Hillside with trees and fog

Twin Peaks Location – Hap’s Diner

In Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, Special Agents Chet Desmond and Sam Stanley visit Hap’s Diner for dinner following their early morning examination of Teresa Banks’ body at the Deer Meadow Sheriff’s Department. Since I adore the first 35 minutes of David Lynch’s 1992 masterpiece, this location is one of my favorite spots. While its history is traced to the early 1960s, the potential for flooding from the Snoqualmie River has turned this location into a ghost of the past. This article looks at the outside of Hap’s Diner (I’ll have a look inside in another story).

WHERE IS HAP’S DINER FROM TWIN PEAKS LOCATED?

Google aerial view of Fall City and locations for Twin Peaks film sites.
Google Maps

Once located at 4050 Fall City-Carnation Road Southeast, Fall City, Washington, this restaurant was down the street from the Roadhouse and The Bookhouse locations (circled in red).  The coordinates for this location are 47°34’14.46″N 121°53’13.31″W.

Roadside sign and empty slab with construction equipment and dumpster
July 8, 2024

Sadly, as of early July 2024, the former roadside restaurant is gone. It was demolished at some point during the first week of July.

BOB’S DRIVE-IN IN FALL CITY, WASHINGTON

Black and white image of Bob's Drive-In with a white car parked out front.
Bob’s Drive-In, Fall City Historical Society

This location’s history begins with Bob (!!) Jones, son of Elmer and Ida Jones who moved to Snoqualmie Valley when he was a child. By 1940, the family had relocated to Fall City and founded E.H. Jones and Son Lumber Company.

After serving in the US Merchant Marines at the age of 17 during World War II, Bob returned home and married Mary Ann Wing from Snoqualmie. Together, they raised four children in Fall City.

Black and white image of an older man wearing glasses.
Bob Jones, Snoqualmie Valley Record, August 9, 2019

In 1962, he opened Bob’s Drive-In, a small 672-square-foot restaurant along the highway connecting the towns of Carnation and Fall City.

Black and white photo of a restaurant building with a car and truck parked in a parking out.
Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Region

According to the Snoqualmie Valley Record from March 11, 1965, Bob’s Drive-In suffered a series of break-ins for more than two years.

“Bob Jones, owner of Bob’s Drive-in, Fall City, apprehended a burglar at the drive-in shortly after 4 a.m. on Friday morning. Jones said this was the 10th time in 27 months his drive-in has been broken into.”

Supplementing his income, Bob expanded his building with a 2,040 square-foot addition in 1966 to sell small items and trinkets. At some point, the Drive-In became a sit down restaurant, encroaching on the retail space.

This became an issue decades later when zoning clarification was sought for the on the property. Jim Chan, Interim Director of the King County Department of Permitting and Environmental Review said in December 2017 that the property was originally “zoned commercial and restaurants were allowed uses.” But no permits were issued for Jones’ expanded building which clouded the actual zoning use for the property.

Facebook post with a metal round coin-shaped token from Bob's Drive In
Fall City Historical Society

Following the death of their 15 year old daughter Barbara in the mid-1970s, Bob and his with MaryAnn divorced. In April 1977, the Drive-In restaurant and small retail shop was sold to JoAnn “Jody” Barfuse (née McGann), wife of Ulis who was working in Alaska at the time to which she renamed it The Other Place. According to King County records, it may have been named Big Willies before Mrs. Barfuse renamed it.

Jones would later remarry and move to Arizona, then Las Vegas, Nevada. He retired at 90 and passed at the age of 91 in Las Vegas on February 8, 2019.

THE OTHER PLACE IN FALL CITY, WASHINGTON

Black and white image of a man wearing a button down shirt
Ulis Barfuse

Ulis Barfuse was born at home in Fall City to William “Bill” and Hazel Barfuse. The Snoqualmie River had flooded so the Barfuses were unable to leave their home. Dr. Cheney arrived by row boat to deliver the baby at their house. He would later attend Mount Si High School until his sophomore year when he dropped out and began working at the Weyerhaeuser Mill.  Jody and he married in May 1953 while Ulis was on leave from his US Army post in Germany.

