The finale of Netflix's 'Stranger Things' referenced Montauk, New York, sparking renewed interest in the Montauk Project conspiracy theory. This theory, popularized by a 1992 book, alleges secret U.S. government experiments at Camp Hero on Long Island from the 1960s to 1980s. Claims include psychic child experiments, mind control, and time portals, themes echoed in the show's character Eleven and her abilities, linking the series' origins to this lore.