Nowhere, West Virginia
| Nowhere | |
"Welcome to Nowhere. Pop 247"
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| Location Information | |
| Type | Town |
|---|---|
| State | West Virginia |
| Population | 247 (according to sign) |
| Founded | Late 1800s by Beaumont Family |
| Notable Features | National Quiet Zone Big Ear Telescope Supernatural Nexus |
| Supernatural Properties | |
| Classification | Dimensional Nexus Cryptid Hotspot |
| Primary Entity | The Wendigo |
| Guardian | Abigail Fleming |
Nowhere is a remote town in West Virginia that serves as the primary setting for Tales from Nowhere. Located within the National Quiet Zone, the town restricts electronic devices to avoid interfering with the nearby Big Ear radio telescope. This isolation has attracted "wifi refugees" seeking escape from modern technology but also made the town a hotbed of paranormal activity connected to North American folklore.
Overview
Nowhere presents itself as a quaint, anachronistic community that has rejected modern technology. Residents use vintage appliances, communicate through landlines and mail, and live a lifestyle reminiscent of the 1950s-80s. The town's sign claims a population of 247, though this number never changes throughout the series despite multiple deaths, leading to fan speculation about its accuracy.
The town is surrounded by 13,000 square miles of wilderness. Access is limited to a single highway that loses GPS functionality as it enters the Quiet Zone. Visitors often report their vehicles failing as they approach, forcing them to complete the journey on foot or wait for assistance.
"Nowhere isn't just a place you find. It's a place that finds you." Clara Sterling, Episode 4
History
Pre-Colonial Era
Indigenous peoples, including the Algonquin and Wampanoag, recognized the area's supernatural significance centuries before European settlement. They performed rituals to maintain balance with the spiritual forces present, including early containment of the Wendigo spirit.
Founding (Late 1800s)
The Beaumont family, led by a "ruthless robber baron," discovered the region's nexus of supernatural energies. They established a secret society blending Mithraic cultism with indigenous practices, seeking to harness the area's power for immortality. The town of Nowhere was founded as a cover for their operations.
World War II Era
The government established a Japanese internment camp near Nowhere. The trauma of this period left a supernatural imprint on the area, particularly affecting the Nakamura family. Some experiments during this era may have created hybrid cryptid entities.
Cold War Era
The Big Ear telescope was constructed, officially to search for extraterrestrial signals. The establishment of the National Quiet Zone further isolated the town. Government experiments in paranormal research may have occurred during this period.
Modern Era
As technology proliferated, people with electromagnetic sensitivities and those seeking escape from modern life began migrating to Nowhere. The town developed its reputation as a haven for "wifi refugees" while its supernatural activity quietly intensified.
Supernatural Properties
Nowhere sits on a nexus of supernatural energy that makes it:
Dimensional Thin Spot
The barrier between dimensions is weaker in Nowhere than almost anywhere else on Earth. This allows cryptids to manifest, interdimensional entities to interact with our reality, and psychic phenomena to flourish.
Cryptid Magnet
Creatures from North American folklore are drawn to Nowhere. Whether they originate from other dimensions, manifest from collective human belief, or have always existed in hiding, they congregate in the surrounding wilderness. Sightings include:
- Mothman
- Bigfoot
- Hidebehind
- Wendigo
- Grey Aliens (possibly interdimensional rather than extraterrestrial)
Fear Amplifier
The Wendigo's presence causes the town to amplify human emotions, particularly fear. This creates a feedback loop: fear manifests cryptids, cryptids cause more fear, which strengthens the Wendigo.
Notable Locations
- Beaumont Manor - The decaying mansion overlooking the town, home to Thaddeus Beaumont
- The Big Ear - The massive radio telescope that officially justified the Quiet Zone
- Margolis Video - Benji's video store with its secret basement research hub
- Nakamura Restaurant - The town's social center and supernatural safe house
- Town Square - Location of the clock tower and ancient Algonquian artifact (Episode 2)
- The Whispering Woods - Sentient forest surrounding the town (Episode 3)
- Abandoned Military Bunker - Site of Cold War paranormal experiments (Episode 1)
- Old Cemetery - Where the veil between past and present is thinnest (Episode 4)
Notable Residents
Real-World Basis
Nowhere is inspired by the actual National Radio Quiet Zone in Green Bank, West Virginia. This 13,000-square-mile area restricts electromagnetic emissions to protect the Green Bank Telescope, the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope.
Real-world facts that inspired the show:
- The area genuinely restricts cell phones, WiFi, and microwave ovens
- People with electromagnetic hypersensitivity have relocated there (the show's "wifi refugees")
- The Green Bank Telescope can detect extremely faint signals
- The area has reported high rates of UFO sightings and strange phenomena
Trivia
- The town's name "Nowhere" is both literal (a place of isolation) and ironic (it's actually a somewhere of immense cosmic significance).
- The population sign showing "247" never changes despite documented deaths, suggesting supernatural manipulation or deliberate inaccuracy.
- Creator Jesse Alexander visited the real Green Bank, WV during development and incorporated details from his visit.
- The production built a partial practical town set for wide shots, with interiors filmed on soundstages.
- Maps of Nowhere appear in several episodes, with fans noting inconsistencies suggesting the town's geography may not be stable.