Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo, Washington holds a special place in my heart as it was the first Twin Peaks film location I visited in August 1996. For an upcoming article in Blue Rose Magazine – Issue #13 about film locations 30 years later, I revisited this timeless place on January 22-23, 2020. While that Blue Rose Magazine article will examine scenes only found in the Pilot episode, here are additional looks at Packard’s homestead in the first two seasons many years later.
HISTORY OF KIANA LODGE
Located at 14976 Sandy Hook Rd NE in Poulsbo, the Kiana Lodge opened in 1937 for Seattleites looking for an escape from the city. Today, the Suquamish Tribe owns this private wedding and meeting location. While they welcome visitors, they ask you give their paying clients their privacy and plan to visit when there are no events going on. Call ahead to check on their schedule – (360) 598-4311.
I called about two weeks prior to my visit and spoke with Laura (!!) who confirmed it was alright for me to stop by.
Kiana Lodge is the location for the Blue Pine Lodge exteriors (most interior scenes, besides the Pilot episode, were shot on a set). The Great Northern Hotel interiors for the Pilot were also shot here and, of course, there is the giant log where Pete Martell first discovered Laura Palmer’s body, “dead, wrapped in plastic.” I won’t be focusing on the latter for this article. It was still a surreal feeling to stand near the log more than 23 years later.
ADDITIONAL SCENES FROM TWIN PEAKS PILOT
Blue Pine Lodge is one of the first buildings we see in Twin Peaks. The buildings have been remodeled and expanded in the years since the Pilot Episode was shot. Yet there are still echoes of the past found everywhere.
One of the most noticeable additions is the expanded dining room. It now takes the place of where Sheriff Truman walked to see Josie Packard at the end of the Pilot.
Thankfully, the back of this building remains mostly the same though it appears to have a new paint scheme.
NIGHTTIME BEACH
A nighttime beach scene is used in both Episodes 1003 and 2014. This spot is just down the way from Laura’s log. Today, you can spot the in the distance next to the Agate Pass Bridge.
BLUE PINE LODGE EXTERIOR
There are two buildings at Kiana Lodge. The smaller of the two contains the Great Northern Hotel lobby, dining room and fireplace along with those exterior scenes shown at top. The building where the cars are parked is actually the side entrance to the smaller, original building.
When I visited this spot in January 2020, I din’t take a proper exterior photo of Kiana Lodge to match the on-screen counterpart. I corrected that oversight in February 2023 when I returned to Washington state.
DAWN AT BLUE PINE LODGE
One of my favorite things is establishing shots that appear only once in the series. This one from Episode 2001 shows the sun about to rise at Blue Pine Lodge. The window looks out to Laura’s Log and you can see the bridge in the distance. This is also the back porch where Truman and Josie meet in the Pilot. I should have moved slightly to the left for my image.
THUNDERBIRD TOTEM POLE
The Thunderbird Totem pole was made by Donald Wells Keys, a prolific carver in the Pacific Northwest starting in the late 1950s and early 1960s. You can read more about his works in this Twin Peaks Blog article.
Here’s another fleeting image of the back of the smaller building.
When they expanded the dining room, the totem pole pictured in the episode was moved.
You can find the painted totem pole, however, near this spot. The dining room patio is found behind it.
BACK TO THE BLUE PINE LODGE EXTERIOR
Sheriff Truman is seen entering the side entrance of the smaller building in episode 2.006.
I’m grateful to have seen the original building in August 1996 during my first visit.
GIANT STORY POLE BY CRAIG JACOBROWN IN TWIN PEAKS EPISODE 2.014
The Story Pole carving by Craig Jacobrown titled “The Sun throws Mink out of the sky” is shown in episode 2.014. It’s still found it Kiana Lodge today. I clearly didn’t reference the episode image when I took my shot. You can read more about this beautiful work in this Twin Peaks Blog article.
It’s the same pole from the episode, only it’s been finished with paint accents.
Here’s the top of the giant totem pole from the same episode.
The Story Pole montage in episode 2.014 concludes with a medium close-up of the smaller Thunderbird totem pole. I attempted to capture a similar shot in it’s new location.
I love that they still have these Totem Poles on the grounds.
PARTING SHOT OF BLUE PINE LODGE
The last time we see the Blue Pine Lodge exterior in episode 2.020 from second season. It’s a nice bookend shot to the opening scene from the Pilot. Look carefully and you’ll spot Laura’s log in both images. A big thank you to the staff of Kiana Lodge who made me feel so welcome during my visit. I can’t wait to return!
