We return to Snoqualmie Valley in this article for a look at the film location where three brothers find Miriam Sullivan in Twin Peaks -Part 11 on Showtime. This location and scene have two really cool connections to David Lynch and Mark Frost’s wonderful and strange show.
WHERE IS THE FINDING MIRIAM SULLIVAN IN PART 11 SCENE LOCATED?
Finding this location was relatively easy as it’s just down the street from the Mt. Si Motel, aka Red Diamond City Motel in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, in North Bend, Washington. The address is 43347 SE Mt Si Rd, North Bend, WA and the coordinates are 47°29’10.9″N 121°45’34.4″W.
On June 13, 2018, Christine Larson-Nitzsche, Line Producer for Season 3 on Showtime, shared this image on Twitter from their location scouting trip. The driveway and home are easily seen from Mt. Si Road, which helped with finding this spot. While I drove by the spot in September 2019, I didn’t actually stop to take photos until my trip in January 2020.
LOCATION HAS A CONNECTION TO MAR-T CAFE
While looking for history about this spot, I stumbled upon a fascinating connection to the Mar-T Cafe (now Twede’s Cafe), which served as the film location for the Double R Diner. The land was once owned by Pat and Bob Cokewell.
Snoqualmie Valley Record article from October 2008 about the Mount Si Bridge replacement mentioned that Bob lived in the area:
Bob Cokewell, who lives southeast of the Mount Si Bridge, agreed that it should be kept as an access point for emergency personnel, and he questioned whether it would be cheaper in the long run to remove the bridge.
“Tearing that bridge down is going to be very expensive, especially over a fishing stream,” he said.
Pat was a waitress at the Mar-T from 1971 to 1976. The previous owners Margitte and Jo Tingelstad sold her the place in 1976, where she owned and operated it until Kyle Twede (hence Twede’s Cafe) bought it from her in 1997. I met Pat in August 1996 during the Twin Peaks Fan Festival. Best damn cherry pie baker ever!
According to a Snoqualmie Valley Record article from August 8, 2017, Pat married Bob in 1980. She had three daughters – Nancy Lane, Jeanie Bowers and Carolyn Rodenhuis – all who reside in North Bend with their families. Jeanie Bowers and her husband James obtained the property from Pat on July 24, 2004. Unfortunately, Bob passed away in the late 2000s.
FINDING MIRIAM SULLIVAN – SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
Thanks to the Behind the Curtain footage from the Twin Peaks – From Z to A Collection we learn this scene was shot on September 23, 2015.
According to the embedded file info, this official publicity shot was taken by set photographer Suzanne Tenner on September 23, 2015 around 1:00 p.m.
The incredible Mauve Zone shared this behind-the-scenes photo of the crew set up outside the spot. You can see Cinematographer Peter Deming in the center while David Lynch is sporting his hat and headphones. Script Supervisor Cori Glazer is nearby with her laptop. In the upper left corner, you will spot the incomparable documentarian and filmmaker Charles De Lauzirika. Two boys that will be in this scene are found standing along the bottom center.
I love these clapboard shots from Behind the Curtain footage. It looks like part of this scene was 360B and there was at least a second take.
BOYS PLAYING CATCH
The scene opens with three brothers playing catch in front of a double-wide home. Since this location is partially located on private property, I only took photos from the street.
The oldest brother (top image) was credited as Boy Playing Catch and was played by Travis Frost. The other two boys were not credited in the episode.
The youngest brother throws the baseball to the oldest brother but it completely misses him and rolls down the gravel driveway.
Here’s an opposite look at the driveway. It rained every day during my visit in January 2020 so the road was a little wet.
MARK FROST AND BASEBALL
So why were the boys throwing a baseball?
Travis Frost who played the oldest brother is Mark Frost’s son and the grandson of Warren Frost (Dr. Hayward). Baseball figures largely in the lives of the Frost family. On June 29, 2015, Mark took Travis to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York according to an article on their website:
“This was a trip to complete my family heritage of bringing the different male members of my family to the Hall,” said Frost, soon after receiving a tour from Senior Curator Tom Shieber. I brought my father here previously, and this time I got to bring my 11-year-old son Travis, which was a great thrill. And we have a pro player in the family (Frost’s nephew is Washington Nationals highly regarded pitcher prospect Lucas Giolito), and Travis has aspirations in that direction, so this is like a trip to heaven for him.”
