Riverdale began as a murder mystery about what had happened to Jason Blossom. As time went on, Riverdale's stories grew out, becoming much more than a murder mystery. As the story grew out, so did the places the characters went to gain answers.
With hideouts, safe spaces, and others used throughout the series to help the main characters, there was an abundance of locations on Riverdale that were in constant use to help push the story forward. While some places have not done as much for the storyline, some have been relevant throughout the seasons. These are the ten most significant locations.
Stonewall Prep
Stonewall Prep came into the series in the fourth season as a way to separate Jughead from his friends and set up the mystery of what happened to him. Throughout the season, Jughead spends time with other students, all of which seem to have it out for him.
Meanwhile, Jughead can tell that something about the school isn't right, and when his teacher commits suicide, and no one bats an eye, Jughead knows he's right. Later, Jughead and Betty confront the students and teacher about the truth about the Stonewall Four, and how it related to the Baxter Brothers contract.
Archie's Gym
After going through so much, part of Archie's arc included his vigilante activities. However, another focused on a gym that Hiram gave Archie. Archie turned the gym into more than just a boxing arena or workout space, transforming it into a center for the local kids to keep them off the streets.
Archie's actions allowed several kids to stay out of gang activity, as he got them to play games at the center. Archie even held a holiday celebration there for those who may not have had a place to go.
Southside High School
Southside High School gets the short end of the stick shortly after Jughead begins attending. As Hiram starts buying up land for his project, his investments lead him to the South Side, and the high school is a casualty of Hiram's plan.
Yet, Southside High opened the door for Jughead to join the Southside Serpents after meeting Toni. While the school may no longer exist, the influence it had on Jughead remained. Southside High School ended up being part of Hiram's prison. However, the Southside remained a vital part of the series.
The Bunker
The Bunker comes in handy as a secret hideout. It is used for games of Gryphons and Gargoyles, and it is where Jughead went after faking his death. The Bunker was also used for Archie and Betty to have secret meetings.
The Bunker has been used plenty of times on the show by the main characters in a variety of ways. They took possession of it after Dilton Doiley committed suicide, trying to ascend during Gryphons and Gargoyles.
Sweetwater River
Sweetwater River was nothing more than a river until Jason Blossom's body was found. At the time that a gunshot had gone off near Sweetwater River, Archie and Ms. Grundy had been nearby when they had been involved in their secret affair. The river is also where Cheryl tried to drown herself to join Jason.
After the end of season one, Sweetwater River has held other uses, but it has not been as crucial to the series since. Sweetwater River was also referenced on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, acknowledging their shared universe.
Pop's Diner
Pop's Diner may be the cleanest place left in Riverdale. Although the Black Hood made his premiere in the Diner, Pop's and it's owner, Pop, had remained free of Riverdale's darkness and drama.
Instead, it has remained possibly the last genuinely good place left in town that was not corrupted by outside forces. Pop's is the salvation of the series, where Archie, Betty, Jughead, and Veronica go to drink milkshakes, eat burgers, solve mysteries, and discuss the dead bodies they've hidden. Pop's is more of a place of communication and celebration instead of a tragedy.
Veronica's Speakeasy
Riverdale kicked its crazy up a notch when it decided to have its high school student, Veronica Lodge, open a speakeasy underneath Pop's Diner. To prove to Hiram how much Veronica could do for herself, Veronica opened the business with the intent of giving her peers a place to go that was not owned or influenced by Hiram Lodge as he slowly bought up several properties around town.
In season four, Veronica transformed the speakeasy into a dance club and moved her rum business out. Since opening, several characters have performed at the speakeasy, including Josie, Veronica, and more.
The Sisters of Quiet Mercy
The Sisters of Quiet Mercy only got worse as the series continued. The more it appeared, the more awful secrets were revealed about the place. Disguised as a place designed to help people, it only tortures them instead. The Sisters of Quiet Mercy are guilty of abusing their patients, drugging them, putting them through gay conversion therapy, and more.
The Sisters of Quiet Mercy is also responsible for Gryphons and Gargoyles, and the Gargoyle King, which they made up for their patients. In season one, it was where Alice and Hal Cooper had sent their daughter, Polly, away after learning she was pregnant with Jason Blossom's baby.
The Farm
As messed up as The Sisters of Quiet Mercy is, The Farm is also a strong contender for most disturbing locations existing on Riverdale. On the surface, The Farm appears to be an organization designed to show people another way of living.
The deeper Betty dove into The Farm, the more she knew that wasn't true. The Farm was not just a safe zone. It was up to something far more awful. The Farm manipulated its people, making them think that they could speak to the dead. Edgar also harvested the organs from those who followed him. Just before Edgar died, Betty discovered that all his followers were meant to ascend when a bus drove off a cliff while Edgar ascended by dying in a rocketship.
Riverdale High School
No school has suffered from more death than Riverdale High School. From murderous cults, suicides, and the Black Hood, several students have lost their lives to the dangers that happen around the town as a whole. No one is safe at school or anywhere else.
With so many things happening at once, the students always find themselves with some type of enemy. Season four brought a new principal, Mr. Honey, into the fold. While Mr. Honey explained his actions were due to the amount of danger that surrounds the town, he has also made some questionable decisions himself.