One-story house with a white fence

Twin Peaks Fan Fest Memories – Kiana Lodge

Steven and Joe in Kiana Lodge

I finally uploaded a nearly 16-minute video from my first visit to Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo, Washington. This place was my first visit to a film location and, needless to say, I was beside myself. So set the way back machine to August 9, 1996. My best friend Joe Neff and (at the time) newly made friend Adam Barnick dropped by the Lodge before the start of the 1996 Twin Peaks Fan Festival.

WHERE IS KIANA LODGE LOCATED?

Google Maps - Kiana Lodge
Google Maps

Kiana Lodge is located at 14976 Sandy Hook Rd NE in Poulsbo. The approximate coordinates for this spot are 47°41’59.3″N 122°34’56.8″W.

Opened in 1937 as a retreat for Seattleites looking for an escape from the city,  the Suquamish Tribe purchased this private wedding and meeting location from Bob Riebe in 2004. While they welcome visitors,  you should call ahead to check on their schedule – (360) 598-4311. They prefer visitors give their paying clients privacy and plan a visit when no events are happening.

VISITING KIANA LODGE ON AUGUST 9, 1996

Kiana Lodge Advertisement
Kiana Lodge Advertisement

Joe and I arrive from Columbus, Ohio on August 8, 1996 and checked into the Poulsbo Inn just down the street from Kiana Lodge. The welcome event at the Bainbridge Grange didn’t start until 3:00 p.m. on August 9, so we had time to kill. Joe and I met Adam Barnick, now a director and editor of award-winning short films, the day before. So the three of us set out for Kiana on Friday morning.

Joe and Steven at Kiana Lodge
August 9, 1996

Adam took this photograph of Joe and I just inside the older of the two buildings at Kiana Lodge. I was dressed as Harold Smith that day. My haircut … well, it’s just awful. What the heck was I thinking?

THE VIDEO TOUR

In the days before iPhones, I had a videocamera that used VHC-C cassettes. I extracted footage from that first visit and uploaded it to the Twin Peaks Blog YouTube Channel. It’s nearly 16-minutes and, unfortunately, it’s not the steadiest footage ever recorded. I attempted to stabilize the video in iMovie but the results are still a little bumpy.

You get my real time reactions as we explore the Lodge’s interior and exterior. I was weeks away from turning 21 so you also get my unabashed enthusiasm and commentary throughout the footage. I had discovered the show almost three years earlier so the excitement of being at my first Twin Peaks location was very real.

BMW AND JAGUAR OUTSIDE KIANA LODGE

Blue Pine Lodge Exterior
Episode 2.013

At the beginning of the video, we speak with an unidentified gentleman who I can only assume now worked at Kiana Lodge. He mentioned the BMW and the Jaguar vehicles in the parking lot were the owners (Bob Riebe at the time). I wonder if the BWM parked outside Blue Pine Lodge in the series was actually Mr. Riebe’s car. I assumed in the show that it was Josie Packard’s vehicle.

KIANA LODGE LOBBY

Lobby of Kiana Lodge
August 9, 1996
Julie Duvic and Leland Palmer
Pilot

The Kiana Lodge lobby was out first stop. It doubled at The Great Northern Hotel lobby. A desk were Concierge hostess Julie Duvic (played by the late Diane Caldwell) worked is seen in the background as Leland Palmer crosses to answer a phone call from his wife Sarah.

Lobby doors at Kiana Lodge
August 9, 1996
Leland Palmer and Sheriff Harry Truman
Pilot

The front entrance to the original building at Kiana Lodge where Sheriff Truman shares the unfortunate news about Laura Palmer with her father.

Lobby of Kiana Lodge
August 9, 1996
Bob Riebe, Julie Duvic and Audrey Horne
Pilot

The Concierge Desk scene was shot on the opposite side of the lobby from the front desk. Here’s Bob Riebe playing “Bob” while discussing Laura Palmer’s death with Julie and Audrey Horne. See more about this scene in this article.

DINING ROOM AT KIANA LODGE

Dining Room Fireplace
August 9, 1996
Ben Horne in the Dining Room with Norwegians
Pilot

Our next stop was the dining room where Ben Horne tells the Norwegian businessmen about health and industry going hand-in-hand in Twin Peaks.

Kiana Lodge Dining Room
August 9, 1996
Audrey Horne
Pilot
Josie Packard looking in mirror
Pilot

The alcove where Audrey Horne stood and where Josie Packard looked in the mirror was found on the wall closest the the main doors. Sadly the alcove no longer exists in the dining room today following a remodeling project.

Dining Room at Kiana Lodge
August 9, 1996
Deer head
August 9, 1996

We never see the opposite side of the dining room in the series. It contained this mounted deer head which, at the time, reminded me of the one that “fell down” when Cooper and Truman examine the safety deposit box.

