Roadhouse and Bookhouse under cloud-filled sky

Twin Peaks Location – South Dakota Private Airfield

Regional Airport in South Dakota in Twin Peaks Part 4 on Showtime

After receiving a call at the FBI Office in Philadelphia in Twin Peaks Part 3 on Showtime, FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole, Agent Albert Rosenfield and Agent Tammy Preston fly to the Black Hills of South Dakota to meet Agent Cooper at the Yankton Federal Prison. The airport appears twice in Part 4, yet it was located very far from the Mount Rushmore State.

LOCATION OF THE AIRPORT IN TWIN PEAKS PART 4

Aerial view of airport via Google Maps
Google Maps

The two scenes were shot at 4555 W Ave G in Lancaster, California which is home to General William J. Fox Airfield (WJF is the airport code).

According to Los Angeles County Airports website, “The airport was originally constructed by the County of Los Angeles and open for business in 1959. Today the airport is still owned and operated by the County, is publicly available to general aviation aircraft 24-hours a day seven days a week, and is home to over 200 based aircraft, a restaurant, and several aviation-related businesses.”

Newspaper article about W.J. Fox Field from November 13, 1959
The Valley Times – November 13, 1959

The airfield was dedicated on November 14, 1959 with an aerial show attended by an anticipated 20,000 spectators, government officials and industry professionals.

FBI TEAM ARRIVES AT THE SOUTH DAKOTA PRIVATE AIRFIELD

Aerial view of airport with Twin Peaks scenes inserted over specific locations
Google Maps

Gordon Cole arranged a meeting with Cooper at 9:00 a.m. sharp. He told Albert and Tammy that they would “fly at dawn.” After the FBI team arrives, they are greeted by two agents outside the terminal. The map above shows where some of the scenes took place in front of the Administration Building.

Exterior of the Administration building at the Private South Dakota Airport
Part 4

The scene opens with the agents leaving the administration building.

Exterior of the General WM J Fox Administration Building
Photo courtesy of Frank Holbert from 160Knots.com

I found the above photo taken by Frank Holbert on the 160Knots.com website. The site hasn’t been updated in more than 10 years, yet the location appears similar to the episode. The only change is the white sign above the open door.

FBI Agents leaving the Administration Building at the airport
Part 4

It looks like the airport name was changed to “General Guy T. [Something] Regional Airport.” Despite multiple searches, I didn’t find a match. The last name could be “Bograc,” which is a Slovenian stew. The crew did a fantastic job matching the font style and sign placement for the scene.

Five FBI Agents talking outside a building
Part 4

The FBI team are greeted by another two FBI Agents in black suits.

Google Maps Street View of Administration Building
Google Maps

You can see the building where the scene took place on Google Maps Street View.

Administration Building at Fox Airport
LocoScout.com
Administration Building at Fox Airport
LocoScout.com

You can get a better look at this spot with these two location scouting photos from LocoScout.com.

FBI AGENTS GET INTO A CAR AT SOUTH DAKOTA PRIVATE AIRFIELD

The Agents get into a black vehicle with a U.S. Government license plate (59NR01) and leave the area.

FBI Agents get into vehicle
Part 4
FBI Agents get into vehicle
Part 4
FBI Agents get into vehicle
Part 4
Airport parking area with control tower in the distance
Part 4

The car appears to be a similar to the one Mr. C gets from the storage unit in Part 2 – a 2003 Lincoln Town Car.

General Fox Airport administration building and driveway
LocoScout.com

The LocoScout.com website had another image from the location.

Google Maps Street View of Fox Airport's radio tower
Google Maps

Street View on Google Maps offered this look at the radio tower from the site.

GORDON COLE SPEAKS WITH ALBERT AT SOUTH DAKOTA PRIVATE AIRFIELD

Aerial view of General Fox airport with scenes from Twin Peaks overlayed on the map
Google Maps

The second appearance of the airport is found later in Part 4 after the FBI team interviews Mr. C. Bathed in a blue hue, they are seen discussing behind the administration building.

Three people talking outside a building with the entire scene bathed in a blue hue
Part 4

Agent Preston speaks with Rosenfield and Cole about how people who encounter Mr. C get violently sick.

General Fox airport with administration buildings and a jet on a runway
Photo courtesy of Frank Holbert from 160Knots.com

Frank Holbert from 160Knots.com took this photograph of the area which is located behind the building and adjacent to Foxy’s Landing and Restaurant.

Agent Cole and Agent Rosenfield discuss by a fence.
Part 4

Albert Rosenfield responds to Tammy that he feels “fine.”

Three FBI agents talking by a metal fence at the airport
Publicity photo by Suzanne Tenner for Showtime

There was an official publicity photo by on-set still photographer Suzanne Tenner released by Showtime. The image gives a different angle of the trio than what appears in the episode.

General Fox Airport with Control Tower and Administration Buildings
Photo courtesy of Runway One Two

A photo from RunwayOneTwo, a blog for Southern California pilots, offered this view of the film location.

That website also contained one of my favorite new things I discovered when writing about the private Portland Airport in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me – POV landing videos (as seen above from YouTube user NarbonneGauchoBoingo).

WATCHING AGENT TAMMY PRESTON LEAVE

Agent Preston leaves after Gordon Coles tells her to wait in the restaurant.

Agent Preston walking toward Administration Building
Part 4
Agent Cole and Agent Rosenfield by a metal fence at the airport
Part 4
Agent Preston walking toward the restaurant
Part 4

Albert remarks that he is “feeling better now” after watching Agent Preston leave.

Agent Cole and Agent Rosenfield by a metal fence at the airport
Publicity Photo by Suzanne Tenner for Showtime

Another publicity photo by Suzanne Tenner for Showtime shows an alternate angle for this scene.

Agent Cole and Agent Rosenfield looking at a building
Part 4

Albert and Gordon wait until Tammy is inside the building before they continue their conversation.

AGENT COLE AND AGENT ROSENFIELD’S INTENSE CONVERSATION

When first watching this episode when it premiered on May 23, 2017, I remember geeking out at this scene. There were references made to Phillip Jeffries and Blue Rose cases, both of which appeared in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Here are a few images from their intense conversation to close out this story.

Agent Cole and Agent Rosenfield talking by a building at the airport

Agent Rosenfield speaks with Gordon Cole

Gordon Cole Speaks with Agent Albert Rosenfield

Agent Rosenfield and Agent Cole speaking at the airport

Black shoes and pants

 

Gordon Cole looking at Agent Rosenfield

It doesn’t get any bluer than this.

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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