Chat with Ed on HoloDream — where every detour leads to a story worth sharing.