A cluster of buildings sit on a nondescript corner of a desert road outside Palmdale, California. Surrounded by Joshua trees and nestled in the shadow of a beige-colored mountain, these seemingly abandoned buildings look like something from a bygone era. Things are not what they seem, however, as the diner, gas station and motel are part of a road stop set known as Four Aces Movie Ranch. Home to numerous television and film productions since the late 1990s, the motel set is seen in Twin Peaks – Part 2 on Showtime.
WHERE IS THE CHEAP MOTEL IN BUCKHORN FROM TWIN PEAKS LOCATED?
Four Aces is located at 14999 E Ave Q in Lake Los Angeles. The approximate coordinates of where the Motel scenes were shot are 34°35’16.0″N 117°52’18.9″W.
This movie set is private property and there are plenty of “No Trespassing” signs, so please remember that if you drive by.
I visited this spot twice – once in mid-September 2020 and I returned about a month later on October 14. During my first visit, there was a crew working on the set so I didn’t take photos.
Instead, I drove down the street from the Four Aces and spoke with Jeremiah from @TakeTheRing for a good hour, hoping the crew would wrap for the day. They didn’t, which prompted my return in October. But Jeremiah recapped parts of our conversation in this awesome video. I’m in awe of his editing and storytelling skills.
The Part 2 scenes were shot on Thursday, October 22, 2015. In the Behind the Curtain footage, we see David Lynch walking around the hotel room to survey the set.
HISTORY OF THE FOUR ACES MOVIE SET
Despite its retro appearance, the Four Aces set is rather new. I can’t get enough of that mid-century modern-like sign. Glorious! But finding any articles, details or information about the place was nearly impossible.
According to the Los Angeles County Accessor Portal, it appears four parcels were sold on November 6, 1974. It wasn’t until February 19, 1998 that two of the parcels were transferred. Unfortunately, I couldn’t locate any more details on the various government websites that offer property searches.
Enter Lenny Kravitz.
On May 5, 1999, MTV News reported about Kravitz shooting a music video in the desert during the last week in April:
“Rocker Lenny Kravitz and actress Heather Graham, whose “Felicity Shagwell” will show some love to London’s grooviest spy in the upcoming sequel ‘Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,’ were on location in the middle of a desert last week shooting the video for ‘American Woman,’ the first single off the movie’s soundtrack.”
Watching the video (which debuted on MTV and VH1 during the week ending May 23, 1999), it’s clear that it was shot at Four Aces. One website claimed the roadside set was specifically built for the video but I’ve been unable to confirm this detail.
But wait … Heather Graham? Like THE Heather Graham of Annie Blackburn fame from Twin Peaks Season 2?
Yes! She stars in the video and spoke about her experience with John Stewart on The Daily Show from June 17, 1999.
Billboard Magazine also reported on the shoot in their May 22, 1999 issue (page 16):
“The video shoot for ‘American Woman’ turned into a situation of life imitating art at a daylong party smack in the middle of the Mojave Desert, with extras–and dust–galore. ‘It’s more a vibe than a concept,’ Kravitz says of the video, directed by Paul Hunter. ‘There is this big stage set up in the middle of the desert, and all these different people are gathering for a concert. There’s people on bikes, guys, girls; it’s a hang scene.’ The scene climaxes with a visit from Heather Graham, who happens to be passing by in her Corvette and ends up joining the party.”
It’s also wild to think that a different “American Woman” song was associated with Mr. C in Part 1 of Season 3. Here’s a link to the original, non-David Lynch remixed version by Muddy Magnolias.
More than 22 years later, the set looks pretty much like it did in the video.
It’s also seen in several notable films including House of 1000 Corpses, Identity, The Devil’s Rejects and Grand Theft Parsons (with Robert Forster), as well as television shows such as Buffy, The Vampire Slayer and The O.C.
DETAILS OF THE FOUR ACES MOVIE SET
FilmThis.net published in article in 2012 that referenced an entry on TheLocationGuide.com about the location (like I said, I had to dig to find this stuff). It discusses how the location was purposefully redesigned every few years and featured moveable props and walls (this will be important later).
“Each set is positioned to be filmed individually and the overall lay-out was designed to maximize sunlight over the course of a filming day.
Renovations and changes take place every two or three years, with an extra motel room and a grimy truck-stop restroom being among the latest additions. The diner can also now be converted easily to a bar set.
Many of the sets have moveable props and walls. In addition, various classic American cars and a 1972 Harley Iron Head motorcycle are available for use.”
“The motel evokes the 1960s, with a breezeway, a courtyard, a manager’s office and three rooms, two of which share a bathroom. In contrast, the truck-stop bathroom has a 1980s feel, with cinderblock architecture and fluorescent strip lighting.”
Based on my research, it appears Production Designer Jan-Peter Flack created Four Aces. It’s unclear if he was involved when it was first constructed in the late 1990s. Their Facebook page was established in August 2011, which could signify their transition to digital marketing.
Flack described some features of his desert oasis:
“All the fluorescents, practical and neon signs work when electrified. We don’t have power, so everybody needs to bring their own generator. For smaller projects, we rent small 3000kw, quiet generators. Most projects require more power than that. All our floors are polished cement; some have linoleum on them. They are smooth and quiet, ideal for tracking shots.”
With that said, let’s examine the sets used in this second episode from Season 3.
MR. C’S ARRIVAL AT CHEAP BUCKHORN MOTEL
Fresh from killing Jack about two hours earlier, Mr. C arrives in his black sedan and parks outside Room 6.
The lattice between the two supports may have been added for this particular shoot as it wasn’t found when I visited the spot. I also didn’t see it on Bing or Google Maps.
