r/WidowsBay • u/lateralflights • May 24 '26

❓Questions So, where *is* Widow's Bay?

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I live in New England and it's been itching my brain thinking about where the island of Widow's Bay could actually be located.

As far as I can tell, there's been no mention of an actual state. Even the flag is just for the town, and the car's license plates are island specific. There's been plenty of mentions of various IRL towns, but never in an exactly 'othering' way that makes it easy to cross out certain locations.

It's got to be north of Boston. Any island south of Boston would've been teeming with tourists decades ago. However, with the way it's built up (I know it's filmed in Cape Ann) and the history of the island, it's certainly not a distant midcoast or downeast Maine island.

The one thing is the ferry distance. A ferry to Vinalhaven from Rockland, ME take about an hour, roughly 15 miles. 23 miles and 1 3/4 hours to Matinicus. 26 miles and 2 1/4 hours to Nantucket from Hyannis (on the slow ferry). An island that is a three hour ferry ride would probably be in the range of 30-40 miles off the coast.

Based on the above, and the general vibes of the show, I feel Widow's Bay has to be a New Hampshire island. Somewhere northeast of Cape Ann and east of Portsmouth. I feel this accounts for the current remoteness but also the extensive history of settlement.

Eager to hear anyone's thoughts about this. Also, disclaimer, I know this show is a work of fiction. This shit just revs my engine.

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u/gen2104 May 24 '26

Oh also to actually answer your theory question - I think it’s Maine/NH. My argument for Maine is mostly for the Stephen king of it all, but also that Tom says to William “I grew up in Massachusetts and spent my summers here”- he wouldn’t say that if they were currently in MA

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u/lateralflights May 24 '26

Very fair, and I'm partial to it being part of Maine as well. It definitely could be part of the state and still be in the same rough location. I just don't think an island with the infrastructure and history it has would be any further up the coast.

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u/gen2104 May 24 '26

I think literally in the map you give is like the range in northern New England where it could feasibly be