Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to have the chance to visit the real coastal town that Life is Strange’s Arcadia Bay is based on. Life is Strange made some changes and took inspiration from across the Pacific Northwest. However, walking along this scenic route felt like you had landed straight into the world of Max and Chloe.
Cape Meares, Oregon, is home to the famous Life is Strange lighthouse. The lighthouse is a beacon for fans. It’s instantly recognisable if you’ve played the game, as it often appears at pivotal moments throughout the story.
This isn’t a random lighthouse that looks similar to the one from the game. No, fans have decided it is the lighthouse. Beside the building is a small wooden bench, hidden under the welcoming shade of an overhanging tree. On this bench, you will find several quotes and drawings from the game that visitors have left behind.
It was interesting to see just how many people have been touched by the game. Plenty of fans have been willing to travel to this niche treasure.
The spot has become so popular that the sole local taxi driver for the area told me he has ferried at least ten or so people up to this very spot throughout the years. When I mentioned this place’s ties to Life is Strange, he smiled and told me that his son loved to play that game before he passed away.
Alongside the lighthouse are various walking paths and viewpoints where visitors can enjoy the sights of the sea meeting the cliff faces. As you travel around the area, you can spot squirrels, eagles, and even orca whales if you’re lucky.
A quiet hum of crickets seems to be permanently blanketed over the site. I felt so immersed here, listening to the game’s soundtrack, that I believed Max and Chloe could show up at any minute. If you are a fan of the game, Cape Meares’ Lighthouse is a place to add to your bucket list.
Featured Image Credit: Emma Christie
Fourth year student journalist studying Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Journalism Studies.
Words at Brig, The Daily Evergreen, Alloa Advertiser, Discovery Music Scotland, and The Mourning Paper.
