Mystic FalLs
From sacred ground to founding families to the stories still unfolding today—discover the moments that made Mystic Falls.
Over 1,000 years ago during the Viking era, the Mikaelson Family heard of a mystical land blessed with supernatural gifts. Desperate to escape plague and death, they moved to this land where they lived among the werewolves as equals.
Until tragedy struck—their youngest was killed while watching the beasts transform. This prompted their mother Esther to create a superior race: the first vampires. The family fled not long after, but the land remembered.
Centuries before the founding families arrived, Native peoples recognized this land as sacred. The town square—where Mystic Falls would eventually gather—served as a worship site and ceremonial ground.
The ancient oaks that still provide shade today witnessed rituals, celebrations, and the deep connection between people and this powerful place.
The Founding Families—Lockwood, Salvatore, Gilbert, Forbes, and Fell—discovered this mystical land and signed the township charter that made Mystic Falls official.
Jacob Lockwood became the first mayor. The families built not just buildings, but institutions: the town council, the Mystic Grill, the Historical Society. They created a legacy that would shape the next 160+ years.
The founding families constructed the landmarks that still define Mystic Falls: the clock tower in the town square, Wickery Bridge, the Lockwood Mansion on the hill, and the cemetery where their descendants still rest.
Fell's General Store opened in 1862 and remains in operation today. The Salvatore Boarding House hosted the town's most legendary gatherings.
The Civil War didn't spare Mystic Falls. Families took different sides, the town endured conflict, and some secrets from this period remain buried—literally and figuratively.
The scars from 1864 shaped founding family relationships for generations. Some wounds healed. Others never did.
The town established its most enduring traditions. The first Founder's Day celebration honored the families who built Mystic Falls. The Miss Mystic Falls Pageant began, celebrating grace and community pride.
The Lockwood family maintained the mayor's office, beginning a political dynasty that would last 150 years.
As the town matured, so did its mysteries. Locals began sharing stories passed down through generations—tales of strange occurrences, unexplained events, and the feeling that Mystic Falls held secrets beneath its charming surface.
The Mystic Grill became the unofficial gathering place where these stories were told, questioned, and embellished with each bourbon.
After 150 years, the Lockwood family's hold on the mayor's office concluded. Rudy Hopkins assumed the position in 2011, marking the first time in the town's history that a non-founding family member led Mystic Falls.
Change came to a town built on tradition.
The Salvatore Boarding House, once famous for its legendary parties, transformed into the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted—proving that founding family legacies can evolve while honoring the past.
The Historical Society continues preserving stories in journals, artifacts, and the memories of longtime residents who remember when things were different... or perhaps exactly the same.
160+ years after the founding, Mystic Falls remains a town that remembers. The clock tower still marks time. Ancient oaks still shade the square. The Mystic Grill still serves bourbon to locals who know each other's names.
Matt Donovan serves as mayor, connecting the town's past to its future. Seasonal festivals fill the streets. Fresh flowers still appear on century-old graves. And every evening, the whole town knows: the past is never past when it's family.
The story continues. Come be part of what happens next.
Visit the Mystic Falls Historical Society to explore archives, artifacts, and the full depth of our town's fascinating history.
Visit the Historical Society