The End of Cape Cod

Once there was a settlement beyond Provincetown. They called it Helltown.

What was Helltown?

01.08.2025 -- PROVINCETOWN, MA -- Every once in awhile you'll hear one of the elder Cape Codders speak about Helltown. It was said to be a mysterious fishing encampment active from the late 1800s through the early 1900s, located near Herring Cove and Race Point at the end of Cape Cod, MA.

The settlement was comprised of Provincetown cod fishermen and seamen from surrounding areas and served as a rustic home base during the harsh winter months. These living quarters provided quicker access to the sea and grew into a place full of myth and legend.

Verifiable historical evidence is scarce, but what remains, paints a picture of a rugged and isolated existence. Over time Helltown has become a blend of fact and fiction, with local Cape Codders providing accounts of what life may have been like there.

Was Helltown real?

The very name "Helltown" still evokes curiosity and intrigue among locals and visitors alike. According to local authors, historians and natives, this small fishing encampment at the end of Cape Cod is said to have existed near Herring Cove and Race Point, just beyond Provincetown.

From the late 1800s into the early 1900s, "Helltown" served primarily as a seasonal campsite for Provincetown fishermen, as well as other seamen from the surrounding areas. In the harsh winter months, this close proximity cut the time it took to get to the fishing grounds, making it an ideal for cod fishing.

This uncompromising outpost functioned much like a type of hunting lodge for those willing to endure the unforgiving elements while making their livelihoods on the waters of Cape Cod in the winter. Historians say it likely did exists - but just where the line lies between folklore and fact may not be quite so clear as to what went on out there.

Educator and Author, Stephan L. Cohen talks about the scarcity of historical records on Helltown and said that the legends of the area persists in local folklore, and books about the area, making it a fascinating part of Provincetown's storied past regardless of where that line may actually lie.

What was Helltown like?

According to various accounts, life in Helltown was far from idyllic. Fishermen were said to live in crude, makeshift shelters, battling both the harsh winters and the isolation of their environment. Some stories suggest that the inhabitants of Helltown were a tough, almost mythical group of individuals, whose lives were shaped by the sea and the dangerous work it entailed.

The combination of physical hardship and isolation of the camp likely bred a culture of self-sufficiency and toughness, qualities that have become embodied in the lore of the area. In the short documentary, local writer and conservationist Dennis Minsky and Provincetown historian Lisa King recount tales of this settlement, sharing some of the tales that continue on to this day.

How do we know about Helltown?

Over the years, the line between fact and fiction has blurred, with much of what we "know" about Helltown coming from oral histories passed down through generations of Cape Codders. While concrete evidence of its existence is elusive, the tales of this mysterious encampment continue to intrigue those with an interest in Provincetown's past. Today, visitors to the area can still feel the echoes of Helltown's rugged history when they explore the windswept beaches of Race Point and Herring Cove.