In The Last Of Us 2, if Seattle, Washington is the warzone, Jackson, Wyoming is the peaceful home base. It is the destination point for the duo of Joel and Ellie in the first game, but it is the kickoff spot in the next installment.
It is a settlement that Joel’s brother, Tommy, and his wife, Maria, started to rebuild again. Considering how widespread the Cordyceps infection is, it’s amazing that this group was able to find a location primarily untouched by it. There is a lot more to learn about this place, so check out this list of ten things you didn’t know about Jackson, Wyoming.
10 It’s A Real Place
Hollywood and the entertainment industry, in general, are skilled at making fictional locations seem real. Their job is to make you feel immersed in the world, so it makes sense that they would do this.
Nevertheless, in this case, Jackson, Wyoming, is a real place. It is located in Jackson Hole Valley in Wyoming (which is in Teton County as there is no Jackson County), and it has a population of just under 10,000, according to the 2010 Census. It is also the site of Grand Teton and part of Yellowstone National Park.
9 The Lodges Make Sense
One of the most tragic scenes of the game occurred in a posh ski lodge. It was so realistic that there could be a building that looks exactly like this in the real Jackson, Wyoming.
Well, the area is known for its proximity to famous ski lodges, and the city is prime for winter activities like skiing because of its climate and location. Again, the developers were incredibly accurate, since tourism is very popular in Jackson due to ski resorts.
8 A True Safe Zone
Notice anything different about Jackson? Well, it is definitely the safe hub of the game. Unlike other areas in The Last Of Us 2, the characters do not encounter any enemies in the settlement.
There is safety in this space. From the lush vegetation to the isolated location, Jackson is truly a haven for those who visit and decide to stay.
7 The Trek From Jackson To Seattle
The game would have you think that Dina and Ellie had a short trip from Wyoming to Washington. However, someone did the math, and the voyage was a bit longer than that.
A Game Revolution article revealed that the distance from these two places is about 860 miles. Therefore, by horse, it likely would have taken Dina and Ellie a little over 21 days to reach Seattle. What happened along the way? That’s anyone’s guess.
6 Did Jackson Fall At Some Point?
If you do some snooping, you can find some interesting letters that delve into the history of Jackson. If you take some time to explore the area, you can see some weapons in odd places.
This and some letters would lead you to believe that there was likely a military installment in Jackson. It could be that the servicemen were driven out by the infected or even a rebel group. It would be interesting to know what occurred and how this impacted the development of the settlement.
5 Similarity To Other Safe Zones in Media
In the past decade, there have been many representations of safe zones in media in relation to infected and zombie-related stories. One of the coolest things is to see the similarities between Jackson and a location like Alexandria on The Walking Dead.
Both places have strong leadership, cohesive plans, and citizens willing to work to protect the area. Also, both groups deal with rivals and enemies and have to figure out how to protect their people from potential wars.
4 It Has A Greenhouse
Even amidst the frigid winters of Wyoming, the Jackson settlement is still seeing some signs of life when it comes to plants. While you were engaging in snowball fights with the local kids, and hanging out with Dina, you may have missed the fact that Jackson has a greenhouse.
Someone in the group has a green thumb, as they are producing plants and vegetation for the community. Clearly, Jackson’s people have taken a playbook out of every haven: you have to produce crops to survive.
3 You Can Get Some Good Old Barbeque
Jackson is an impressive community. It has grown into more than just a safe spot for people, but it has also expanded into its own town. Nothing conveys this further than the fact that Jackson has a BBQ restaurant, and even houses a pub.
Even though the circumstances aren’t the greatest, Jackson’s people have figured out a way to enjoy some of the comforts they had before the outbreak. Next time you are wandering around in Jackson, be sure to check it out.
2 There Are Safe Areas Nearby
There are walls around Jackson for a reason. While the area inside may be safe, some of the infected are still roaming around. This is the primary reason that Joel and others patrolled the area around the settlement.
However, things must not be too bad as, later on in the game, Ellie and Dina decide to live on a farm not too far from Jackson. Either people like Joel, Jesse, and Ellie did a great job clearing out the whole area, or the location makes it challenging for the infected to stay around.
1 There’s A Place For Kids
Something that would throw a player off is the number of kids in this settlement. Typically in other movies, shows, or even games, it is well-known that having kids isn’t the best plan during this type of situation.
Fortunately, the people at Jackson planned for this. Again, as you were preparing to get to the primary mission, you may have passed “Our Little Daycare,” where young children are likely to be taken care of. So, it’s safe to assume that a decent number of people have kids in Jackson.
NEXT: The Last Of Us Part 2: 10 Tips For Taking Out Infected
