Imagine Twin Peaks and your mind might conjure up snow-capped mountains and dense pine forests just as quickly as the image of Laura Palmer’s body wrapped in plastic. The otherworldly mystery lurking beneath the seemingly-pristine lives of the show’s characters is brought to life by the Pacific Northwest landscape.
These locations remains an integral part of the show’s puzzle, cooked up by creators David Lynch and Mark Frost. While Agent Dale Cooper announces on his drive into the town that it’s located “five miles south of the Canadian border, twelve miles west of the state line,” in reality it’s located in two places, both 30 minutes from Seattle. So join us as let’s explore the real-life Twin Peaks.
Why Washington Was Chosen For Twin Peaks
Before any of the characters were established, Lynch and Frost began by drawing a schematic of the town and let that guide what would ultimately become the town of Twin Peaks. Their initial plans for the show were anchored in North Dakota, but after Frost received a scouting tip from a friend, they paid a visit to the small town of Snoqualmie in Washington which proved huge:
“There was a little diner right across from the railroad station,” Frost told Entertainment Weekly in 1990. “There was the sawmill right in town. There was what looked like, in our minds, the Great Northern Hotel on the hill overlooking the town perched next to a waterfall. It was a really weird moment of synchronicity.”
Frost echoed those comments in a 2017 conversation with Variety. “We didn’t have to change a thing. I mean, it was spooky. … The town is a principal character. The fact that we found the town itself, intact, was really kind of astonishing.” Many of the businesses and landscapes remain as they did decades ago during the original shoot for the pilot episode, making these Washington small towns the perfect place for a little Twin Peaks pilgrimage.
Agent Dale Cooper himself, Kyle MacLachlan, compared the location of Snoqualmie, Washington with his character’s persona. “There’s a kind of a magic to them,” he added during that same discussion, “both wonderful and strange. And a little bit of a danger as well.”
“Snoqualmie Falls became ‘Twin Peaks’ as much as ‘Twin Peaks’ became Snoqualmie Falls. I think that’s pretty unusual in terms of a location that’s central to a show’s identity,” Frost told Variety. “It’s a unique experience for a location to be used as the embodiment of a written place that’s central to a story that attracts a lot of attention — and then, sort of, becomes the place itself. [Locals] often said ‘Twin Peaks’ tourism helped save our town, and that was a great outcome.”
Where Was The Twin Peaks Pilot Filmed?
The Twin Peaks pilot episode was filmed in Snoqualmie, WA, North Bend, WA and Poulsbo, WA. For the remainder of seasons one and two, most interiors were recreated on soundstages. Season three saw production return to Snoqualmie.
Twin Peaks Filming Locations In The Greater Seattle Area
7001 396th Drive Southeast, Snoqualmie, Washington 98065
Twede’s Cafe, 137 W North Bend Way, North Bend, Washington 98045
40412 Southeast Reinig Road, Snoqualmie, Washington 98065
41483 Southeast Reinig Road, Snoqualmie, Washington 98065
14976 Sandy Hook Road Northeast, Suquamish, Washington 98370
Salish Lodge & Spa, 6501 Railroad Ave SE, Snoqualmie, Washington 98065
1. The Great Northern exterior (Salish Lodge & Spa, 6501 Railroad Ave, Snoqualmie)
Every Twin Peaks fan will recognise the iconic hotel from the opening credits. It features in the opening credits of the series and the prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and makes a brief appearance again during the pilot when Audrey leaves the Great Northern.
The Salish Lodge and Spa in Snoqualmie appears much like its on-screen counterpart: an isolated, dreamy place to spend a night. While the latter is true – it’s dreamy, or nightmarish depending on your reading of Twin Peaks – it’s only a 30-minute drive from Seattle which makes it an easy visit along with the rest of the locales dotted around the township.
This historic lodge built in 1916 was then called the Snoqualmie Falls Lodge and originally hosted eight rooms. In the late 1980s it underwent major renovations and re-opened in 1988 as the luxury resort Salish Lodge. Its ownership now sits with the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe.
Salish Lodge and Spa catapulted to fame following the show’s premiere in 1990 and has since embraced its place within the hearts of Peaks fans. The establishment itself has since expressed gratitude to the show for putting it on the map.
FIlming during the pilot, the second unit crew snagged establishing shots on two visits. During production on the 2015 revival season, Lynch, Frost, and Maclachlan all stayed there for the six-week location shoot.
We popped in and grabbed a coffee at their Cafe and Coffee Bar within the Visitors Center, however if you have a sweet tooth you can grab a piece of “Damn Fine Cherry Pie.” If you’re staying the night or drop in at dusk, the Lounge offers an Agent Dale Cooper cocktail that includes gin and honey cider. Sounds like Cooper.
2. The Great Northern interiors, The Blue Pine Lodge exteriors, the Horne homestead (Kiana Lodge, 14976 Sandy Hook Rd NE, Poulsbo, WA)
One iconic location featured in the opening shots of the pilot was captured east across the Puget Sound, far from Snoqualmie and North Bend.
Yes, I’m talking about that shot of the Varied Thrush sitting on a branch.
This iconic glimpse was filmed on the grounds of Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo, Washington, a private event space frequently booked for weddings and conferences. The Lodge – like many real-life Peaks locations – embraces its part in the show’s history, and bears a giant slab engraving on its beach that reads “Laura Palmer was discovered right next to the giant log tethered before you.” (Their site also includes a screenshot of the bird, just saying!)
