Twin Peaks (1990)

I think the short-lived 90s television show "Twin Peaks" was largely responsible for the popularity of Washington State as a creepy location for horror movies. The constant rain and ominous dark cloudy skies really lend themselves to the genre. This show, however, is really more of a murder-mystery/drama. As the feature-length pilot episode begins, a body washes up on a shore in the small fictional town of "Twin Peaks" - which we soon discover is that of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), a popular high school girl. Veteran FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) arrives at the town to investigate the murder, and soon the dark secrets of the town's characters start surfacing, revealing a large, tangled web of strange goings-on.

The town itself plays an important role in the series, but in reality it is a mix of different locations. After the pilot episode, the production moved to California and used a combination of sets and look-alike locations to simulate the flavor of the town introduced in the pilot. Today, the show enjoys a large cult following and every summer the Twin Peaks Fest draws fans from all over the world to revisit the Washington locations and meet the stars of the show.

Not long ago, I made a pilgrimage east toward the mountains to find a few of the film locations from the show and see how they've changed in twenty years. I plan on making another trip soon to fill in a few of the gaps, but for the time being here is my driving tour of the fictional town of Twin Peaks:

The first stop was "Big Ed's Gas Farm," where "Big Ed" Hurley (Everett McGill) works in the show. This was filmed on a rural road just off I-90 near the small town of Preston. You just get off the highway and follow the road NE around a few turns and around a sharp turn you'll soon recognize the spot. The building itself has been remodeled into a plant supply store and no longer resembles the gas station in the film. You can park in front and cross the busy road (carefully) via the crosswalk to take photos.

Address:

8606 Preston Fall City Road SE

Issaquah, WA

In the show, Ed & his wife Nadine (Wendy Robie) live right across from the gas station, and in reality that's where the house is - right across SE 86th Street (actually a side road to the left in the above photo). The excellent website I got this information from chose not to publish home addresses, so I'm not going to be the jerk who blows it. I'll just tell you that you can see it from the front of the store so there's no reason to go any closer. Respect people's privacy!

Now back on I-90 east, the next stop was exit 27 onto Winery Road, an unmarked paved road that heads SE. Just get off on the right and follow it up the hill. At the end of the road, you'll reach a clearing and a beautifully landscaped park with a commanding view of the valley and Mt Si. This is Snoqualmie Point Park. The view from this clearing was seen when James looks out over the valley (though there was no park in 1989).

This location was also seen many times throughout the show, as it was in the picnic video of Laura & Donna that is shown repeatedly. This was shot looking to the north toward the town of North Bend below (seen in the background).

From here it was back to I-90 and off again at the main North Bend exit (#31). Head north on Bendigo Boulevard South into town. As you reach the main intersection with West North Bend Way (the center of town) you will immediately recognize Twede's Cafe on the right as the show's most popular location, the "Double-R Diner." As you can see, it has changed very little over the years. The interior was also used for the show (though recreated in later episodes), so it's probably worth stopping in and trying some of the "Twin Peaks Cherry Pie."

Address:

137 West North Bend Way

North Bend, WA

I then traveled into the nearby town of Snoqualmie via Railroad Avenue SE and took a right on Meadowbrook Avenue Southeast. Not even a quarter-mile down this road is Mt. Si High School, which was used for Twin Peaks High School in the pilot. The entrance is right on Meadowbrook (obscured by trees & easy to drive right by).

Address:

8651 Meadowbrook Way SE

Snoqualmie, WA

From here, your best bet would be to continue on Meadowbrook across the river to Southeast Reinig Road. (I didn't go this way, but it looks better on the map). As you approach the intersection with 396th Street, you'll immediately notice the large red railroad bridge on the right side. Pull out at the large dirt pull-off. This location is known as "Ronette's Bridge," because it is where the one survivor of the killer's attacks, Ronette, wanders across the bridge back into town.

This bridge, with a great view of Mt. Si, has now been converted into a nice paved walking/biking path, and as I discovered on this 75+degree day - below it is also a popular swimming hole.

Address:

396th Street & SE Reinig Road, just outside Snoqualmie

(photo by Charles Ramsey)

Now I went about a half-mile down SE Reinig Road I came across perhaps the most iconic shot from the show - the site of the "Welcome to Twin Peaks" sign. It's basically the first turn in the road with an open clearing (most of this road is in the woods) & view of Mt. Si. There is still a pull-out on the side of the road here, because, as I discovered on this particular day, this is a popular swimming spot (*note - I had the wrong photo & location marked on the map for this - it's since been corrected).

Now head back to that intersection with 396th Street, but this time head down 396th. The first turn-off you'll notice is on the left side, a sharp left downhill on a paved road with about a dozen "No Trespassing" signs. I'll leave it up to you whether you want to risk it or not (obviously they're not joking around), but this short road dead-ends with large concrete barriers. To the left is a one-story office building. If you walk around the barriers to the front, you'll recognize the "Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department," seen throughout the run of the show. The interior was used as well for the first couple episodes.

If you look out to the west from this parking lot you'll see the barren land that used to house the Weyerhauser sawmill (a few warehouses remain standing, and the large concrete smokestack) that burned down in 1989 shortly after the show completed shooting. This played the part of the Packard sawmill seen in the show. The view most often seen in the show was from the hill up by 396th, looking down toward the mill & mill pond below.

If you head back to the town of Snoqualmie and Railroad Avenue South (the main drag through town) you'll soon pass by the train depot & museum, and past a large line of railroad cars along the road. In the summer, a kid's train runs from here to Snoqualmie Falls to the north. If you look to the left, you'll see a large structure housing a log. This was the very same one seen in the opening shots of the show.

I assumed by watching the show that the crime scene where Laura was murdered in the show was filmed amongst the various train cars in the fenced area on the north side of town. I think this is right, though things have moved around since then. One of the cars seen in the scene, passenger car #136 (circled below) is now parked in front of the parking lot on Railroad Avenue, near the location of the log. I could not locate the same car that the body was found in, though I assume it is one of three that is now covered with tarps in the fenced-off area to the north.

If you keep traveling north on Railroad Avenue (also known as Fall City-Snoqualmie Road) it soon comes to the Salish Inn & Spa above Snoqualmie Falls. There is a huge parking lot up the hill on the right. The front entrance ("Falls Terrace") to the Salish was used as the exterior shots of the "Great Northern Hotel" in the pilot episode.

Address:

6501 Railroad Avenue

Snoqualmie, WA

The sign out front on Railroad Avenue was changed for filming and used for a few shots.

If you walk down the path to the lowest viewpoint of the falls, you will be looking at the same shot used throughout the show's run for the establishing shot of the hotel. By the way, I should probably note that in the summer Snoqualmie Falls is a huge tourist trap and very crowded!

From here if you wish to make the journey just over 3 miles to Fall City on Fall City-Snoqualmie Rdoad you'll reach a roundabout. Head left through it into town and immediately go left. Right on the corner is the Fall City Roadhouse, used as the exterior for the "Roadhouse" in the pilot. The shot was from the NE side of the building in the gravel parking lot.

Address:

4200 Preston Fall City Rd SE

Fall City, WA

Directly behind the Roadhouse and fenced off is the tiny building used for the quick shot of the "Bookhouse" (which has a more prominent role later in the show). It is almost totally obscured from this spot and is on someone's private property. You can see the back of the building from the gas station on the other side of the Roadhouse.

A big thanks to Charles Ramsey at In Twin Peaks, who provided all of the location info!

Google Map

(see attachment below)