'Outer Banks': OBX Locals Point Out Major Error in Netflix Show Locations

Outer Banks on Netflix has had a troubled history with the real North Carolina Outer Banks (known to locals as OBX) that give the show its setting. The series was originally meant to shoot there, but decided to move to South Carolina after the controversial House Bill 2 (known as the "bathroom bill") made North Carolina a political lightning rod.

Now, Outer Banks residents have been taking to social media to point out a big geographical error in the hit Netflix show. In Episode 4, the cast of the show take a ferry from OBX to Chapel Hill. As numerous North Carolinians have pointed out, this is a 250 mile journey over dry land.

This was first noticed by the North Carolina Ferry System Facebook page, who wrote in a post: "In case you're bingeing 'The Outer Banks' on Netflix and wondering... no, there is not a North Carolina ⛴️ ferry route between Chapel Hill and the Outer Banks. But we can dream, can't we?"

This was then picked up by the Town of Nag's Head, N.C., Facebook page, who threw a little shade at the Netflix show. Replying to a comment that this would be a long ferry ride, the page wrote, "And a bit bumpy, too, going over all of those buildings and cars and such."

In the comments for this, numerous NC residents pointed out some other geographical problems in the series. For example, one wrote: "It's a decent show, but took some liberties with geography. Kildare county/OBX and Figure Eight Island are not really the same place just as Swan Quarter and Chapel Hill are a bit different!"

Another wrote: "While not a bad show if you place absolutely no baring on the actual OBX. The only thing lingo, or location or anything I picked up on was the locals calling the tourist tourons! Lol I so wanted it to be truly about my beloved OBX and well...it wasn't!"

Speaking to The Wrap, showrunner Jonas Pate revealed that he was aware of this inconsistency. He explained: "The world of Outer Banks is an amalgam of both Carolina coasts... There's things like, you know, Chapel Hill is not on the water, when they take the tug boat over there. It's a fantasy geography based on a myriad of experiences all based on the Carolina coast. I just want to make it clear we're making no attempt at geographical reality."

Previously, he told the Wilmington Star-News the series is set "on a fictional town and island on the Outer Banks, so we could really create whatever visual landscape we wanted."

Most of this landscape comes from Charleston, South Carolina, where the series was filmed. Pate said, "Charleston is beautiful, but it is a rapidly growing city, so we had to cherry pick pieces of it. Take these narrow snapshots and piece them together to create this fictional world of ours."

Outer Banks is streaming now on Netflix.