It: Welcome To Derry Reintroduces A Terrifying Stephen King Location
**Spoilers Ahead for “It: Welcome to Derry”**
After an intense debut episode that made it clear no one is safe in this so far Pennywise-free prequel series, *It: Welcome to Derry* (read our full review here) is now in full swing with its second episode.
This earlier chapter in Pennywise’s (Bill Skarsgård) reign of terror introduces a new batch of characters, many of whom are highly unlikely to survive the season. Alongside these fresh faces, the episode also brings legendary landmarks from Stephen King’s vast back catalog—and one of the most chilling is the Juniper Hill Asylum, which holds a harrowing history for the character Lily (Clara Stack).
Following the traumatic trip to the theatre in last week’s episode and the shocking talk of children being devoured by giant flying babies, Lily’s biggest fear is being sent back to Juniper Hill, where she suffered mistreatment after the horrific death of her father.
Juniper Hill Asylum isn’t just a nightmare destination for Lily. It’s referenced in up to 13 Stephen King stories, including *The Tommyknockers*, *Gerald’s Game*, and *11/22/63*—all of which have been adapted for film or television.
More importantly, Juniper Hill remains a fixture in King’s universe for decades. We know it stays open for another 50 or so years because one of the Losers Club’s greatest adversaries eventually finds himself committed there. Henry Bowers, a school bully, is sent to the asylum after a terrifying experience at the end of *It: Chapter One* and spends years locked inside until the Losers return in *It: Chapter Two*.
Henry’s escape from Juniper Hill comes with Pennywise’s help—using a red balloon and a flick knife to break him out and make him do his bidding. However, this plan ultimately fails when the Losers manage to kill Pennywise once and for all.
While it’s unclear if Juniper Hill will play as significant a role in *It: Welcome to Derry* as it does in the later story, the presence of the asylum adds a layer of dark irony. Henry’s grandfather, Clint Bowers (Peter Outerbridge), threatens Lily with the very place that will one day hold his own grandson. This connection suggests the Bowers family name will continue to be steeped in scandal and town gossip—just as Lily is currently enduring.
As always in Derry, the town’s history is doomed to repeat itself. And as long as a killer clown lurks, chaos is never far behind.
https://www.slashfilm.com/2011621/it-welcome-to-derry-episode-2-stephen-king-location-juniper-hill/
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