The Town of Hollen: A Fictional Place That Feels Like Home

When I sat down to write The BUG Boys: The Great Scavenger Hunt, I knew I didn’t just want a setting. I wanted a place that felt like it could be home. Hollen is fictional, but it’s stitched together from pieces of my own childhood in the 1970s. Think small-town America with flags flying on Main Street, neighbors waving from porches, and the kind of gossip you’d overhear at the café. Not perfect—but real, warm, and alive.

Even its name carries a story. Hollen is my way of honoring the Norwegian roots that run deep through Minnesota. Many small towns here still reflect that heritage in their names, traditions, and values. I wanted my fictional town to feel like it belonged alongside them.

Main Street and the Town Square
Every small town needs a heartbeat, and for Hollen, that’s Main Street. Picture brick storefronts with painted benches out front, the kind of lampposts that proudly fly the American flag, and shop windows decorated for the seasons. The town square sits at the center, a gathering place where banners stretch across the street for summer festivals and neighbors stop to chat, whether they meant to or not.

It’s the sort of spot where kids on bikes coast past, their tires bumping over cracked sidewalks that have seen better days. Adults wave, sometimes with a smile, sometimes with a little shake of the head at the noise. And somewhere nearby, a screen door slams as someone hollers, “Don’t let the flies in!”

The Sugar Bean and Sweet Providence Bakery
Two of my favorite landmarks in Hollen are places where the air itself seems alive with smells and sounds.

The Sugar Bean café sits on the corner, its little bell jingling every time the door swings open. It’s the kind of place where you don’t just buy a smoothie or a muffin—you come to catch up on the news, or at least the version people are willing to share. Inside, the fireplace glows on cooler days, wooden floors creak under busy footsteps, and the mix of vintage charm and fresh décor makes it both a hangout for kids and a favorite stop for older neighbors, too.

Just down the street is Sweet Providence Bakery. If the café hums with conversation, the bakery greets you with warmth—literally. The smell of fresh bread, pies cooling on racks, and cookies displayed in neat rows has a way of slowing everyone down. Neighbors pop in to grab something for supper, but they just as often linger, swapping a story while the bell over the door jingles behind them.

Both spots remind me of what I loved about small towns growing up—places where food and friendship were braided together, where you might come for the cookies but leave with a story to tell.

The Old Depot
Hollen’s roots stretch back farther than the kids who live there now. On the edge of town stands the old train depot, a wooden building that once buzzed with activity. The paint is faded, the floors creak, and trains don’t stop there anymore, but you can almost hear the echoes if you stand on the platform long enough.

I love places like that—landmarks that carry the weight of history. They remind us that towns are more than just buildings; they’re stories. For kids reading The BUG Boys, the depot is one of those places where you can close your eyes and imagine a whole different era, when whistles blew and people hurried to catch their train.

Outskirts of Town
Of course, not everything in Hollen happens on Main Street. Step outside the bustle, and the town gives way to spaces that feel both familiar and full of adventure.

Head east and you’ll find Lake Hollen, wide and glimmering, with kids skipping stones along its shore. Beyond it lies Maple Creek Preserve, with trails winding through the woods, dirt paths, and a covered bridge that invites exploration. These are the places where imagination kicks in—where adventures begin and memories stick.

Further out is David’s family farm. Sheep graze in the pastures, and there’s always the smell of hay in the air. It’s hard work, but it roots the story in the rhythms of rural Minnesota—chores before sunrise, and evenings when the sky feels endless.

Closer to town is Zeke’s neighborhood, lined with homes where porches creak under rocking chairs and kids leave their bikes on the lawn without worrying too much about locks. It’s the sound of wheels on pavement, the thump of a basketball in the driveway, the hum of everyday life.

And then there’s Josiah. Not every kid has a farm or a landmark to call their own. Some just blend into the town, hanging out at the park or by the creek, part of the crowd but still carving out their place. That’s the beauty of Hollen—it has room for all kinds of kids.

The 1970s Vibe
If Hollen feels nostalgic, that’s because it is. I built it from the memories I carry of small-town America in the 1970s. Towns where you couldn’t get away with much because someone always knew your parents. Places where neighbors looked out for you, but they also talked about you if you gave them a reason.

It’s that mix of warmth and imperfection that makes Hollen feel alive. Too perfect, and kids won’t believe it. Too gritty, and it loses its sense of safety. But a town where the flags wave proudly, where people welcome you with a smile, and where a little gossip keeps life interesting. That’s a place kids can step into and say, I know this town. I could live here.

Why Hollen Matters
At its heart, Hollen isn’t just the backdrop of The BUG Boys. It’s a character all its own. A place that shapes the boys’ adventures, holds their secrets, and offers them both safety and challenge.

And maybe that’s why I love writing about it so much. Because Hollen feels real to me—and I hope, when kids read the story, it’ll feel real to them too.