Upon returning to Washington state, he held a number of jobs including working on the I-90 project. After Jody purchased the restaurant, Ulis would work their washing dishes, cooking, and cleaning the ice cream machine. He also worked in King and Snohomish Counties at the Seattle Veterans Hospital, Snoqualmie Falls Lodge in Snoqualmie and Paine Field Airport in Everett.

In June 1990, Jody passed and Ulis soon retired in 1991. He would live until September 6, 2018, having spent the rest of his days helping his family, camping, working on his classic cars, traveling, and spending time with Patricia Beagle.

THE FALL CITY GRILL

Restaurant building with people in the parking lot and a 7-UP sign on the roof
August 10, 1996

According to court documents from 2001, the Richard Maki and Diane Lind established the Fall City Grill at this location in 1991. Maki took over sole ownership in 1995, which means that at the time Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me was shot, the location was named Fall City Grill.

The court documents continue: “The Fall City Grill is a casual family restaurant, featuring a sports decor and serving a widely varied menu. While the Grill gets a fair share of seasonal tourist traffic, its mainstay business is based on local repeat clientele. Afternoon business is slow during the winter but picks up in warm weather when nearby golf courses are busy and other sports and recreation activities are available.”

According to a Yelp review, the restaurant was a gun shop prior to opening in 1991. But this could mean that the retail portion of this location sold guns while the restaurant continued to operate.

Maki also operated the Riverbend Cafe in North Bend for about 12 years. The cafe was closed when the property was sold and the lease was not renewed in 2021. An article on LivingSnoqualmie.com from October 21, 2021 mentioned the flooding at the Fall City Grill.

“Maki has had two restaurants in the Snoqualmie Valley over the past 30+ years. His first restaurant was the Fall City Grill on the Carnation side of the 202/203 bridge. Two floods, in the last four years he was open, convinced Rich to find another location.”

Water from the Snoqualmie River surrounds the old Fall City Grill during a record flood event in November 2006 throughout the Snoqualmie Valley. Fall City, Washington.

As you can see in the above photo, flooding from the nearby Snoqualmie River was a constant challenge.

FALL CITY DINER

Fall City Diner restaurant with cars in the parking lot and the main sign along the road.
Google Maps – September 2011

At some point around 2010-2011, Fall City Grill changed ownership and the new owners renamed the restaurant Fall City Diner. At some point, King County records show the restaurant may have also been named Small Fryes at some point.

Fall City Bistro restaurant building with a blue car in the parking lot.
Bing Maps – July 2014

The location changed hands again (maybe around 2013) and the restaurant was renamed Fall City Bistro. The location operated until April 2017 when the owners relocated to 15715 Main Street Suite 101, Duvall, Washington and renamed the restaurant Flavour Bistro. As of May 2023, the Duvall restaurant is now under new ownership.

In November 2017, a flower shop opened in the lot next to the former restaurant. It’s unclear what will happen to the building but it’s sat vacant for nearly seven years now.

HAP’S DINER – THEATRICAL RELEASE APPEARANCE

Nighttime establishing shot of Hap's Diner with a half-lit neon clown sign and the name "Hap's" in blue and red neon on the building. Two cars are parked in the lot out front.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

In the theatrical release, there is an extremely brief establishing shot of the parking lot at Hap’s Diner. It’s the only time we see the exterior in the film. The original script from August 8, 1991 also includes the name “Hap’s Diner” which likely means the location was always meant to have this name.

Exterior of Fall City Grill restaurant with a red car in the parking lot and a man walking toward the front door.
August 10, 1996

I first visited this location on August 10, 1996 as part of the film location bus tour held during the 1996 Twin Peaks Fan Fest. The building looked almost like it did in Lynch’s film.

Fall City Bistro Restaurant sign and building with small trees in the foreground
September 14, 2019

I returned to the location on September 14, 2019 as the now closed Fall City Bistro stood silent.

HAP’S DINER – THE MISSING PIECES

Hap's diner at night
The Missing Pieces

Thankfully David Lynch released The Missing Pieces in 2014 which gave us an extended look at the exterior of Hap’s Diner. We see Agent Desmond’s car pulling into the parking lot. As it does, the edging stones at the base of the half-lit neon clown sign is illuminated by the headlamps.

