In a recent article, I discussed the film location of Ronette’s Bridge which makes a brief cameo in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me while Leland and Laura Palmer are driving to get Sarah Palmer. As a follow up to that article, I explore the film location for this scene that ends with a scary encounter with Mike, the One Armed Man.
WHERE IS THE SCENE WITH LELAND AND LAURA PALMER DRIVING LOCATED?
Overall, the majority of this scene was shot along Reinig Road in Snoqualmie, Washington. But like other driving scenes from Twin Peaks (such as Ray Monroe driving Mr. C in Part 8 on Showtime or driving to Deer Meadow), the scene takes place in multiple locations.
SCENE OPENS WITH LELAND AND LAURA PALMER DRIVING
The scene opens with Leland and Laura driving along Reinig Road just after passing Ronette’s Bridge. The location coordinates are approximately 47°31’47.7″N 121°48’22.8″W.
I should have taken a better photo of this shot during my visit in September 2019. Just means I have to go back!
Interestingly, the spot they are approaching served as Sparkwood & 21 in the film.
If they turn right instead of following the curve to the left, they would drive down the Sycamore tree-lined part of Reinig Road seen when Laura drives to Harold Smith’s place earlier in the film.
MIKE, THE ONE ARMED MAN IN PURSUIT
The scene then cuts to Mike the One Armed Man driving his 1975 Toyota Truck Chinook. If I remember correctly, the truck may have been Al Strobel’s personal truck.
Al drove his Chinook to the 2007 Twin Peaks Fan Festival. Fellow Bookhouse Boy Jared Lyon took this photo of his parked during the fest on July 29, 2007.
Mike drives toward Ronette’s Bridge, passing under a trestle that crossed Reinig Road.
The trestle was removed in the early 1990s shortly after filming was done.
LELAND PALMER CONTINUES DRIVING
Cutting back to Leland and Laura, they are now further down the road Reinig Road, past Ronette’s Bridge and the Sycamore tree-lined section.
You can see Mount Si in the distance as this road is the same one where the “Welcome to Twin Peaks” sign is located.
The scene is located at 40608 SE Reinig Road with approximate coordinates of 47°31’45.0″N 121°47’56.7″W.
BACK TO THE RONETTE’S BRIDGE
Suddenly, we are magically transported back to just past Ronette’s Bridge.
Mike swerves behind Leland’s vehicle as Ronette’s bridge comes into view. When the extension over Reinig Road was removed, the yellow caution sign was also removed.
You can also see a pursuit car in the distance, which was probably helping control car traffic on the road during the shoot.
LELAND PALMER LOOKS BACK AT MIKE’S TRUCK
Leland looks back again toward Mike’s swerving truck which is no where near Ronette’s bridge.
The log truck seen in front of the Palmer’s vehicle is the same one they end up behind at the famous intersection.
MIKE, THE ONE ARMED MAN GETS CLOSE
When the camera cuts back to Mike’s vehicle, he is now further away from Ronette’s Bridge. The scene takes place just past SE 79th Street off of Reinig Road. The coordinates are 47°31’45.9″N 121°48’05.9″W.
Mike continues to swerve behind the car. The silver guard rails were probably added to Reinig Road much later than when this scene was shot.
DOUBLE YELLOW LINES
The scene transitions by showing a stretch of double yellow lines on the road. It’s pretty much impossible to know exactly where this was shot. Mostly likely it was captured along Reinig Road since it has a double yellow line.
PALMERS APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION
The scene ends with Leland and Laura on Meadowbrook Way approaching the intersection and Mo’s Motor.
The location on Meadowbrook way is about 1.3 miles away (and in the opposite direction) from the previous scene with Mike’s truck. But that’s the magic of editing.
This also probably means there exist additional footage of them driving (add that to the “More Missing Pieces” list).
I went to most of the Twin Peaks filming locations around the greater Seattle area when I was in town for work. I do photography as a hobby. I put my collection of photos in a gallery here (made in March 2019). https://www.thephotographyhobbyist.com/VACATION-AND-SHORT-TRIPS/CITIES/Twin-Peaks/ The bridge, Pete and Catherine’s home/interior for the Great Northern, etc, etc. I visited many places!