Twin Peaks Location – Buella’s Place

I still vividly recall Mr. C’s first appearance in Season 3 on Showtime. Kyle MacLachlan’s appearance in Part 1 at Buella’s Place was frightening, yet left me wanting more. Like that otherworldly scene with Otis, Buella and the gang, the Southern California location where they shot this scene is also shrouded in mystery.

WHERE IS BUELLA’S PLACE LOCATED?

I originally found this location in August 2019, but it wasn’t until the Twin Peaks – From Z to A Collection was released that I was able to confirm details. The shack is located on property that is part of the Inglewood Oil Fields in Ladera Heights, California. The approximate coordinates are 34°00’40.7″N 118°22’40.3″W.

These Part 1 scenes were shot on October 23, 2015.

HISTORY OF THE SHACK

Los Angeles, California is full of history and it’s one thing I’ve enjoyed learning while writing articles for this blog. The shack used in Part 1 is part of a larger property known as the Baldwin Hills Oil House. Thanks to extensive research from Mike Davison on SkyscraperPage.com, we know more about its origin. If you love a good story, I suggest taking a moment to read his well-conducted research.

KCRW.com picked up on Davison’s research in 2015 and wrote the following synopsis about the mystery home:

“The home was built between 1913 and 1915 by a man named Charles Wellington Rand. Rand came to L.A. from Iowa as a 12-year-old boy, around 1900, after his father died. Randa’s mother moved them here to live with her father, Hiram Higgins, just a few doors down from Harrison Gary Otis on Wilshire Boulevard. The two families apparently became friends just by being neighbors. Later, Rand and Ralph Chandler (nephew to Otis) ran a business together downtown. Hence, the rumors about the Chandler connection. Sadly, Rand’s life didn’t turn out well. He eloped with a young woman in 1911 who, it later turned out, had never ended her previous marriage. Rand had that union annulled in 1917. Then, on October 5th of that year, he shot and killed himself with his shotgun in the house in Baldwin Hills.”

FINDING THE LOCATION OF BUELLA’S PLACE

On October 23, 2015, Kyle MacLachlan posted the above image on his Instagram account – “Shooting in some interesting places these days #twinpeaks.”

Knowing that an oil derrick was in his shot, I searched for California oil fields that were used as film locations.

It didn’t take me long to find the Baldwin Hills Oil House. The oil fields have been used in other productions such as the television show 24 or Curtis Hansen’s masterpiece LA Confidential. The latter used the grounds of the house as the Victory Motel location.

According to “Into the Heart of Screenland” by the Center for Land Use Interpretation, the oil fields have been active for nearly 100 years:

“[The oil field] was discovered in 1924, and has produced nearly 400 million barrels of oil since that time. Though it reached its peak in output in 1925, when Los Angeles was supplying a quarter of the world’s oil, it is still a major producer, extracting more than three million barrels of oil annually.”

FILMING AT BUELLA’S PLACE ON OCTOBER 23, 2015

During Part 1 of the incredible Behind the Curtain features on the From Z to A Collection, there is an image of Mr. C’s 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse Coupe. The date matches the date of Kyle’s Instagram image so I knew this was the spot.

BUELLA’S PLACE – THE SHACK

The Baldwin Hills Oil House website didn’t offer images of this particular shack. Thankfully, fellow Bookhouse Boy Pieter posted this comparison image on WelcomeToTwinPeaks.com.

Using Google Maps, I found a shack that appears to match the location comparison image, complete with the staircase out front.

So let’s take a closer look at this scene.

MR. C’S DRIVE TO BUELLA’S

The scene opens with headlights shining on trees and brush along a dirt road. A David Lynch-remix of Muddy Magnolia’s “American Woman” plays over the scene.

Based on a gut feeling, I believe this driving scene was actually shot in Washington state. The trees and the brush don’t appear to match those at the Inglewood Oil Field. They really remind me of trees I saw during my recent visits to the Pacific Northwest. Another film location for another time.

