During the 1996 Twin Peaks Fan Fest, I visited the site of Weyerhaeuser’s former Snoqualmie Mill. For some reason, this is the only photograph I took of the mill that once served as the exterior location for the Packard Sawmill in Twin Peaks.
The visit to the mill was part of the bus tour offered during the festival. It’s the same tour that stopped at film locations such as Park Street Trailer Park (aka Fat Trout Trailer Park) and Fall City Grill (aka Hap’s Diner) from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
The location where the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department exteriors and interiors (pilot episode, feature film, and season 3) is located near this now abandoned building.
Beginning in 1914 as the Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Company, the mill had been in operation for more than 85 years when it finally closed on May 30, 2003.
Most of the main sawmill was shut down in 1989 leaving only the wood-finishing plant. Sadly, a fire in February 1989 destroyed much 120,000-square-foot plywood plant.
The Twin Peaks crew visited the location about two months prior to its closing in 1989 to capture the footage used in the series (e.g. saw blades, logs being cut, establishing shots, etc.).
You can read more about the history of the Weyerhaeuser company on their official website.
UPDATE OCTOBER 7, 2019
I finally converted VHS-C tapes to DVD from the bus tour at the Twin Peaks Fan Festival on August 8, 1996. Below are two videos of the Snoqualmie Mill and the former Weyerhaeuser Saw Mill office that served as the location of the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department.
It’s incredible to hear the saw mill still in action. I completely forgot that it was during our visit.
This is the exterior of the Sheriff’s Department. The Twin Peaks Visual Soundtrack released by Warner Music Vision provided a closer look at the memorial to William Willard Warren. According to LivingSnoqualmie.com, he “played a very important role in the evolution of the town of Snoqualmie Falls and Lumber Company.”
The bronze likeness and sundial once located outside the building was one of four memorials in Snoqualmie Valley. It was purchased with small donations from W.W. Warren’s workers following his passing at the age of 45 in 1921.
Sadly, the bronze memorial is long gone and folks aren’t sure where it went.
How I wish I would have captured more footage from this time.
that is a good photo of the saw mill. It is much smaller now and only 1 smoke stack is left.
Hi there – Love your blog! I’ve been a TP fan since it came out when I was in high school in New York City. I now live in Snoqualmie Ridge (the suburban development built here in 2004) and must say, life is imitating art because there is currently a big proposal to redevelop the mill site, including a space for a large concert space. Lots of local opposition. I’ve been posting “Save the pine weasel!” everywhere and sadly, no one seems to get the reference. Let me know if you’d like more info on the site development proposal.
I worked in that Sawmill off and on throughout my 18 years of employment with the Weyerhaeuser Company. The pictures bring back a lot on memories, lots of nice guys worked there. I miss it to this day.