My Secret Santa Filming Location at Sun Peaks Resort

Christmas movies often rely on fake snow and studio lots, but Netflix’s My Secret Santa actually filmed at a real snow-covered village: Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia. This guide breaks down exactly where key scenes were shot and how you can visit the real-life sets.

Film release year: 2025 ·
Primary filming location: Sun Peaks Resort, British Columbia ·
Distance from Vancouver: Approximately 4 hours by car ·
Featured hotel in the film: Sun Peaks Grand Hotel

Six facts, one pattern: the film’s primary setting is a working ski resort that doubles as a holiday movie set.

Where is the film My Secret Santa filmed?

Sun Peaks Resort as the primary location

• The movie centers on Sun Peaks Resort, a ski destination in the B.C. Interior (Netflix in Your Neighbourhood (official film map)).
• The resort’s pedestrian village and Grand Hotel lobby appear in multiple scenes (Netflix in Your Neighbourhood (official film map)).

Netflix’s official Canadian filming map lists Sun Peaks Resort and the Grand Hotel as the setting for My Secret Santa. The resort’s ski-through village, with its alpine architecture and snow-dusted streets, provides the backdrop for the story’s main street scenes.

Kamloops and surrounding areas

• Additional filming took place in Kamloops, about 45 minutes from Sun Peaks (Atlas of Wonders (travel guide)).
• Key Kamloops locations include the exterior of a house (Mariposa Manor) and Victoria Street (Atlas of Wonders (travel guide)).

The travel guide Atlas of Wonders notes that the house exterior seen in the film is actually the Mariposa Manor apartment building in North Kamloops. Barnacle Records, a shop central to the plot, was filmed on Victoria Street in Kamloops City Centre, with interior scenes shot in the real store around the corner on 3 Avenue.

The implication: a single trip can cover both the resort and nearby city locations.

What resort was My Secret Santa filmed in?

Sun Peaks Resort details

• Sun Peaks is a four-season mountain resort in B.C.’s Thompson-Nicola region (Sun Peaks Grand Hotel (official accommodation)).
• The pedestrian village sits at the base of three mountains (Netflix in Your Neighbourhood (official film map)).

The resort’s village center is a ski-through hub with shops, restaurants, and lodging. The Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Centre anchors the village and is the primary hotel featured in the film.

Sun Peaks Grand Hotel as a key set

• The hotel’s lobby, Mantles Restaurant patio, Morrisey’s Public House, and the base of Exhibition Run are all recognizable filming spots (Sun Peaks Grand Hotel (official accommodation)).
• The Village Stroll, a pedestrian pathway, is also used on screen (Sun Peaks Grand Hotel (official accommodation)).

The hotel’s official site confirms these locations appear in the film. For viewers planning a visit, these spots are accessible to the public and serve as tangible connections to the movie.

The catch: while the hotel is bookable, some areas may be reserved for events during peak seasons.

Why is British Columbia’s Interior becoming a popular backdrop for holiday movies?

Scenic landscapes and snow-covered mountains

• The B.C. Interior offers reliable snow and mountain vistas that mimic European alpine villages (Atlas of Wonders (travel guide)).
• Sun Peaks provides a compact, walkable village that is production-friendly (Netflix in Your Neighbourhood (official map)).

The region’s natural winter setting eliminates the need for artificial snow or set dressing. For Netflix, this means authentic, cost-effective backdrops that resonate with audiences seeking a classic holiday aesthetic.

Tax incentives and production support

• British Columbia offers competitive film tax credits, making it an attractive hub for productions (Creative BC (provincial film agency)).
• Local crew and production companies in Kamloops and Vancouver provide infrastructure (Creative BC (provincial film agency)).

These incentives reduce production costs while supporting local economies. For My Secret Santa, the choice of Sun Peaks likely combined scenic value with financial practicality.

Proximity to Vancouver and film infrastructure

• Sun Peaks is roughly 4 hours from Vancouver, a major film hub (Atlas of Wonders (travel guide)).
• Kamloops, only 45 minutes from Sun Peaks, offers additional services and locations (Atlas of Wonders (travel guide)).