ARRIVING AT BUELLA’S PLACE

The scene cuts from the dirt road to a road at the oil field.

Mr. C’s car slowly approaches toward the camera. Notice the cracks in the road.

Similar road features are seen behind Mr. C’s car in the Behind the Curtain footage.

Based on the aerial view, I’m thinking he arrived in the red circled area. Coordinates are approximately 34°00’41.5″N 118°22’39.8″W.

Further evidence is seen when David discusses the scene with Director of Photography Peter Deming. Notice the shack behind Lynch which also seem to be in the red circled area.

Mr. C parks and exists the vehicle. He walks toward the camera and off screen.

OUTSIDE THE SHACK

Here’s another look at the shack via Google Maps. Mr. C parked his car to the right side of the shack.

Here is a look at the actual shack thanks to a location image I found on the Internets.

Gun-wielding Robby (played by stunt actor James Croak) greets the menacing Mr. C.

Mr. C knocks out Robby who falls on the ground next to the stairs. James Croak received screen credits most likely because he had the following line, “Hey. Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

MEETING OTIS

Mr. C enters the shack and is welcomed by Otis. They’ve met before.

Lynch directed the placement of the chair and couch for this scene.

Otis is played by Redford Westford. While he only appears in this scene for Season 3, he left a lasting impression on me. I want to know more about him!

Otis takes a drink of what I believe is moonshine. Someone presented the idea that it was gasoline, which has an interesting connotation in the world of Twin Peaks. But he’d also be dead.

The Behind the Curtain footage gives us a better look at Otis’ seedy-looking side table. You can almost smell it on the screen.

Lynch and Westford briefly chat behind the scenes. In the background you see  Production Designer Ruth DeJong and Line Producer / Unit Production Manager Christine Larson-Nitzsche.

Waiting 25 years for this shot was so worth it. Mr. C’s appearance was totally unexpected but it’s grown on me after multiple viewings.

SILENT MEN AT BUELLA’S PLACE

Mr. C glances over to see two men sitting in the darkness. Steven James Tingus played the smaller of the two men identified as Silent Cabin Man #1.

The tall thin actor has not been identified yet (if you have any idea who played him, please leave a comment below). In the Behind the Curtain scenes, Lynch calls out for “Steve” and “John” as he bids them a farewell after wrapping the shoot. So “John” could be the tall actor’s name.

ROBBY FAILS AGAIN AT ATTACKING MR. C

Robby makes a second attempt at hitting Mr. C with his shotgun but is quickly dispatched to the ground.

ENTER BUELLA

After hearing the commotion, Buella enters the scene.

She’s played by Kathleen Deming (no relation to Director of Photography Peter Deming). Pieter Dom from Welcome to Twin Peaks wrote a great story about her in May 2017.

Mr. C tells Buella to put something better at her front door, meaning that this is her place (hence “Buella’s Place”). She responds with “It’s a world of truck drivers” before calling to Ray and Darya.

ENTER RAY AND DARYA

Just before Ray and Darya enter, we see a great shot of Otis sitting in his chair along with a closer shot of the two Silent Cabin Men. I need to identify that standing lamp next to the tall one.

Ray Monroe (George Griffith) and Darya (Nicole LaLiberte) enter the room.

Upon seeing Ray and Darya, Mr. C stands to leave the shack.

LEAVING BUELLA’S PLACE

Darya and Ray bid the Silent Cabin Men farewell before following Mr. C out the front door.

Lynch, Script Supervisor Cori Glazer and Director of Photography Peter Deming watch rehearsals for this scene. They had to rework the scene so that Mr. C leaves first followed by Darya and Ray

Otis watches the trio leave the cabin.

He takes another swig of the moonshine and stares off into the distance.

And with that, as David says in Behind The Curtain, is a wrap. I really wish we could have seen more of Otis, Buella and the two silent men. Maybe we will one day.