In the series premiere of Locke & Key, the Locke family moves across the country from Seattle to Matheson, Massachusetts. Titled “Welcome to Matheson,” the first episode, um, locks viewers in and lets them know the town itself is a character in the story.

As the Locke family first drives into Matheson, the sweeping overhead views of the crisp snow-lined roads and colorful seaside homes reveal the kind of quaint New England town where everyone has known each other for generations. 

It seems like the perfect place to visit, but can you actually plan your own picturesque visit to the home base of the Locke clan? Magical keys that open doors to other realms are recommended, of course. Let’s find out.

First off, though: Why did the Locke family move to Matheson?

Following the tragic loss of their father, Rendell Locke (Bill Heck), teenagers Tyler (Connor Jessup) and Kinsey (Emilia Jones) and their little brother, Bode (Jackson Robert Scott), move to their dad’s familial home in Matheson with their mother, Nina (Darby Stanchfield). She thinks it will help them all get a fresh start, but also stay close to their father by connecting with where he grew up.

Rendell never spoke much about his childhood home, so the kids are shocked with just how massive Keyhouse is — though Tyler does note that it gives off a bit more of a “Norman Bates” vibe than he’d expected from the pictures he’d seen. Keeping things even more in the family, Tyler and Kinsey also attend Matheson Academy, the elite high school where their father once went. Rendell’s old friend, Ellie Whedon (Sherri Saum), teaches gym there, and his former English teacher, Mr. Ridgeway (Steven Williams), is now also Tyler’s teacher.

That’s great, but we get it — what you really want to know is: Is Matheson, Massachusetts real?

Unfortunately, no. Matheson is made up and can’t be found on any Massachusetts map. The series actually films the scenic hometown of the Locke clan on location in Canada, specifically in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, which you can visit. Production for the show also takes place in Toronto.

Was the town called Matheson in the original graphic novels?

Locke & Key is based on the graphic novel series written by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez, which was published by IDW. In the books, the town is actually known as Lovecraft, but the name was changed to Matheson for the television series.

How Locke & Key Went From Comic To ScreenCreators Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez discuss the graphic novels' journey from comic to screen.