Wednesday – Camp Jericho

Wednesday Season 2 features Camp Jericho as a pivotal outdoor setting where Nevermore Academy students embark on a full-moon camping trip filled with rivalry and supernatural tension. This location stands out for its dense forests and dramatic waterfall, contrasting the gothic academy interiors with raw wilderness adventure. Filmed entirely in Ireland rather than the show’s fictional Vermont, Camp Jericho draws from Ireland’s lush landscapes to enhance the series’ eerie atmosphere. The estate’s sprawling grounds, including towering redwoods and cascading waters, provide a versatile backdrop for action-packed sequences. Powerscourt’s historical prestige as a filming site adds layers of authenticity, making it an ideal choice for depicting a contested campsite overrun by cadets.

The Scene

In Episode 3, titled “Chapter III: Call of the Woe,” Nevermore Academy’s students and faculty head to Camp Jericho during a full moon for a traditional outing blending campfires and camaraderie. The trip turns competitive when Phoenix cadets, led by Ron Kruger, invade the site, sparking a high-stakes game akin to capture the flag. Wednesday Addams teams up with Nightshades members to outmaneuver the cadets, who wield military-grade weapons. Climaxing with Wednesday zip-lining to secure the winning token, the sequence showcases trails, a lookout tower, communal campfire, and Ciderback Falls amid pine forests and ancient tree stumps. Tensions escalate through strategic plays in the glade and woodland paths, highlighting themes of outcast unity against normie intruders.

The Real Filming Location

Camp Jericho scenes were shot at Powerscourt Estate, an 18th-century demesne in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, Ireland, spanning 47 acres of gardens, forests, and redwoods. The production utilized the surrounding woods and Powerscourt Waterfall— Ireland’s second-highest at 121 meters—for key visuals, though the estate house itself does not appear. Coordinates approximately match 53.1842905, -6.1866837, aligning with the estate’s position near the Sugarloaf Mountain foothills. Sets for the campsite, including elements like the entrance, store, latrines, and trails, were constructed on-site. This location also doubled as Nevermore Cemetery, leveraging the dense foliage for multiple woodland sequences in the season.

Why This Location Was Chosen

Production chose Powerscourt Estate for its magical light, lush greens, gray skies, and extensive forests that perfectly matched the show’s Vermont wilderness sensibility. Showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar shifted from Romania’s Season 1 locations to Ireland’s shadowy woods and castles, praising the Emerald Isle’s natural fit for horror elements. The estate’s 47 acres offered versatile terrain for building Camp Jericho sets without disrupting its iconic gardens or waterfall. Powerscourt’s proven film pedigree, hosting classics like Henry V, Excalibur, Little Women (2017), Cocaine Bear, and The Green Knight, ensured logistical ease and visual grandeur. Its redwoods and trails amplified the competitive, eerie camping vibe.

Visiting the Location

Powerscourt Estate welcomes visitors year-round, open daily from 9:15 AM to 6 PM in peak season (April-October) and shorter hours otherwise, with entry fees around €12.50 for adults covering gardens and waterfall access via a 7km trail. Park in designated lots displaying permits; follow rules like keeping campsites clean and fires in approved areas to protect wildlife. Guided tours highlight film history, though specific Wednesday sets are temporary and removed. Trails like those mimicking Mountain Glade or Pine Forest offer hikes amid 500-year-old stumps and picnic spots. Check powerscourt.ie for events, as filming bookings may limit access; it’s a 45-minute drive from Dublin, ideal for day trips combining nature and cinema lore.