Q. What is it supposed to be on the show? A. The secret headquarters of the Vampire Authority. Q. Where is it supposed to be on the show? A. In New Orleans, Louisiana. Q. When did we see it on the show? A. It is first seen in Episode 2, of Season 5 ("Authority Always Wins"), in which Bill & Eric are taken prisoner by the Authority and brought to the headquarters, which is hidden away inside a large industrial building. But the Vampire Authority headquarters (mainly its interior) is seen many times throughout the 5th season. At the headquarters, we meet the members of the secret cabal of vampires who run the Authority, an odd quasi-religious / political organization based around the worship of the blood of Lilith. Bill & Eric are held prisoner at the Authority headquarters, are tortured, but escape being killed by agreeing to track down Russell. We later witness a coup, led by Salome and Russell Edgington, that deposes Roman and the other pro-mainstreaming Authority leaders, and replaces them with a far more fanatical and bloodthirsty group of fundamentalists that favors openly feeding on humans. After the coup, Bill & Eric are persuaded to join Russell after drinking the blood of Lilith, which sends them into a religious / hallucinogenic hysteria, and an orgy of bloodletting.

The location: The Vampire Authority's HQ.

As Eric has second thoughts, and draws away from the group, Bill eventually slaughters the remaining Authority members, and drinksall of Lilith's blood, resulting in his apparent "true death" (via the usual bloody meltdown) - followed by his immediate resurrection in a form similar to Lilith.

Q. What is it actually, in real life?

A. A power plant.


Q. Where can I find it in real life?



A. It is Edison's Eagle Rock Substation, at 7888 N. Figueroa Street, in the hills of Eagle Rock (Los Angeles), CA.

That's between Pasadena and Glendale, about a mile southwest of Pasadena's famous Rose Bowl.  It's located at the end of a private road, just north of the Ventura (134) Freeway. The substation is surrounded by huge electrical power towers, which branch out across the L.A. basin, bringing power to the city.

The plant is often used for filming.  It was also seen in the opening of 2011's Best Picture, "The Artist" (playing a torture chamber, in the silent film-within-the-film).

When we see cars pull up to doors of the Authority building, we are actually looking at the east side of the building (with the camera looking west).

We get a glimpse of the actual interior when they first enter the building.  (But once they board an elevator, it transitions to the fake - and far more oppulent - studio set that is the Authority headquarters seen in most of the scenes.)

The exterior is seen again in Episode 11 ("Sunset"), in a scene where General Cavanaugh arrives.

   Here's a Google StreetView of the substation.

   Here is an aerial photo of the location.  And here is a map link.


As you can see from this old B&W photo, the place hasn't changed much over the years:
(From the look of those automobiles, I'd guess this was shot in the 1940s.)




[ Warning: This plant is surrounded by a high fence & multiple warning signs. Do not trespass. ]



Q. How the heck did you figure out where it was?

A.  This was a bit of serendipity.  They had been considering using this location in the 7th season of "Dexter" for a rooftop chase scene (that was later shot in downtown L.A. instead).  So, since I document "Dexter" locations,  I had looked at aerial photos of the plant, and remembered that it was surrounded by high electrical towers.  So, when I saw it on "True Blood", I thought I recognized it - and when I double-checked, sure enough, that was the place...