Walden Pond

Walden Pond is a kettle hole lake in the Commonwealth in 2287, formerly protected as part of Walden Pond State Reservation.

Background
On the north shore of this pond is the home of Henry David Thoreau from the summer of 1845 until 1847. Hoping to gain a more objective understanding of society, Thoreau was influenced by the principles of Transcendentalism. His account of the experience was recorded in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, which made the pond famous. Before the Great War, the site became a tourist attraction. A gift shop was built next to the cabin, and the audio tour associated with it was sponsored by General Atomics International. It is suggested that the tourist should pick up one of the many books on Transcendentalism, and/or select from a selection of t-shirts, coffee mugs and toys.

Although the cabin itself remains, the pond would later be littered with detritus; it is almost dry and is irradiated at 10 rads/sec. The basement of the gift shop and the nearby tunnels are occupied by a small raider gang, led by Walter. When first encountered, they are discussing who and what Thoreau and transcendentalism are; although Tweez is incorrect and Bear cannot read.

Layout
The pond itself has little worthwhile, except for a drainage pipe in the southwest shore. It is highly irradiated (+10), with an island in the middle without obvious significance which smokes mysteriously. There is also a gift shop on the hill southwest of the pond. Thoreau's cabin stands next to the gift shop, its automated tour guide remains functional. The gift shop has nothing out of the ordinary, with a Master-locked door to the basement behind the counter. It is booby-trapped with a few makeshift bombs and a clapping-cymbal monkey doll. Next to the Master locked back door, held up by a knife, there is a "Note to Tweez."

Gift shop basement
The basement (as accessed from the drainage pipe) begins with a mostly straight pipe that leads to a small cave. An earthen tunnel leads to a busted wall into the gift shop basement proper, which contains a number of shelves and cabinets. A hallway to the northeast has a staircase leading back up to the main gift shop.

When first entering, Tweez and Bear can be heard talking about Thoreau and transcendentalism. In this first room, there is a hunting rifle, duffle bag, and an issue of Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor. Walter and Whiplash can be found in the next room. The gift shop key found on Walter will unlock the safe in the room as well as the door to the gift shop. Additionally, Big Jim, a unique pipe wrench, can be found next to a toolbox. There is a Vault-Tec lunchbox in the corner next to a bottlecap mine.

Vicinity
Walden Pond sits in an area of the map that is not very dense with map markers. Unmarked but notable sites nearby include:
 * To the northwest, just below the dam, is a pond from which about eight mirelurk eggs can be recovered. Near this pond, random encounters may happen, as well as within sight on top of the dam.
 * To the east is an unmarked raider hut.
 * To the east-southeast is an unmarked trader house with many cats, many paintings of cats, and four small graves with … cats? The trader also usually has cat meat for sale, in addition to an Atom Cats outfit.
 * Further on, there is a wrecked train car containing a leveled suit of power armor obtainable by hacking a nearby terminal.
 * Just south-southeast of the gift shop, a tent marks another random encounter location.
 * Roughly to the southeast, there is an unmarked Gunners base, covering a large part of the Middlesex Expressway.
 * To the south is a Stonehenge-like formation of cars. A behemoth spawns here once the Sole Survivor reaches around level 15. The cars are of the sort that can be made to explode.
 * Creatures or robots from the southern random encounter, the Gunners, and the behemoth may all become involved in combat with each other.
 * A bit further south is an unmarked location which appears to be some sort of old power station, constructed of red beams with an attached garage. There is a fusion core in a generator.

Inhabitants

 * Bear
 * Tweez
 * Walter
 * Whiplash

Notable loot

 * Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor issue #7 - In the first room inside the drainage pipe entrance, on a barrel next to a glowing lantern.
 * Big Jim, a unique pipe wrench - Inside the hideout, near the door to the gift shop, on a table by a red toolbox.
 * Gift shop key - On Walter, opens safe and the gift shop basement.
 * Note to Tweez - Next to the gift shop door entrance to the hideout, stuck in the wall with a knife.
 * Overdue book - Under the cash registers in the gift shop.
 * Vault-Tec lunchbox - On a box near where Big Jim is found.

Related quests

 * Raider Troubles: A group of settlers is struggling to defend themselves against a nearby group of raiders and asks the Sole Survivor for help.
 * Randolph Safehouse: The Railroad agent Mister Tims will leave dead drops in the form of six holotapes for the Sole Survivor, containing information about possible hazards to the Railroad's escort and escape of synths out of the Commonwealth. They can assist in these efforts by clearing out the location of hostiles.
 * To the Mattresses: The synth-hating L&L Gang is a major threat to the Railroad. Desdemona has a lead on them and asks the Sole Survivor to help neutralize their members.
 * Stop the Raiding: The Sole Survivor becomes aware of a group of settlers being terrorized by nearby raiders and can offer to help.
 * Treasure Hunt: The Sole Survivor finds a note that suggests a large number of caps or chems may be stashed nearby.

Appearances
Walden Pond appears only in Fallout 4.

Behind the scenes
Walden Pond is based on the real world location of Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. This location is where author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau lived in a cabin for two years, inspiring his influential Transcendentalist book Walden.