Strawberry

“	Until recently, this mountain town was little more than a base camp for lumberjacks and hunters, but more settlers and visitors have arrived as the local logging industry continues to grow. A small, isolated community of honest working folk.	„
	—Map description

Strawberry is a settlement in Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online in the Big Valley region of the State of West Elizabeth.

Background[]

It serves as the capital of the Big Valley region. It is found roughly south-central in the region, southeast of Mount Shann. Although the city was founded as a small logging town, it has grown in recent years and displays sluices and other equipment often associated with small gold mining operations. Nonetheless, its mayor wishes to transform it into a resort town.

Events of Red Dead Redemption 2[]

Red Dead Online[]

The Red Dead Online protagonist can visit the Welcome Center in order to start The Naturalist role.

Horseshoe Overlook[]

After Lenny Summers and Micah Bell are sent to scout ahead by Dutch van der Linde in "Eastward Bound,” they eventually end up in Strawberry. Micah later gets into a drunken fight, in which he kills two O'Driscolls, and is subsequently caught by the law. Lenny is able to flee from the town while Micah is sentenced to death by hanging. In the mission, "A Quiet Time," Lenny informs the gang of the news, but instead of immediately going after Micah, Dutch orders Arthur to go to Smithfield's Saloon with Lenny to cool his nerves.

Some time later, in the mission "Blessed are the Meek?" Arthur rides out to Strawberry to break Micah out of jail. Arthur has a few options on how to break out Micah; the player can find a steam donkey and attach it to the window frame, thus creating a hole in the wall that Micah can escape from. The player can also go inside the jail and kill the lawmen posted inside, then going downstairs to the cell block to free Micah. Lastly, the player can also set dynamite on the window frame, blowing a hole in the wall that Micah can escape from. In all three scenarios, Micah kills a fellow O’Driscoll imprisoned alongside him, and initiates a massive shootout in the town.

In the massacre, several lawmen, including the town’s sheriff, were left dead. Two residents by the name of Norman and Maddy were also murdered in cold blood just so Micah could get his revolvers back from them. Once most of the region’s law enforcement was left dead, Arthur and Micah promptly fled the town, leaving Arthur infuriated at how many people were unnecessarily murdered.

Clemens Point[]

Arthur can return to Strawberry in the mission, "Money Lending and Other Sins IV," when Leopold Strauss assigns Arthur with retrieving the debt of Winton Holmes, a man who was camped outside Strawberry. If the player confronts him, he will confess that he has no money. However, Winton brought up the option of hunting a legendary white cougar and selling its pelt to repay the loan. Arthur accepts and rides out to the caves of Mount Shann to search for the animal. As the two split up to search for the cougar, Winton is killed, and Arthur is left alone to kill the cougar. After he successfully kills the cougar, Arthur is tasked with heading to the Strawberry Butcher to sell the pelt, thus absolving the debt.

Pronghorn Ranch[]

Eight years after the previous events of Red Dead Redemption 2, John Marston and his wife Abigail arrive at Strawberry to find work. In the mission, "The Wheel," John is tasked by Chip Cooper, the local general store owner, to deliver a wagon of supplies for David Geddes to Pronghorn Ranch. After stopping the Laramie Gang from stealing the wagon at the ranch, John is hired as a ranch hand. He and his family move to a small cabin at the ranch.

Later in the mission, "Fatherhood, For Idiots," John and his son Jack head to Strawberry to collect the family’s mail along with some supplies for the ranch. At the post office, the owner, Hector Barlow, hands John his packages, but not without bringing another customer's unwanted attention to John, causing him and Jack to be followed on their way home. The two are eventually jumped by the customer and a few other men, resulting in John being forced to kill them in front of Jack.

After Abigail and Jack abandon John following the shootout at Hanging Dog Ranch, John receives a telegram from Sadie Adler, asking him to meet her at Valentine. There, Sadie informs John of a bounty in Strawberry by the name of Nathan Kirk, who is wanted for embezzlement. The two ride out to Strawberry, thus initiating the mission, “Gainful Employment.” While searching the town, the duo eventually finds him in the Welcome Center. However, Kirk manages to escape, which leads to John and Sadie chasing him. The two eventually find and capture him, stowing Kirk on Sadie’s horse.

