In the Twin Peaks pilot episode, Bobby Briggs offers to drive Shelly Johnson home from the Double R Diner. As it turns out, this scene is similar to other driving scenes in the series – it’s a combination of four different film locations in the Snoqualmie, Washington area.
SHERIFF’S CAR PASSES
The scene opens with a Sheriff’s car driving at a high speed with sirens blaring. This is referenced in the “Northwest Passage” script by David Lynch and Mark Frost dated December 7, 1988.
EXT. LUCKY HIGHWAY “21” – MORNING
As they drive down the highway, a Sheriff’s cruiser, lights and siren blaring, approaches them, headed the other way.
The vehicle is actually on Reinig Road in Snoqualmie, film location for the iconic “Welcome to Twin Peaks” sign.
This is a similar shot from my visit on January 25, 2020, a few years before major road work was done along Reinig Road.
A Reinig Road Revetment project took place between approximately June 15 and October 12, 2021. Southeast Reinig Road was closed near the construction site and reopened by September 20, 2021.
For years, high waters from the Snoqualmie River had damaged portions of the revetment along the banks of Reinig Road. This same issue caused the closure of the former Riverside Mobile Home Park, home of the Fat Trout Trailer Park in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
The section along the road had little rock remaining and erosion continued to be a problem. So the King County repaired about 775 feet of damaged revetment which required removal of trees and relocation of utility equipment. While the location looks different than the television series, you can still identify some trees in the distance that match.
TRACING BOBBY’S DRIVE
After the Sheriff’s car passes, there are about ten different locations I traced for Bobby’s drive to the Johnson house. Thanks to the magic of editing, it looks like one continuous shot.
Above is a break down of the first eight scenes. Most everything was shot along 378th Avenue SE in Snoqualmie, Washington.
When I originally wrote this article in June 2018, I referenced outdated Google Street View images to identify the spots (not an easy task). Upon my return to Snoqualmie Valley in September 2019, I captured actual location images which are presented below.
The scene cuts to Bobby and Shelly driving in his car. A yellow school bus is parked in front of a white house which was the key to unlocking the entire film location.
The majority of this scene takes place on 378th Avenue SE in Snoqualmie, beginning with 8000 378th Avenue SE.
I originally looked along SE 80th Street which intersects with 378th Avenue as on Google Street View I saw a fleet of yellow school buses parked outside the Snoqualmie Valley School District building. As I continued my search, I soon realized 378th Avenue was the spot.
ANOTHER SHERIFF CAR PASSES
The scene cuts to another Twin Peaks Sheriff’s car driving down a narrow road. In reality, this location is found on a nearby street – 37624 SE 80th Street.
Here is the spot during my 2019 visit. I captured two images as the camera moves in the episode as the law enforcement vehicle whizzes past Bobby’s car.
While visiting Snoqualmie in January 2020, I went back to the location in an attempt to match the colors and mood of the pilot episode. It mostly worked.
HAPPY HOUR IN FRANCE
As the police car passes, Shelly drinks from a flask. This is also mentioned in the first draft of the script.
INT. BOBBY’S CAR – MORNING
Shelly and Bobby watch the cruiser as it zooms by them, then look back. She takes a pull off a silver flask and knocks it back. Bobby looks at her.
SHELLY
Hey, it’s happy hour in France.
Interestingly, you can see the police car in the rear window which means they may have additional footage of a police car passing Bobby’s car on 378th Avenue. The car will turn right in the episode which is the opposite direction from where the second police car that passes Bobby is found.
The yellow “right turn” sign in the background helped me identify the location. It’s the same one found on Google Maps Street View and it was still there in September 2019!
COME ON, COWBOY
Shelly encourages Bobby to take a drink from her silver flask. The first draft of the script contains different dialogue than what Shelly says on screen – “Come on. Breakfast of champions.” versus “Come on, cowboy, light your fire.”
Bobby continues driving and responds to Shelly’s encouragement.
