This is not what I am saying, but Echo itself is real town and that guy might ask if (for example) the murder in the mines was real as well (in this town).
Echo is a real town in Utah, with the lake and motel and yadda yadda, also only has like 50-100 people. Apparently Howley went to the town and got inspiration for the game. Aslo some of the BG photos for Echo are from the actual place. Pretty sure anyway.