Beecher's Hope[]

In the final mission of the main storyline, "American Venom,” John returns to Strawberry along with Sadie and Charles Smith after hearing of Micah Bell’s presence in the region. The trio are still unsure of his exact location, but they know his associate, Cleet, is staying at Strawberry, so the three ride onward for revenge. They find Cleet at Strawberry and drag him to the gallows, threatening to hang him if he did not tell them of Micah's whereabouts. Cleet confesses that Micah is hiding with his gang at Mount Hagen, and the player is given the choice to kill or spare Cleet.

If Cleet is hanged: Sadie thanks John for hanging Cleet, and the crowd watches in shock. No honor is gained nor lost from this option, and the trio leaves Strawberry and continues to Mount Hagen.

If Cleet is spared: Cleet thanks John for sparing him and promises he'll never be seen again, rewarding the player with honor. However, Sadie is unhappy that John spared him, subsequently shooting Cleet in the head. The trio then leaves Strawberry and continues to Mount Hagen.

Amenities[]

A butcher found near the welcome sign in the South-side of the town.
A general store which can be found at the center of the settlement.
Newspaper seller, on the opposite side of the post office.
A post office which can be found on the eastern side of town.
Stables; these are not technically in town, but can be found due south.
A Five Finger Fillet table found near the stagecoach.
Sheriff's Office & Jail, found next to the hotel.
Stagecoach: southwest near the western road leading out of town.
A hotel which can be found on the northwestern side of town

Non-Interactive:[]

A doctor’s office which can be found on the southern side of town.
Furnished apartments for rent, which can be found near the stagecoach.
A woodworking shop beside the doctor’s office.
Trackers Hotel, beside the post office on the eastern side of town.

Mission appearances[]

Red Dead Online

The Naturalist intro

Red Dead Redemption 2

Trivia[]

Strawberry does not have a saloon. However, the General Store owner runs an illegal moonshine business in the basement which the player can rob.
A Random Event can occur where a lost New Yorker near the roads of Strawberry will ask for directions to Strawberry. If Arthur helps the stranger, he will reveal insight into the town and the mayor, saying that he advertises it as a resort town and has delusions about it. The stranger then claims there's something fishy about the mayor.
There are more than a half-dozen cities, towns, unincorporated communities, and ghost towns west of the Mississippi River that go by the name of Strawberry, including three in California. Of these, the real-life town that most resembles that in the game is Strawberry, El Dorado County, California. It was founded in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range after the California Gold Rush and succeeded in becoming a popular resort town by the latter half of the nineteenth century.
In the 1965-1969 Western television series The Big Valley, protagonist Heath Barkley (played by Lee Majors, who coincidentally voiced "Big" Mitch Baker in the 2002 Rockstar Games video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City) was originally from a California mining town called Strawberry.
Strawberry is the only major settlement in all of Red Dead Redemption 2 to not be connected directly to the Lanik Electric Company power lines, which cross the entire map and connect to every other major settlement, even in New Austin. Instead, the town's power is likely provided by the turning waterfall in the center of town. However, telephone poles ready for shipping can be seen at nearby Riggs Station, suggesting that the power lines may soon connect to Strawberry.
The water mill in the town next to the river looks strikingly similar to the Glade Creek Grist Mill, which is located in West Virginia.
At the top of the hotel's stairwell is a table, upon which is the Cigarette Card for Elsie Rose.
Around the back of the Trackers Hotel is a staircase. At the top is the Cigarette Card for the Elephant Carriage.
When robbing the General Store, Valerian Root can be found in the basement.
Going to the back of the house to the southeast will net the Cigarette Card for the Coastal Redwood. It is on the table, but can only be acquired after accepting the mission "Smoking and Other Hobbies".
The Five Finger Filet game can be played east of the Stagecoach.
Far to the northeast, across the trail leading up to Mount Shann, the Lenora View Cabin can be found.