Mark has also penned one book about baseball titled “Game Six.” Published in 2009, the book features the famous 1975 World Series game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox.
Mark and Travis Frost attend the Showtime premiere of Twin Peaks at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on May 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Knowing the Frosts’ interest in baseball, it completely makes sense why this scene is in Season 3.
CHASING THE BASEBALL
The oldest brother runs after the loose baseball. In the background, we can see the newer Mount Si bridge. More on that bridge at the end of this story.
More great Behind the Curtain footage from Part 11 of this scene. Suzanne Tenner is seen in the center with her large format camera taking publicity shots. Gunnar T. Walter is holding the boom.
After he picks up the ball, the oldest brother stops in the middle of the road. He spots something moving in the distance.
One major difference between September and January is the overgrown brush. It was missing when I visited which gave a better view of Mount Si Bridge.
The boys move closer to examine the scene in this Behind the Curtain image. You can see one of Suzanne’s camera’s (I believe she shoots with a Nikon in addition to the large format camera). We also get a great look at the Stedi-cam  in action.
FINDING MIRIAM SULLIVAN IN THE GRASS
The camera cuts to a point-of-view behind the oldest brother who spots a blood-covered Miriam Sullivan moving through the bushes and grass. The easiest way to find the spot is to look for the giant fern that is still present today.
A great behind-the-scenes shot of the three brothers. My gut tells me that the two uncredited boys are somehow related to either members of the production team or crew, or could possibly be related to the house owners.
The middle and youngest brother look on.
The oldest boy leans in to get a better look. Here is also a better look at Mount Si with the Mount Si Bridge in the foreground. The road I’m standing on used to cross over an older bridge that was replaced in the late 2000s, which is why it is called Mt. Si. Road.
Miriam struggles to move while the oldest brother watches from afar.
We get a great side-view of this scene in the Behind the Curtain footage.
Travis most likely received screen credit as he had several spoken lines of dialogue during this scene. For example, he tells his two younger counterparts to get their mother.
Again, the giant fern is a great marker to find the exact spot where Miriam crawls through the brush.
Sarah Jean Long does such a great job playing a bruised and battered Miriam Sullivan.
The scene ends with a close-up shot of the oldest brother’s concerned face.
The Mauve Zone posted this fantastic on set photo with Mark Frost, David Lynch after the scene is finished shooting.
I could spend hours watching David Lynch direct!
MOUNT SI BRIDGE
The rusty-red bridge in the background of this scene is the Mount Si Bridge.
This newer bridge was completed in October 2008 at an estimate cost of $10M.
If you continue over the bridge which spans the Snoqualmie River, you will make your way to the Mount Si trailhead.
BRIDGING HISTORY ACROSS SNOQUALMIE RIVER
Before the Mount Si Bridge was constructed, the Buckley Bridge stood in its place. Built in 1914 by the Bellefontaine Bridge and Steel Co. of Ohio, it was the last bridge maintained by King County that was held together by steel pins, rather than bolts or rivets.
The railroad trestle next to it was built in 1888 and removed in 1972.
A view of the bridge looking north around 1932.
Originally, the Buckley Bridge spanned the White River in Buckley, and had a twin. One of those bridges was relocated to the Mount Si site in 1955, after the state Department of Transportation built the Highway 410 Bridge over the White River.
King County officials don’t know exactly what happened to the other bridge, but it may have gone to Pierce County.
What is now the Mount Si Bridge was moved to the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River, a growing area served at the time by a bridge made of wood.
The former Mount Si Bridge in 1955 that was constructed using bridge piers from the 1930s. A few years later, a major flood in 1959 would eroded some of those original piers.
The former Mount Si Bridge in 2006.
Visibility while driving was an issue with the former bridge. It was corrected when the new one was erected.
Here the new bridge is being constructed.
In August 2007, the County tried to sell the bridge due to a law. Since the bridge was a county landmark with statewide historical significance, officials were required to try to find a new home for the old steel trusses before putting them on the surplus list. At the time, the 93-ton bridge could have been sold for approximately $10,000 as scrap metal.
One last look at the old and the new bridge before the road was redirected.
Soon after, cars begin traveling on the new road while the older bridge was completely disassembled.
I highly recommend taking a ride across the newer bridge as you will get gorgeous views of Mount Si and those majestic trees.
A treasure trove of information !