That’s right – this stands in for the beach at the Blue Pine Lodge where Laura Palmer’s body is discovered by Pete Martell one morning. Between takes of that scene, Lynch’s downtime involved skipping stones across the Agate Passage. The log still sits on the shore, although due to tides it’s moved quite a bit.
This historic lodge first opened in the 1930s as the Edgewater Beach and Country Club and became housing for the 14th Coast Artillery during World War II until its private purchase in the mid-1940s wherein it was renamed Kiana.
The older of the two buildings on the property also appears in the show. The Main Lodge doubles as the Great Northern Lodge’s interiors. The lobby is most recognisable which in real-life forms part of a dining area. The Horne’s dining room was also filmed within the Main Lodge, which is pretty small. Most of the hand-painted murals along with the wooden bear are still in place today.
While this one spot is a little further out, it’s well within reach for Peaks fan wanting to visit the site that kicks off the entire show.
I’ve visited Kiana multiple times as part of an annual staff training day and every time I wander around as if in a daze– how can I be invested in a breakout session when one of the greatest TV shows ever made started life right here? That’s why I love to visit these locations, to try and sense that echo of whatever moments were captured as if we could somehow step into frame, right there beside Sheriff Truman, Dr. Hayward and Pete Martell, and puzzle over the mystery of Laura.
2. White Tail Falls (Snoqualmie Falls)
The impressive stature of the Great Northern in those opening shots is in part because it sits nestled atop White Tail Falls. This waterfall is known as Snoqualmie Falls, a natural wonder that the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe deeply respects. It receives 1.5 million visitors a year! Its proximity to the Lodge makes it easy to check off both locations at the same time.
Maclachlan makes frequent, unannounced visits to Snoqualmie and regularly stays at the Salish Lodge & Spa with strolls down to the falls. “The falls are really spectacular, and surprisingly kind of in the middle of where you wouldn’t expect something to be there like that.”
Keep your eyes peeled while you’re out at that viewing platform!
3. Welcome to Twin Peaks sign (41483 SE Reinig Road, Snoqualmie)
Much like the Salish Lodge’s unmistakable visage, the long winding road Agent Cooper takes to reach Twin Peaks carries its own legacy. While the Welcome to Twin Peaks sign is no longer in place, you can’t miss the spot as everything else looks identical to its onscreen appearance.
After the show wrapped, the sign would reappear once a year during the annual Twin Peaks festival. The city later opted to install it permanently in 2017 due its popularity– however it was subsequently stolen. While it was recovered, it was decided that perhaps it not be erected.
4. Ronette’s Bridge (40412 SE Reinig Rd, Snoqualmie)
Further along the same road sits the site of one of the show’s first horror-flecked moments; as Ronette Pulaski crosses the bridge shortly after we learn of Laura Palmer’s fate. This place is only a short drive from the Welcome sign and marks the start of a scenic trail so there is plenty of parking nearby. It used to be part of the railroad but now opens the Snoqualmie Regional Valley Trail.
6. Double R Diner (Twede’s Cafe, 137 W North Bend Way, North Bend, WA)
The first shot in the entire series, which featured Shelly, Bobby, and Norma, was filmed at Twede’s Cafe. This North Bend staple first opened in 1941 and underwent several ownership changes– at the time of filming it went by the name Mar-T Cafe.
The Diner was such a hit with the cast and crew during production that pie-maker Garnet Cross told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 1990, “Kyle and the other members of the film crew loved the cherry pies, so they were written into the story.” The pies were written into the story. I’m not certain I’ve ever heard anything so lynchian— not a thick web of dream logic, but a simple everyday occurrence that became embedded in the show. Much like Frank.
Like many of the spots mentioned, Twede’s welcomes guests from all across the globe to stop in and sample some of that cherry pie for themselves.
7. Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department and Packard Saw Mill (DirtFish Rally School, 7001 396th Drive SE, Snoqualmie)
At the time of filming, the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department was Weyerhaeuser’s Snoqualmie mill office. A bit of a giveaway then, that Josie Packard’s saw mill is also located at the exact same spot. While the real-life mill is no longer in operation, the building was taken over by DirtFish Rally School and they are well aware of the site’s historic stature.
How to visit the Twin Peaks locations
I’d recommend driving to the locations. This affords you more freedom to spend as much time as you would prefer at each of the spots to capture all of those screen comparison shots! Well, and you just gotta drive along Reinig Road into Snoqualmie like Agent Cooper. Renting a car if you’re coming from out-of-town is your best bet. Accommodation-wise, if you are able, why not stay at the Salish Lodge?
Although, if that’s not an option, there are Twin Peaks tours you can take. These include a majority of the main locations in the North Bend/Snoqualmie area, so if you wish to visit Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo then tack that on as an extra day. You can catch the ferry over to Bainbridge Island from downtown Seattle, then catch the 390 bus which can drop you on Highway 305 near to Kiana.
Other Nearby Film Locations
The Ring (2002)
If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, visit the spots from 2002’s remake The Ring which lensed in Seattle and surrounding areas including Monroe and Stanwood. Find more about these locations in our deep dive article.
The Vanishing (1993)
Look, if you’re in North Bend, you gotta check out the locations from The Vanishing. While some will argue it’s not as good as the original –- which, fair – it’s definitely worth stopping by the gas station where Keifer Sutherland and Sandra Bullock pull over at Mountainside Shell Station, 742 SW Mt Si Boulevard, North Bend, Washington.