BOBBY
Right. ‘Little pick-me-up before Home Room.
To find this spot, I looked for the black and yellow caution marker along the road barrier that crosses over Coal Creek. That marker has changed since the Google Maps image in August 2008.
A THREE STAGE ROCKET
The on screen dialogue pretty much matches what was originally scripted as the scene continues. You can see the road dip in the rear window which is how I identified this spot.
SHELLY
Thought I was your little pick-me-up.
BOBBY
Baby, you’re more like a three- stage rocket. A pocket rocket.
SHELLY
What stage are we in now?
QUIT WORRYIN’ AND START SCURRYIN’
Bobby is nervous that Shelly’s husband Leo is home so he asks for confirmation he is on the road. Note that the script contains different dialogue for Shelly. In the episode Leo called from Butte, Montana and she said he “talked dirty to her for an hour.”
BOBBY
You sure your old man’s still on the road?
SHELLY
Called me last night from Tacoma. Talked dirty to me for an hour. And he ain’t got a phone in his truck.
(a highly suggestive look)
Quit worryin’ and start scurryin’, Mr. Touchdown.
Bobby steps on it.
LEO IS HOME
But Bobby is surprised to see Leo’s truck in the driveway. He slams on the brakes. The script describes additional action not seen in the broadcast. There is even a call out to “Sparkwood Mountain” which isn’t used in the series.
EXT. WINDING ROAD – MORNING
CUT TO:
At the base of Sparkwood Mountain. Bobby drives around a corner and starts up a steep driveway leading to Shelly’s house. They drive around another corner and Bobby slams on the brakes when they see the cab of a large semi rig parked in the driveway in front of the house.
For this scene, we are still on 378th Avenue but the Johnson House isn’t located on this street. For practicality, they probably just used 378th Avenue for most of the driving shots as it was long enough to capture all the action.
JOHNSON HOUSE
This private residence, located at 8304 372nd Place SE, is a few streets over from 378th Avenue.
On the Google Maps image above, you can see the approximate locations where the action took place. The home in Washington served as the exterior location the pilot episode and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. For seasons 1 and 2, a home in southern California served as the exterior location. Interiors were shot on sets.
In the broadcast, the scene cuts to a close up of Leo Johnson’s truck. A boat had replaced the semi when I visited the location in 2019.
There are some minor dialogue differences in the script. Bobby yells “Butte” in the broadcast version but he would have yelled “Tacoma” if they kept the original dialogue.
INT. BOBBY’S CAR – MORNING
BOBBY
Jesus…
SHELLY
He’s home. Damn. Damn it.
(bangs her head back against the headrest)
Bobby throws it into reverse and backs up behind a stand of trees.
SHELLY
Damn it. Call you later.
BOBBY SPEEDS AWAY
Bobby backs up his car, Shelly gets out, and he drives away. For this scene, we jump back over to 378th Avenue SE. You can see the utility pole in the rear window as he speeds away. The script describes how fast Bobby was going.
EXT. BOBBY’S CAR – MORNING
CUT TO:
Shelly jumps out of the car. Bobby backs down the driveway at thirty miles an hour.
CUT TO:
INT. BOBBY’S CAR – MORNING
Bobby drives away from Shelly’s. Breathes a sigh of relief.
SNOQUALMIE SIGHTS
During my visit to 378th Avenue, I was treated to some outstanding views and small surprises.
At one point, I saw Mount Si being lit by the fading sun.
Someone had installed a little library for neighbors to borrow books.
As I was leaving the area, I spotted a rainbow hanging over a tree-lined road. What a treat!
FLICKR ALBUM
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.
Add this scene to the ever growing list of Twin Peaks film locations that feature driving. Here are a few more:
- Agent Cooper’s Drive Into Twin Peaks
- And I Would Drive 430 Miles
- Richard and Carrie’s Drive to Twin Peaks – Leaving Odessa, Texas
- Driving Mr. C in Twin Peaks Part 8