The B.C. Interior’s combination of proximity to Vancouver and distinct winter scenery gives it an edge over more remote locations. Production crews can base out of Kamloops or Vancouver while filming in an authentic mountain setting.

The pattern: a virtuous cycle of incentives, scenery, and infrastructure attracting more productions.

Can you visit the filming locations of My Secret Santa?

Public access to Sun Peaks Village

• The village is open year-round to the public (Sun Peaks Grand Hotel (official accommodation)).
• Visitors can walk through the pedestrian streets and enter the Grand Hotel lobby (Sun Peaks Grand Hotel (official accommodation)).

No special permits are needed to explore the village. The hotel lobby, restaurants, and walkways are all accessible. However, some areas may be closed during active film shoots or private events.

Filming spots you can see today

• Mantles Restaurant patio and Morrisey’s Public House are operational and serve the public (Atlas of Wonders (travel guide)).
• The base of Exhibition Run and the Village Stroll are open to skiers and pedestrians (Atlas of Wonders (travel guide)).

In Kamloops, the Mariposa Manor apartment building and the Barnacle Records shop can be viewed from public sidewalks. The church scenes, however, were filmed at the Lititz Moravian Congregation in Pennsylvania, so that spot is not on the B.C. route.

Best seasons to visit

• Winter (December–March) offers the snow-covered look seen in the film (Sun Peaks Grand Hotel (official accommodation)).
• Summer and fall bring fewer crowds but still make the village accessible (Atlas of Wonders (travel guide)).

For the full holiday vibe, plan a winter trip. The resort’s ski season typically runs from November to April. If you visit in December, you’ll also catch the resort’s holiday decorations.

The takeaway: winter offers the authentic snowy backdrop, but other seasons still provide access.

What other Netflix holiday movies were filmed in British Columbia?

A Christmas Prince franchise

• The A Christmas Prince movies were largely filmed in Romania and Canada, not primarily in B.C. (Netflix in Your Neighbourhood (official map)).
• Some winter scenes used B.C. locations, but the castle sets were not in the province.

My Secret Santa differs by making a real, operational ski resort the centerpiece rather than a constructed set.

Other Netflix originals shot in B.C.

• Movies like The Holiday Calendar and The Christmas Chronicles 2 used Vancouver and Vancouver Island locations.
• Sun Peaks is one of the few interior resorts to host a Netflix holiday feature.

The B.C. film industry has long been known as “Hollywood North,” but the Interior is gaining ground. Sun Peaks’ role in My Secret Santa may encourage more productions to look beyond the coast.

Comparison of filming locations

• Whistler, another B.C. resort, has hosted films but is more expensive and crowded.
• Sun Peaks offers a quieter, more intimate village environment that suits small-town holiday stories.

For fans wanting to visit a movie set without the crowds of larger resorts, Sun Peaks provides a compelling alternative.

The contrast: resort-based authenticity versus studio convenience—each suits a different story.

“Sun Peaks proved the perfect location for our first Netflix film. The cast and crew enjoyed the mountain hospitality and the authentic winter setting.”

— Sun Peaks Resort official Facebook post (Sun Peaks Resort (official Facebook page))

“Sun Peaks Village is a ski-through pedestrian hub at the base of three mountains, and it serves as the primary filming set for the movie’s street scenes.”

— Atlas of Wonders (Atlas of Wonders (travel guide))

The pattern is clear: B.C.’s Interior offers a mix of affordability, scenery, and infrastructure that big-budget holiday productions find hard to resist. For Sun Peaks, the film represents a turning point — a chance to attract visitors who might otherwise choose Whistler or Banff. The economic impact of hosting My Secret Santa could be significant. For travelers dreaming of walking through a real-life Christmas movie, the route is straightforward: drive four hours east from Vancouver, check into the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, and step into the village that Netflix brought to life.

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