Curious whether Havenport is a real place in The Waterfront and what filming locations were used for the hit Netflix series? A fictional setting, real-life inspirations, and scenic coastal towns come together to shape the world of the Buckley family’s crime-filled saga.
Here’s the truth behind Havenport and the North Carolina locations that bring it to life.
Is Havenport a real or fictional town in The Waterfront?
Netflix’s The Waterfront features the fictional town of Havenport.
Series creator Kevin Williamson confirmed that the setting was invented for the show, stating, “I grew up in North Carolina, as you know, in a very, very small town, very much Southport, where we filmed this show” (via Screen Rant).
Though fictional, Havenport reflects real locations in North Carolina. The town draws heavily from Southport and Wilmington, areas familiar to Williamson, who was born in New Bern and attended school in Greenville. He based Havenport on the cultural landscape and sensibilities of the region. This gave the town a realistic backdrop, even though it is fictional.
All filming locations used to create The Waterfront’s Havenport
The production team filmed The Waterfront primarily in Wilmington and Southport, North Carolina.
These coastal towns provided the waterfront scenery, fishing docks, and small-town architecture that brought Havenport to life. Kevin Williamson has consistently chosen this region for his projects. He filmed both Dawson’s Creek and I Know What You Did Last Summer in Southport and Wilmington. The crew filmed Dawson’s Creek entirely in North Carolina, despite its Massachusetts setting.
Williamson’s personal connection to the area influenced his decision. He said, “My dad was a fisherman – and there was a time in the ’80s when he did some drug trafficking, was trying to support his family during a really bad time.” This informed the development of Harlan Buckley’s character and story in The Waterfront.
The Waterfront combines the towns of Wilmington and Southport to form the fictional setting of Havenport. The show stylizes this composite to reflect the visual and cultural essence of life in coastal North Carolina.
