Images: Hive MLS / Getty Images
Anyone who lived out their teenage years when Dawson’s Creek first aired in 1998 knows it was truly a time to be alive. We were utterly captivated by the dramas of the fictional coastal town of Capeside, where Joey, Dawson, Pacey and Jen navigated high school, heartbreak and everything in between. The lead role was played by actor James Van Der Beek, who sadly passed away on February 11, 2026, after a battle with colorectal cancer.
Filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina, the series had a distinctly small-town feel, with real creeks and waterways woven into the backdrop. The wooden dock became instantly iconic, appearing in countless promotional shots, as did the white clapboard house belonging to Dawson Leery. More than two decades after the show wrapped, the real house where the teen drama was shot was listed for sale, sending fans straight back to the late ’90s.
Built circa 1880 using timber salvaged from a shipwreck, the charming two-storey home features four bedrooms and three bathrooms. While we can’t confirm that Joey’s ladder is still in place, much of the house looks just as fans remember it. Set on 1.7 acres beside Hewletts Creek, the property even includes the show’s famous dock and its peaceful water views.
Owned by the same family for approximately 140 years, this marked the first time the house had been listed since Dawson’s Creek finished airing in 2003.
Fans commenting on social media reminisced about visiting the home over the years, describing the owners as “so nice” and happy to let them take photos. One follower offered a possible explanation for the sale, writing: “The parents who used to own this have passed and the two brothers own it now.”
Priced at US$3.25 million (around AU$4.8 million), one fan joked that “millennials who loved this show are too poor to buy this”. It seems someone snapped it up as the home is now under offer.
Many are hoping the new owner will preserve this piece of television history – or better yet, turn it into an Airbnb. Honestly? A genius idea.
Inside the real Dawson’s Creek house
You can practically hear the fast-talking teen banter replaying.
