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The High Schools of Twin Peaks

The high schools of Twin Peaks
The High Schools of Twin Peaks

I’m a jack and you’re a jack. Steeplejacks are we. And when we climb up to the top, the cry is ‘Victory!'”

With recent news of the impending demolition of Mt. Si High School, I’m taking a look at the locations used in Twin Peaks  and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me as the Twin Peaks High School.

PILOT EPISODE AND EXTERIOR FROM SEASONS 1 & 2

Twin Peaks High School from the Pilot Episode and Seasons 1 & 2.
Twin Peaks High School from the Pilot Episode and Seasons 1 & 2.

Mt. Si High School, found at 8651 Meadowbrook Way SE in Snoqualmie, Washington, was used as the exterior establishing shot in Seasons 1 and 2 as well as the interior scenes from the Pilot Episode. You can read more about this location in this article.

Hallway in Twin Peaks High School with Yellow Lockers and Red Stripes
Pilot
Audrey Horne at Yellow Lockers
Pilot

This location for Mt. Si High School opened around 1951. The building was added onto for several years including a massive renovation in 1991 which added 60,000 sq. ft. of space.

Bobby Briggs sitting at a table in the Library talking with Deputy Hawk and Deputy Brennen
Pilot
Mike Nelson waiting for Bobby Briggs who is speaking with two students in the high school Lobby
Pilot

The Pilot Episode is the best record of the building pre-1991 as it includes several shots from the library, classrooms, hallways and more.

Screaming Girl running through courtyard
Pilot
Trophy Case with Laura Palmer's Homecoming Queen Photo
Pilot
Principel Wolchezk speaking at Intercom
Pilot
Football Coach on phone in Locker Room
Pilot

Mt. Si High School was demolished and replaced beginning on July 5, 2019.

TWIN PEAKS HIGH SCHOOL BATHROOM FROM EPISODE 1004

Audrey Horne in Twin Peaks High School Bathroom in Episode 1004.
Audrey Horne in Twin Peaks High School Bathroom in Episode 1004.

In Episode 1004, Audrey Horne and Donna Hayward discuss Laura Palmer while in the Twin Peaks High School Bathroom. This scene was shot on a set in Van Nuys, California as detailed in this article.

Donna in the Bathroom from Episode 1004
1004
Audrey and Donna in the Bathroom looking at mirror from Episode 1004
1004

I love how the crew even matched the red stripes on the walls that were found inside Mt. Si High School in Washington state.

Audrey Horne holding a cigarette in bathroom against striped wall
1004
Audrey and Donna in the Bathroom from Episode 1004
1004

 

TWIN PEAKS HIGH SCHOOL FIELD

Twin Peaks High School Sign from Episode 2010.
Twin Peaks High School sign from Episode 2010.

Nadine Butler Hurley’s cheerleading tryouts were held at Franklin Canyon Park located at 1924 Lake Drive in Beverly Hills, California as seen in this article. I recently visited the site at the end of May and have updated the article with new location photos.

P.E. Teach and Assistant Principal Greege sit at a table with a "Go Steeplejacks" banner behind them
2010
Cheerleaders wearing TP and Twin Peaks High School attire
2010

P.E. Teach (played by Lisa Cloud) and Assistant Principal Greege (played by Don Calfa) watch the cheerleading tryouts from a randomly placed desk in the field. I love the “Go Steeplejacks” sign in the background and that grey athletic jacket worn by a cheerleader.

Male Twin Peaks Cheerleader flying through the sky - Corkscrew!
2010
Nadine's tryout with her standing on a field in a red sweat jacket and blue shorts
2010

CORKSCREW!!!

Cheerleader meets volleyball net
2010
Cheerleaders landing and holding his head in Episode 2010
2010

Popped collars and feathered hair make Twin Peaks extra special.

TWIN PEAKS HIGH SCHOOL IN SEASON 2

Donna Hayward her locker with Mike Nelson walking down the hall in Episode 2012
Donna Hayward her locker in Episode 2012

In Episodes 2010-2012, the location for Twin Peaks High School moved to Van Nuys High School located at 6535 Cedros Ave, Van Nuys, California. California. You may recognize this location from 1980s coming-of-age classic Fast Times at Ridgemont  High as both the exterior and interior were used as film locations. See more about this location in this article.

Mike Nelson wearing his TP Letterman Jacket in the hallway
2011
Mike Nelson and Nadine Hurley working out in the Weight gym
2011

The location could have been selected as the yellow lockers closely matched the lockers from the Washington state location.

Wrestling Team standing and sitting in the gym
2012
Nadine Butler Hurley and Donna Hayward speaking in the hall
2011

The wrestling scenes were shot in the gymnasium. I love the crew most likely added red stripes in the halls to also match the Mt. Si High School location.

Dr. Jacoby, Big Ed and Nadine Hurley
2010
Nadine and Mike wrestling in gym
2012

TWIN PEAKS HIGH SCHOOL IN TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME

Bobby Briggs, Laura Palmer and Donna Hayward speak out side the High School from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
The High School from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

The High School Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me was shot at Snohomish High School located at 1316 Fifth Street in Snohomish, Washington. According to film’s shooting diary on Dugpa.com, scenes at the school were shot on Saturday, September 21, 1991. See more about this location in this article.

Bobby dancing with students walking in courtyard
Fire Walk With Me
Bobby and Laura against blue lockers
Fire Walk With Me

According to Snohomish High School website, this school building was opened around 1940. In the late 2000s, the school was modernized which meant the building exteriors were updated.

Empty Desk chair
Fire Walk With Me
Bobby kissing the Trophy Case
Fire Walk With Me

Similar to Mt. Si High School, I was unable to location any additional photos of the school before the renovation was done. This means the film is the best source of documentation of what the school looked like prior to the renovation.

Donna and Laura in the school hallway
Fire Walk With Me
James Hurley leaning against as white cinderblock wall
Fire Walk With Me

VACANT PEAKS – TWIN PEAKS HIGH SCHOOL

Trophy Case from Twin Peaks High School
Trophy Case from Twin Peaks High School

As a bonus, check out this Vacant Peaks article that showcases scenes from the various high school locations without people

Hallway of Twin Peaks High School with yellow lockers and red stripes on wall
2020
Red School Bell on wall
2011
Hallway in Twin Peaks High School with yellow lockers and red striped walls
1000
Empty Stairwell at Twin Peaks High School
2011

Go Steeplejacks!

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.

    View all posts

One thought on “The High Schools of Twin Peaks

  1. Re: Snohomish HS; What I had heard was that aside from Laura’s photo, nothing else in the trophy case was changed out. This could just be local rumor.

    Although I have a couple of photos from before the renovations, I was never able to go inside since schools don’t really let people in to wander around.

    In hindsight I probably could have wandered around during my cousins HS graduations but that’s the terrible thing about hindsight.

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