The GREY gull is a mysterious and intriguing landmark located in the fictional town of Haven. Despite Haven being a fictional setting in the TV show of the same name, many fans have wondered if there is a real-world inspiration behind the GREY gull and whether a similar building or location exists. In this article, we will explore the key facts about the GREY gull within the TV show, analyze real-world locations and buildings that may have inspired its creation, and attempt to definitively answer the question: Is the GREY gull in Haven a real place?
About the GREY gull in Haven
Within the world of the Haven TV show, the GREY gull is an important local landmark in the small coastal town of Haven, Maine. It is depicted as a large, stately building located right on the harbor and serves as a hotel, restaurant, and gathering place for the community. Some key facts about the GREY gull within the show include:
- It is one of the central locations in Haven where main characters like Audrey Parker and Nathan Wuornos regularly gather to discuss supernatural events or cases they are working on.
- The exterior is shown as a large 3-4 story building with a prominent cupola on top and a large “GREY Gull” sign over the entrance.
- It functions as a hotel with guest rooms on upper floors.
- The ground floor has a spacious restaurant/bar area with large windows overlooking the harbor.
- It is owned and managed by one of the main characters, Duke Crocker.
The GREY gull serves as a hub of activity in the otherwise quiet town and a frequent meeting spot where characters share meals together and discuss the latest odd occurrences and mysteries caused by the Troubles. Overall, it is depicted as a warm, welcoming establishment and a key staple of the community.
Real-world inspirations
While Haven is fictional, fans have searched for real-world parallels to the GREY gull to understand if there was a specific inspiration behind it or if a similar building exists somewhere. There are a few real-world locations along the New England coast that share some noticeable similarities with the GREY gull:
The Spouter Inn – Nantucket, MA
Located in the coastal town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Spouter Inn is a historic hotel and restaurant established in 1834. Some key similarities include:
- Iconic multi-story building with slanted gable roof
- Large cupola atop the roof
- Location directly on the harbor waterfront
- Serves as an inn and has dining rooms with views of the harbor
While not an exact match, the Spouter Inn has architectural similarities to the GREY gull and is located in a small New England coastal town like Haven.
The Pentagoet Inn – Castine, ME
Located in the small coastal town of Castine, Maine, the Pentagoet Inn shares some notable parallels to the fictional GREY gull:
- Historic multi-story building overlooking the water
- Cupola on roof
- Serves as an inn and restaurant
- Central gathering place in the small community
The physical look and community role of the Pentagoet Inn closely aligns with the GREY gull’s description and purpose within Haven. The coastal Maine town of Castine has similarities to the fictional setting of Haven.
The White Wind Inn – Duck, NC
While geographically distant from Haven’s New England setting, the White Wind Inn along North Carolina’s outer banks has a few striking similarities:
- Large, prominent white building located right on the water
- Multi-story hotel with cupola/widow’s walk on roof
- Serves as lodging, dining, and community gathering place
While not in New England, the White Wind Inn exemplifies the look and seaside town role that the GREY gull exhibits in Haven. The outer banks region evokes the isolated coastal setting of Haven.
Analyzing if the GREY gull is real
Given these real-world examples, is it possible to definitively conclude if the GREY gull in Haven is based on a real building or location? There are a few key considerations:
- No single real building appears to be an exact match to the GREY gull based on exterior and interior details described within the show.
- However, multiple real inns and hotels share noticeable architectural similarities and design elements like cupolas, harborfront locations, multi-story height, and community roles.
- The creators may have taken inspiration from several real New England inns and combined selective elements into the fictional GREY gull.
- The coastal Maine town of Castine shares many similarities to the fictional town of Haven, making the Pentagoet Inn a likely inspiration.
While no specific real building can be identified as the exact basis for the GREY gull, it seems reasonable to conclude that the creators drew inspiration from notable seaside inns and hotels in small New England coastal towns to capture the look, feel, and role of the GREY gull within Haven. The comparisons reveal it is likely an amalgamation of multiple real-world analogues.
Conclusion
After analyzing key facts about the GREY gull within Haven, comparing real-world counterparts in locations like Nantucket, Castine, and the Outer Banks, and evaluating the evidence, it appears the GREY gull itself is not modeled directly after one specific real hotel or restaurant. However, the similar architectural styles, waterfront locations, small town New England settings, and community roles shared by places like the Spouter Inn, Pentagoet Inn, and White Wind Inn suggest the creators drew inspiration from aspects of multiple real-world establishments to craft the look and feel of the iconic GREY gull for the fictional town of Haven. So while not directly based on a single existing place, the GREY gull’s creation was likely influenced by actual inns and hotels from quaint coastal towns across New England and the broader eastern seaboard. This amalgamation of real-world models results in a building and setting that feels plausibly like an actual location even if the GREY gull itself remains fictional at heart.
References
- Haven season 1-5 episodes featuring the GREY gull
- https://www.thespouterinn.com/
- https://www.pentagoet.com/
- https://whitewindinn.com/
