Poulsbo WA, USA

         
The pilot episode of TWIN PEAKS was broadcasted on 8 April 1990 by ABC Television. In this first part Pete Martell (Jack Nance) goes fishing and discovers a body wrapped in plastic. The local authorities are alarmed and when the victim is identified as Laura Palmer, a high school student, the town is in shock.

Twin Peaks, pilot episode, 0:07:43

The scene were Pete discovers Laura's body was filmed in Poulsbo, a small town in the state of Washington located northwest of Seattle. The Blue Pine Lodge, the house where Pete lives with his wife Catherine (Piper Laurie) and sister-in-law Josie (Joan Chen) is in real life the Kiana Lodge.
This luxurious venue with its large garden and terraces accommodates weddings and other special events. The interior of the building can be seen in the series as The Great Northern hotel (see Snoqualmie WA). The Kiana Lodge is situated at 14976 Sandy Hook Road.

When we arrived at this location it was not clear if it was a public or a private property. To go to the waterside we had to walk through the building. The staff was busy preparing with what looked like a wedding and we suspected that they thought we were involved because they all greeted us very friendly. Feeling not quite comfortable we quickly went outside where the log where Laura was found still remains. There is even a small sign that indicates that a ‘pivotal scene’ of Twin Peaks was filmed here.

Twin Peaks, pilot episode, 0:02:39

Kiana Lodge, Poulsbo, 16 July 2010

Twin Peaks, pilot episode, 0:03:28

Kiana Lodge, Poulsbo, 16 July 2010

Twin Peaks, pilot episode, 0:03:38

Kiana Lodge, Poulsbo, 16 July 2010

Twin Peaks, pilot episode, 0:03:39

Kiana Lodge, Poulsbo, 16 July 2010

Kiana Lodge, Poulsbo, 16 July 2010

Through the website In Twin Peaks we were already informed that the bird, a female varied thrush seen in the opening shot of every episode, was filmed here. We were not able to find the same branch, if it does still exist at all.

Twin Peaks, pilot episode, 0:00:02

Kiana Lodge, Poulsbo, 16 July 2010

The garden of the Kiana Lodge is decorated with wooden statues, including a totem pole, seen in one of the later episodes.

Twin Peaks, season 2, episode 21, 0:32:33

Kiana Lodge, Poulsbo, 16 July 2010

Twin Peaks, season 2, episode 21, 0:32:37

Kiana Lodge, Poulsbo, 16 July 2010

From the photos and videos I made at the Twin Peaks locations that we visited I made the compilation video below, combined with images from the series.

Screenshots © Lynch Frost Productions/Spelling Entertainment

Snoqualmie WA, USA

       
The television series TWIN PEAKS is situated mostly in the town with the same name in the state of Washington. Twin Peaks should be located near the Canadian border, but does not exist. However, many scenes were filmed in the state of Washington. These locations together portray the small town that is captured by the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee).

Just outside the town of Snoqualmie is the waterfall with the same name, for years a popular tourist attraction. In the series this location can be seen frequently, amongst others during the opening sequence. The large terrace offers a beautiful view on the 268 feet high waterfall. There is also a gift shop, but when we were visiting not a single item was being sold that was connected to the series.
The nearby hotel opened its doors in 1919 as the Snoqualmie Falls Lodge. During filming in 1989 the interior was being renovated and could not be used but the exterior can be seen in several episodes as The Great Northern. When the hotel was reopened it got its current name, Salish Lodge & Spa. A unique aspect of the hotel is that bees are being kept, their honey can be bought at the hotel shop. Snoqualmie is located about 25 miles southeast of Seattle.

Although it looks as if Snoqualmie Falls is part of a quiet landscape, in fact a highway runs next to it. The address of the Salish Lodge & Spa is 6501 Railroad Ave.

Twin Peaks, season 1, episode 1, 0:02:56

Snoqualmie Falls, 14 July 2010 

Twin Peaks, season 1, episode 3, 0:02:39

Salish Lodge & Spa, 14 July 2010

Twin Peaks, season 2, episode 21, 0:26:27

Snoqualmie Falls, 14 July 2010 

Twin Peaks, pilot episode, 0:10:18

Salish Lodge & Spa, 14 July 2010

Twin Peaks, pilot episode, 0:10:20

Salish Lodge & Spa, 14 July 2010

The road with the sign is Reinig Road, a sideway that is situated next to Snoqualmie River. In the background Mount Si is visible. In the years that have passed, the road has hardly changed, the spot where the sign once stood can still be recognized.

Twin Peaks, pilot episode, 0:01:01

Snoqualmie, 14 July 2010

About 3 miles from Snoqualmie is North Bend. In this town Twede’s Cafe is located, Mar-T Cafe during shooting and renamed Double R diner for the television series. The building itself does not really standout, we passed it without noticing the first time despite the fact that “Home of Twin Peaks Cherry Pie” is painted on the facade. On the back of the building is a large mural painting of the road with the ‘Twin Peaks’-sign. The interior of the diner was used for the pilot episode as well. After a fire in 2000 it was complete renovated.

Twin Peaks, pilot episode, 0:14:52

Twede's Cafe, North Bend, 14 July 2010

Twin Peaks, season 1, episode 2, 0:27:03

Twede's Cafe, North Bend, 14 July 2010

Twede's Cafe, North Bend, 14 July 2010

We would never have found these locations without In Twin Peaks, a website that has information on almost every location from the series.

Screenshots © Lynch Frost Productions/Spelling Entertainment