THE KITCHEN AT KIANA LODGE

Kiana Lodge Kitchen
August 9, 1996

The Martell’s kitchen was the next stop on our tour, which you can read more about it in this article. Like the dining room alcove, the kitchen as it appears in the Pilot Episode is long gone.

THE FIREPLACE AT KIANA LODGE

Fireplace at Kiana Lodge
August 9, 1996

Other stops during our tour included the fireplace which is actually one of two inside the building.

Ben Horne and Leland Palmer
Pilot

This is the same fireplace that Ben Horne spits in while discussing their plan of attack with his attorney Leland Palmer.

Kiana Lodge Interior
August 9, 1996

The fireplace is in the same room where the nurse speaks with Mrs. Horne and Audrey about Johnny. She uses this spiral staircase on the far left side of this image. The door near the fireplace leads back to the main lobby.

THE BEAR AT KIANA LODGE

The bear carving
August 9, 1996

Much to my surprise, the giant wooden bear carving was positioned next to Ben Horne’s spit-filled fireplace.

Leland Palmer leaving the dining room
Pilot
Audrey Horne entering the dining room
Pilot

This was the same bear carving seen in the dining room when Leland leaves with Julie and Audrey enters to disrupt the Norwegians’ meeting. I couldn’t believe it was still there.

THUNDERBIRD TOTEM POLE  AT KIANA LODGE

Small totem pole
August 9, 1996
Blue Pine Lodge at Night
Episode 2.004

Outside we spotted the small totem pole carved by Don Keys, which was seen outside Blue Pine Lodge in several episodes.

Small Totem Pole
January 22, 2020

The totem pole was repainted at some point between mid September 2019 and November 1, 2019 and moved to a spot near its original location.

Kiana Lodge back door
August 9, 1996
Sheriff Truman and Josie Packard
Pilot

The backdoor of the Kiana Lodge is the spot where Sheriff Truman meets Josie Packard and where Catherine stands with Josie in the Pilot Episode. One thing to note is the original wooden shingle roof.

Kiana Lodge
January 22, 2020

Today, the Lodge has a green-colored metal roof.

Back of Kiana Lodge
August 9, 1996

Another look at the back of Kiana Lodge from August 1996.

SIDE OF KIANA LODGE

Kiana Lodge
August 9, 1996
Kiana Lodge
August 9, 1996

More views of the side of Kiana Lodge.

Blue Pine Lodge
Episode 1.006

This side view of Blue Pine Lodge was used several times throughout the series, best examined in this Setting the Stage article.

LARGE STORY POLE BY CRAIG JACOBROWN

Large Totem Pole
August 9, 1996
Large Totem Pole
Episode 2.014

The large story pole carved by Craig Jacobrown and best seen in Episode 2014 was present in August 1996.

LAURA PALMER’S LOG

Lonesome Foghorn Path
August 9, 1996
The Lonesome Foghorn Blows
Pilot
Laura Palmer's Log
August 9, 1996

Here is the “Lonesome Foghorn” path where Pete Martell first spots a body wrapped in plastic by the giant log on the shore.

Laura Palmer by the giant log
Pilot
Kiana Lodge Log
August 9, 1996

Another look at the giant log where Laura Palmer’s body was discovered.

Laura Palmer's log
August 9, 1996
Laura Palmer Wrapped in Plastic
Pilot
Laura Palmer's Log
August 9, 1996

Final look at Laura Palmer’s log on the shore near Kiana Lodge. Sadly, I discovered the log had moved slightly down shore when I visited the site in February 2023.

I think I have a handful of more photos somewhere in the house. Once I find them, I’ll scan and upload. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoyed this time machine tour of the magnificent Kiana Lodge. It’s definitely worth a stop!

Artwork from Kiana Lodge
Artwork from Kiana Lodge

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

5 thoughts on “Twin Peaks Fan Fest Memories – Kiana Lodge

  1. Do you know where the exterior of the Log Lady’s Cabin was filmed? Thanks.

  2. Hi Steven,

    In your research did you happen to find out why the Lodge was named Kiana by the owner? Do you know if it was Bob Riebe who named, or the previous owner?

  3. I lived most of my first 42 years in Ohio. In late January 2020 I moved to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. When coming across the country, I stopped at Snoqualmie Falls to see the falls from the iconic show. Since then, I have visited Poulsbo (my favorite bakery is there,) but haven’t been able to get into the lodge or see the beach there. This Monday though, 11/14/21, I am attending an event at the lodge, so I am very excited! I have spent the last few days enjoying this blog and noting what I should look for on Monday. Thanks for this fun and informative site!

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