Welcome to Derry, Maine. Sort of.
The real places behind Derry
For fans of IT, downtown Port Hope can look strangely familiar.
Port Hope was transformed into the fictional town of Derry for IT Chapter One and IT Chapter Two, with its historic downtown, streets, buildings and public spaces appearing throughout the films. More recently, Port Hope returned to the world of Derry for IT: Welcome to Derry.
Join Jordan and his four-legged co-guide, Buddy, for an approximately 90-minute guided walking tour through downtown Port Hope exploring the real places behind Derry.
This isn't just a walk between pins on a map.
We'll look at how familiar Port Hope locations were transformed for the screen, connect the places around us to scenes from the films, talk about what was changed by the production and what was already here, and explore some of the local stories behind Port Hope becoming one of the most recognizable real-world homes of Derry.
And naturally, there will be plenty of opportunities for photos.
What you'll see
During the tour we'll visit and discuss recognizable filming locations throughout downtown Port Hope, including some of the town's most recognizable landmarks and streets.
Along the way we'll explore:
- Filming locations from IT Chapter One and IT Chapter Two
- How downtown Port Hope was transformed into Derry, Maine
- Locations that look surprisingly similar today to how they appeared on screen
- Set dressing, signs, storefront changes and other movie magic used to create Derry
- Behind-the-scenes and local context surrounding filming in Port Hope
- Connections to the broader IT universe, including Welcome to Derry, where relevant
- Great spots to recreate shots and take your own Derry photos
- Some actual Port Hope history along the way
You don't need to be an IT expert to enjoy the tour.
Serious fans will recognize plenty, but the tour is also designed for families, filming-location fans, visitors to Port Hope and anyone curious about how a Canadian small town gets transformed into one of horror's most famous fictional places.
Meet your guides
The tour is hosted by Jordan, a Port Hope local who genuinely loves showing people around town and knows considerably more random information about Port Hope than any reasonable person probably should.
He'll be joined by Buddy, his friendly rescue dog and the official unofficial co-guide of Jordan's Tours.
Buddy doesn't know much about Stephen King, but he is considerably more popular than Jordan.
Because Buddy normally participates in the tour, guests with serious dog allergies or anyone uncomfortable around dogs should take that into consideration when booking.
Tour details
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
Location: Downtown Port Hope, Ontario
Format: Guided outdoor walking tour
Pace: Relaxed, with stops for stories, discussion and photos
Group size: Small-group format so the tour stays conversational
Please arrive approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Guests should wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
This is an outdoor walking tour using public sidewalks and public spaces. There will be periods of walking as well as standing while the group stops at filming locations.
Families & tickets
Families are absolutely welcome. Select the appropriate Adult and Youth tickets for your group and make sure your order accounts for everyone attending. Child tickets for ages 0–5 are free and must be booked with at least one Adult ticket.
While the tour itself is intended to be welcoming and family-friendly, the movies and stories being discussed come from the horror genre. Parents and guardians should use their own judgment based on their child's comfort with IT and its subject matter.
A different way to visit Port Hope
You can absolutely walk around downtown Port Hope by yourself and find filming locations.
The point of this tour is to make the places mean something when you're standing in front of them.
We'll connect what you're looking at to what appeared on screen, talk about how Derry was created around the real Port Hope, answer questions, swap favourite scenes and give you the chance to experience the locations with other people who came here because they think this stuff is cool.
If you've ever wanted to visit Derry without the considerable downside of encountering Pennywise, this is probably your best option.
Come explore Derry. Meet Buddy. Discover Port Hope.
Weather
Tours operate in most normal weather conditions. Guests should dress appropriately for the forecast. If Jordan's Tours cancels a departure because weather or another condition makes the tour unsafe or impractical, affected guests will be contacted regarding their booking.
Independent tour disclaimer
Jordan's Tours is an independently operated walking-tour business.
This is an unofficial filming-location tour and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, authorized by or endorsed by the creators, studios, producers, publishers or rights holders associated with IT or Welcome to Derry.
The tour visits filming locations from public areas. Admission to private property or buildings is not included unless specifically stated.