In 2015, the Duffer Brothers, the creators of “Stranger Things,” descended upon Jackson’s main street to turn back the clock to 1983. The Thompsons saw it as an opportunity to bring tourism to Jackson.
A decade later, Jackson is buzzing from the “Stranger Things” tourism boost. Coffee shops, an ice cream parlor and several restaurants line the main drag, making it possible for fans to make a full day out of their visit.
Butts County, where Jackson is, says it has had a 12% increase in tourism in the years when “Stranger Things” is actively streaming.
Fans often come to Jackson dressed as their favorite characters to go on one of the Thompsons’ daily tours that feature iconic filming locations, like “Melvald’s General Store,” where Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) works early in the show, and the alley where Steve Harrington’s (Joe Keery) fight scene takes place in season one. Jackson’s welcome center is visible throughout the show as the Hawkins library, and it will play a big role in the upcoming season five.
Bits of Hawkins can even be found scattered across the region surrounding Jackson. The set of the Byers family house, famous for the scene in which Will (Noah Schapp) communicates with his mom from the upside down through Christmas lights, is an Airbnb in nearby Fayetteville.
For some fans, the love of “Stranger Things” transcends the show itself.
Lynn Yu and Graeshmar Miranda, a couple from Orlando, Florida, with a strong affinity for the ‘80s, drove six hours to Jackson for a cake tasting ahead of their “Stranger Things”-themed wedding, which is scheduled for the weekend after the season five premiere. The brides, who visit Jackson regularly for fan events, have matching “demogorgon” rings and plan to wear vintage ‘80s dresses for the ceremony.
