If you’ve ever driven through Indiana, with its sprawling cornfields and cozy diners, you’ll get a familiar vibe when you tune into Netflix’s “Stranger Things.” The fictional town of Hawkins, with its ’80s charm and supernatural secrets, feels like it could be nestled anywhere in the Hoosier State.
Since its debut in 2016, “Stranger Things” has not only hooked viewers with its gripping mix of adventure and horror but also painted a nostalgic picture of Midwest America that resonates with many.
The Duffer Brothers, the brains behind the series, are known for their love affair with the 1980s, drawing heavily on iconic influences like Stephen King and Steven Spielberg. But when it came to setting the scene for their show, they found their muse in Indiana’s small-town vibe.
“Indiana was the perfect choice,” Matt Duffer said in an interview. “It’s got that great mix of Americana, spookiness, and a sense of community where everyone knows your name.”
Indiana’s local folklore and ghost stories lend themselves beautifully to the eerie, mysterious aura of Hawkins. The state is ripe with tales that are a good fit for the show’s creepy undertones, reminiscent of the spooky legends you might hear at a local diner or around a campfire.
Nostalgic Landmarks
The creators captured the essence of a 80s Midwest town through Hawkins’ familiar landmarks—the local middle school, the community pool, and of course, the bustling Starcourt Mall.
Anyone who grew up in Indiana during this time might feel a pang of nostalgia seeing these places on screen, reminiscent of where they might have hung out, shopped, or had their first kiss.
A Reflection of Socio-Economic Changes
The series doesn’t just stop at the nostalgia, it taps into the economic and social shifts that many Indiana communities experienced during the ’80s, like the downturn of local industries. The mysterious Hawkins National Laboratory adds a layer of intrigue and echoes the Cold War-era research facilities that were part of Indiana’s landscape at the time.
Indiana’s natural settings, from its foreboding forests to the quiet, eerie expanses of rural land, provide the perfect backdrop for “Stranger Things.”
These places bring the supernatural to life and give Upside Down its chilling contrast to the town’s otherwise familiar settings.
The show pays homage to an era and a way of life that feels like a memory lane trip for many. In Hawkins, every shadow has a story, and the ordinary becomes a gateway to the extraordinary.
So, even though you won’t find Hawkins on a real map, its spirit is very much alive in Indiana. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most ordinary places are the ones that hold the most intriguing stories. Just ask any Hoosier who’s grown up with the local legends—sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction, and in Indiana, there’s always a bit of both.