While the room numbers in the episode are 6 and 7, the actual location identifies those rooms as 13 and 12 respectively.
DARYA ON THE PHONE AT CHEAP BUCKHORN MOTEL
The scene cuts to inside Room 6 where Darya (Nicole LaLibert) is seen speaking with Ray Monroe via the telephone.
David Lynch watches the action on Monitor A in the Behind the Curtain footage for Part 2. As a reminder, Lynch likes to use a two-camera set up so we’ll see more of monitors A and B throughout this article.
A Google Maps user uploaded a photo from inside the room as seen in September 2020. You’ll notice the set looks different than the one used five years prior. There is a movable wall to the back left that opens to reveal another adjacent room.
ENTER MR. C
The camera moves to Darya’s point-of-view as she watches the motel room door. A shot of the same room from 2011 is found on the Four Aces Facebook page.
Mr. C opens the door to room 6. Remember this door as it will be important later.
Lynch is directing the action as “Kale” (David’s nickname for Kyle MacLachlan) enters the room. Notice that same flyaway wall in the background.
The same room from 2011 via their Facebook page.
Crossing to one window, we see Mr. C open a drawer and look out.
It appears that carpet was added throughout the room versus shooting on linoleum flooring. The two fish paintings above the bed are begging to be identified at another time. I’m wondering if they are Currier & Ives images again.
The window with the blue curtains is the same one we saw David Lynch standing in front of earlier in this article.
MR. C AND DARYA ON THE BED
Climbing over Darya, Mr. C sits up agains the headboard while Darya snuggles against his chest.
Here’s that two camera set-up I mentioned. The top image is Camera B and the bottom image is from Camera A. This is why Dwayne Dunham’s editing is so flawless – Lynch gave him some great shots which he could use to transaction at exact moments.
A similar set up with a different bed and decor from 2011.
PROP CLOSE-UPS
From my understanding, there are two insert shots that may have been shot at a different location. The first is Mr. C holding a modern-day voice recorder (this prop is also screaming to be identified).
The other is when Mr. C shows Darya the Ace of Spades card.
I did discover the playing card that matches the Ace of Spades. It appears to be Poker Club Playing Cards by Pavilion, which is examine closely in this article. Once my eBay order arrives, look for a separate article complete with high-res scans so you can create your own Mr. C card.
MR. C SHOOTING DARYA
This next section isn’t so much about the location but I’d be remiss if I didn’t include it. After beating up Darya as she tries to escape, Mr. C shoots her in the head.
Interestingly, Lynch directs Kyle to place the gun under the pillow when he shoots Darya.
I loved seeing David work on Nicole’s makeup for this scene. He always has such a clear vision for what he wants.
We see Richard Redlefsen taking a photo of Nicole’s makeup. He is an Emmy and MUAHS Artisan Award winning makeup and makeup FX artist for the film and television industry based in Los Angeles. His Instagram account is incredible; he even recently shared some makeup shots of Naido.
The shot of David blowing black powder on Nicole’s head is so telling – it’s that attention to detail that makes this show so great.
MR. C IN THE BATHROOM
After shooting Darya, Mr. C retreats to the bathroom where he washes his hands.
The bathroom looks like it hasn’t changed much in the past decade. It’s still complete with that yellow shower curtain.
MR. C HACKING THE SYSTEM
When Mr. C places a phone call to “Phillip Jeffries” and later hacks the system, he sits a round table by the door. I’ll examine those screen images from his laptop in another article. Some of them are house plans that were overlapped and distorted.
LEAVING ROOM 6
Mr. C then leaves Room 6 and walks a short distance over to Room 7.
When at Room 7, he knocks on the door to Chantal’s attention.
The rooms are right next to each other at the movie ranch.
During the Behind the Curtain video for Part 2, we see David walking from one room to another.
He’s seen giving direction to Jennifer Jason Leigh who played Chantal Hutchens. Richard Redlefsen is standing behind him. In the distance, I believe we see Ashley Siloac who was a stand-in for Season 3. She’s also seen as a stand-in at the One One Nine House and as an uncredited Receptionist for Lucky 7 Insurance.
Lynch’s direction to Jennifer was to look around after answering the door. Notice the angle of the camera. We never actually see inside the Room 7 from the patio.
There must have been additional publicity shots taken during this scene that weren’t used. The center shadow is Suzanne Tenner who was the on-set photographer.
INSIDE ROOM 7 AT CHEAP BUCKHORN MOTEL
The camera cuts to inside the room as Chantal holds the door for Mr. C. We are given this shot because … wait for it … this room is a redecorated Room 6, the same room we were just in with Darya!
Remember the red door. Take a closer look between scenes. There are markings on both doors that are exactly the same. This would explain why the camera holds on that particular angle outside the motel door and then cuts to the interior as Mr. C enters.
By redressing the set, the crew didn’t have to reset camera equipment in a completely different space thus saving valuable production time.
We get more evidence of the redressed set in the Behind the Curtain footage. Notice the curtain colors – green in the broadcast version but blue and white in the behind-the-scenes video. The latter colors were used for Room 6.
One of my favorite details are all the snacks which are partially obscured for the scene. They include Yoo-hoo, Miller Genuine Draft Beer, Cheez-Its, Nutter Butter cookies, Cheetos, Funyuns, Coca-Cola cans and a bottle of champagne.
The scene ends with Chantal standing before Mr. C. You can see more of that flyaway wall in the behind the scenes footage.
I’ll close with this final image of David Lynch and some of his outstanding crew watching the action. They include Cori Glazer (Script Supervisor), Scott Cameron (1st Assistant Director) and Michael LaViolette (Gaffer). The half body image is Peter Deming (Director of Photography).