Fall City Bistro restaurant and sign at night
January 23, 2020

When I visited on January 23, 2020 in the pouring rain, I took a wider shot of the restaurant and sign. You can see some of those edging stones still circle the sign.

Agents Desmond and Stanley walk toward Hap's Diner at night
The Missing Pieces
Fall City Bistro restaurant and sign at night.
January 23, 2020

UTILITY POLE MOON

Moon and Utility Pole
Moon and utility pole from The Missing Pieces

The Missing Pieces shined [moon]light on Hap’s as the deleted scenes showed happen happened when Agents Desmond and Stanley left Hap’s Diner at dawn. There is also one brief shot of the Moon by a utility pole. It appears  after Irene tells the Agents that Hap’s Diner “has no specials” which may provide a clue as to when this footage was captured.

Utility poly with some trees nearby
September 14, 2019
Utility Pole
Google Maps

This utility pole is located before driveway that turns into the former Fall City Grill or Diner or Bistro.

According to the official shooting diary for Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me by Charlotte Fraisse on Dugpa.com, the clash between Cliff Howard the deputy and Agent Desmond was shot on Friday, September 13, 1991.

This means Chris Isaak who played Chet Desmond was in Washington state around mid-September. The next entry is Monday, September 16 when they shot the Double R Diner / Tremond Intersection scenes. There is no mention of Chet Desmond being on set for those scenes.

Chart of Moon phases for September 1991
Moon phases from September 1991

According to MoonGiant.com, there was an almost half moon on September 14. This appears to match the moon  in The Missing Pieces, which means the Hap’s Diner scenes were captured between September 13-15, 1991.

HAP’S DINER – NEAR DAWN

Hap's Diner Neon signs from day to night

In The Missing Pieces, Hap’s Diner is supposedly shown in the early morning light though I think they actually shot this scene at dusk based on the way the light falls. The sun sets to the left of the neon signs.

Hap's Diner in the Morning
The Missing Pieces

I love the little details in this scene including a “Help Wanted” sign in the window (probably a result of Teresa Banks’ passing). I also spot red and black balloons in the window along with three patrons standing on the corner of the restaurant.

Fall City Bistro restaurant building
September 14, 2019

A similar shot from my visit in September 2019.

Agents Desmond and Stanley dressed in overcoats talk in the parking lot of Hap's Diner
The Missing Pieces

I love this shot of Agents Desmond and Stanley from the Hap’s Diner parking lot.

Entrance and window at the Fall city Bistro
September 14, 2019

The biggest change in dialogue from the August 8, 1991 script is Agent Desmond says they should visit the Canyon Trailer Park, not the Fat Trout Trailer Park.

Agent Stanley talks to Irene who is smoking while walking to her car.
The Missing Pieces

The “good morning” exchange with Irene cracks me up – nice twist to the song “Goodnight, Irene.”

Hap's Diner building and an empty parking lot.
September 14, 2019

The parking lot in September 2019 which mostly looks the same.

Agent Desmond in driver's seat of his car
The Missing Pieces
Irene in the driver's seat of her car
The Missing Pieces

The FBI Agents and Irene get into their respective cars and exit the Diner’s parking lot. Chet and Sam’s next destination is the Fat Trout Trailer Park to question Carl Rodd.

FLICKR GALLERY – HAP’S DINER

You can find high-resolution images on my Flickr account. The photos are licensed as Creative Commons so only attribution to “Sam Howzit” is required for use elsewhere.

INTWINPEAKS.COM – HAP’S DINER

I close this article with a look at images from InTwinPeaks.com, the now defunct website that inspired me to create this blog. I loved Charles’ photos from his visit to Hap’s Diner in the 2000s.

InTwinPeaks.com

 

Author

  • Steven Miller at Twede's Cafe enjoying cherry pie and coffee

    A "Twin Peaks" fan since October 1993, Steven Miller launched Twin Peaks Blog in February 2018 to document his decades-long fascination with David Lynch and Mark Frost's wonderful and strange show. With his Canon camera in hand, he's visited numerous film locations, attended Twin Peaks events and conducted extensive historical research about this groundbreaking series. Along with fellow Bookhouse Boys, he dreams of creating a complete Twin Peaks Archive of the series and feature film. Steven currently resides in Central Florida.

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