House on Highway 89
Artist Christos Karapanos’s rendition of the FEATURES OF THE HOUSE
The House on Highway 89 is more than a setting—it is a character in its own right. Its halls, gardens, basement, and rooms witness many of the trilogy’s most unforgettable moments. As the story unfolds, readers gradually discover that the house holds far more than memories within its walls.
Much of the action in the It That Has No Name trilogy takes place in this old home, which has been updated and modernized over time. When Katie first arrives, her mother steps out of the car to open the iron gate leading to the property. Looking at the house from the front, the shed near the place where Jeb was killed stands to the left. Throughout the novels, the home and its surrounding gardens are described as well-kept, creating a striking contrast to the darkness that lurks beneath the surface.
The basement—and the door leading down to it—are repeatedly described as cold and capable of sending chills through anyone who approaches. The basement consists of three separate rooms, although readers discover in Book Three that it was not always arranged that way.
The property’s first tragedy occurs behind the house, where Sandy drowns in the outdoor swimming pool while learning to swim. Later in Book One, Robbie takes Gloria upstairs to a bedroom on the right side of the hall. It is also in Book One that It is first seen near the pool through a second-floor window overlooking the backyard.
Look closely at the artist’s rendering of the house. Hidden faintly among the gardens behind the home, you may notice a familiar presence watching from the shadows.
Book Two reveals that the second floor contains several bedrooms, including the master bedroom located on the right at the end of the hall. Katie, Jay, and Christian desperately struggle to get back inside the house while standing on the front porch in It That Has No Name II: House on Highway 89. Near the novel’s conclusion, Elena and Jay leap through the large front window to enter the house.
The House on Highway 89 has many secrets, and some of its most important details are easy to overlook. Did you notice something that isn’t mentioned here? Or perhaps you’ve imagined the house in your own way.
I’d love to see your vision of the House on Highway 89. Sketch the house and email your artwork to pskessell.literaryworks@gmail.com. Your artwork may be featured on this website.
Contact artist Christos Karapanos at @christoskarap on X.