BEAVER LAKE Trail: Where Evil Lurks

Begin your journey where some of IT’s most unsettling forest scenes were filmed. The abandoned sewer building that appeared so prominently in the miniseries was a set piece constructed specifically for filming at Beaver Lake, then removed—but the haunting atmosphere of this secluded spot remains. The lake sits nestled in Stanley Park’s interior, surrounded by towering cedars and dense undergrowth that perfectly captured the primordial, threatening quality of Derry’s forests.

Overlynn Mansion: the Derry Inn

Departing Stanley Park, head east to Overlynn Mansion, built in 1909 by renowned architect Samuel Maclure. This stunning Arts and Crafts mansion, with its granite rubble-stone base and distinctive half-timbering, served as the exterior for the Derry Inn in IT. The mansion has also earned a reputation for reported paranormal activity over the years.

According to local paranormal investigators and news coverage, unexplained phenomena have been documented here: whispered voices, unexplained movements captured on camera, and sightings of apparitions. A 2021 CTV News segment featured paranormal investigators exploring the mansion, with one investigator reporting hearing her name whispered. The building’s reputation has made it a frequent filming location for supernatural productions.

The mansion’s history adds to its character. After the Peters family built this grand estate in the early 1900s, it became Seton Academy, a Catholic girls’ boarding school run by the Sisters of Charity of Halifax from the late 1920s to 1970.

Visiting Notes: Overlynn is private property as part of a senior’s residence. The exterior can be viewed from the street at 401 N Esmond Avenue, and the mansion occasionally opens for special events. The grounds offer photo opportunities from public areas. Be respectful of residents and staff.

Burnaby Village Museum: Pennywise in the photo Album

After lunch, head to Burnaby Village Museum where one of IT’s most unsettling scenes was filmed: where adult Ben Hanscom flipped through a photo album only to discover Pennywise grinning back at him from the pages. The historic museum setting, with its period buildings and vintage atmosphere, provided the perfect backdrop for this chilling moment.

Burnaby Village Museum is a 10-acre open-air heritage site that recreates a 1920s British Columbia community. The museum features 38 historic exhibits including period homes, shops, a schoolhouse, and a working blacksmith forge, all brought to life by costumed interpreters. The C.W. Parker Carousel, a vintage attraction dating back decades, operates during open seasons for a turn-back-the-clock price of $2.62 per ride.

Visiting Information:

Admission: FREE (carousel rides are ticketed separately)

Special Events: The museum hosts Haunted Village in late October (typically Oct 25-29), a family-friendly Halloween event with trick-or-treating, live entertainment, and spooky decorations—perfect timing for horror fans visiting IT locations

Heritage Christmas: Late November through early January with festive decorations

3rd Street and Liverpool Street: “We all float Down Here”

Save the most iconic location for last, as evening approaches. Near the corner of 3rd Street and Liverpool Street in New Westminster stands the storm drain where young Georgie Denbrough met his fate in IT’s opening scene—one of the most recognizable moments in the miniseries.

The storm drain featured in IT has since been upgraded and modified, but the location remains recognizable to fans. This quiet residential corner became memorable through IT’s opening sequence, which featured a suburban street and a storm drain—ordinary infrastructure transformed into something ominous on screen.

Visiting Guidelines:

• This is a residential neighborhood—be respectful of residents and their property
• The storm drain is functional infrastructure; do not attempt to access it or block drainage
• Photos are appropriate, but avoid disrupting the neighborhood