Twin Peaks, WA
May 24, 2018I’m in love with this American TV show called TWIN PEAKS.
It was a strange little cult TV show that aired 27 years ago, full of 90’s cheese and melodrama. Yet it was a show so perverse and absurd, it lassoed me instantly and made me cared almost to the point of obsession.
Last year, the long awaited revival, Twin Peaks: The Return premiered on May 21st with an 18 part mini-series that lasted until September. For four months I was snagged back into the world of Twin Peaks and I was once again reminded of what I loved most about this show - out of all the eccentric characters and disturbing horror scenes, the best thing about Twin Peaks is it’s locations.
Many of the town’s exterior shots were filmed in and around the city of Snoqualmie and North Bend, a lumber town 35 miles east of Seattle, WA. I was in the area for my 30th birthday so I figured instead of celebrating with a cake, I’m going to have a slice of cherry pie at The Double R Diner!
Map of my itinerary - I mapped out all of the locations I wanted to visit in one day, and turns out everything fits into a loop! (click here for google maps itinerary link)
My first stop of the day was Big Ed’s Gas Farm located in Preston, when I got here the place looked unoccupied but I was uncertain. The building looked completely different from the show but the corner still looked the same! I stopped to take a few photos before moving on.
Big Ed’s Gas Farm 2018 / 1990
Following the street down for 4 miles and it will take you to the Road House, the building itself is the same from the show but almost unrecognizable unless you stand at the exact angle as the exterior shot. I was surprised there was still a Chevron gas station across the street just like 27 years ago.
Road House/Bang Bang Bar
Continuing south-east to the city of Snoqualmie is the 270 ft tall Snoqualmie Falls - The iconic waterfall in the opening credits of the show, also one of Washington State’s most visited tourist spots. It started to rain as soon as I got there making the crowd thin out a little which gave me awesome opportunities to shoot some iconic shots.
I was so glad I brought my waterproof case and rain jacket!
Following the Snoqualmie river south and eventually it will take you to a chillingly familiar location: Ronnette’s bridge. This bridge looked almost exactly as it did 27 years ago, with the exception of it now being a pedestrian trail instead of a railroad track. There were so many overgrown vegetations I couldn’t access the north side of the river bank to get the iconic shot with the mountains in the background.
Poor Ronette Pulaski
Right next to the bridge just happened to be “Sparkwood & 21”, the corner where Laura ran from James on the night she died.
Sparkwood & 21, but facing opposite direction (The Ronette bridge seen in the screenshot is directly behind me)
Take a left on Sparkwood & 21 (real life 396th Drive) north and it will take you to this amazing rally school called DirtFish. The school’s facility and track is built on the old Snoqualmie Mill, which was the setting for the show’s Packard Mill, and it’s main office building was used as Twin Peak’s Sheriff’s Station.
The office building is instantly recognizable as the sheriff’s station, even the main receptionist counter! The employee there told me I was about the 4th person to show up that day, but on a busy “Twin Peaks” day, there would be hundreds of people visiting throughout the day!
They even kept a prop Bronco from 2 years ago in the parking lot!
Also from the parking lot, there was a clear view of the rally track and the old mill. Today the mill only has a single smokestack left but its still quite iconic.
I would love to come back and take a class here!
Coming back to Sparkwood & 21 and we’ll take the other street down SE Reinig Rd, and after about a minute of driving along the river a familiar scenery hits me in the stomach and I couldn’t stop smiling.
“Diane, 11:30 a.m., February Twenty-fourth. Entering the town of Twin Peaks…”
The iconic town sign isn’t there anymore, so bringing my own sign was a good idea!
Continuing down the picturesque Reinig Rd, passing all the countless Douglas firs I headed down southeast to the town of North Bend. Upon entering the towns main intersection I was immediately greeted with the most fondly remembered location of Twin Peaks - The Double R Diner (Twede’s Cafe)
Twede’s Cafe is a local hot spot that had gone through many remodeling and changes over the years since its original TV debut. With the recent revival of the new season, the production company had the entire restaurant restored to its original 90’s on-screen aesthetic, everything looks and feels like the original Double R!
Came to The Double R Diner.
Ordered a damn fine cup of coffee (and hot!) with a slice of cherry pie.
Bucket list checked off.
Happy birthday. 👍
After the pie I grabbed a few souvenirs and headed southeast towards “Red Diamond City Motel” which was the real life Mt Si Motel. It’s a small cheap motel catering to passing logging truck drivers. I rang the office doorbell and was met by the motel’s owner, who was was happy to show me the room they used to film a scene in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
The room is completely different now as one would expect with the exception of some wall stains, which is accompanied by a sign stating what the stains were.
I read the sign on the wall with David Lynch’s speech pattern in my head, and it was hilarious.
After leaving Mt Si Motel, I passed a few drive-by locations including Twin Peaks High and a few recognizable street intersections (sorry I didn’t bother taking pics) then made my way towards the Fat Trout Trailer Park.
Much to my surprise, this is what Fat Trout Trailer Park looks like now - an empty lot. I learned later on it was tore down around 2012.
I took a picture of the near by electric pole… No I didn’t bother hunting down the actual pole with “324810” on it lol. (although I really wanted to)
Last location of the day would be Laura, Donna, and James’ picnic spot. It is now a public park called Snoqualmie Point Park.
As the day of self-guided tour ends I sit here overlooking this gorgeous Snoqualmie Valley, letting the whole day - no in fact, the whole week, sink in.
Monday I stood 5,242 feet high atop a snow sculpted summit; yesterday I woke up in my tent, on a roaring desolate beach. Today I am sitting in Twin Peaks, thinking about how I never want to leave.
I guess it’s true what they say… Travel far enough, you meet yourself.
I really love the Pacific Northwest.
Thank you for reading!
(Camping blog coming soon…)