Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo, Washington served as the exterior location for the Martell family’s Blue Pine Lodge in the first two seasons of Twin Peaks. While researching the Thunderbird totem pole that briefly appears in the series, I discovered the artist behind the tall “story pole” used as an establishing shot in episode 2.014 from season two.
LOCATION 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.
The story pole I’m referencing is found between the original Kiana Lodge building and the newer convention and dining pavilion. The original building is where scenes from the pilot episode like the Concierge Desk, Kitchen, “Norwegians Are Leaving” and more were shot.
FINDING THE ARTIST
Having visited Kiana Lodge a few times, I was curious who exactly carved the giant story pole. An article from the lodge’s website from June 5, 2017 mentioned that well-known artist Duane Pasco created a lot of the artwork on the property.
“The large Native Coastal Art wall murals painted by local artist Duane Pasco are perhaps the most easily recognizable background scenery aside from the waterfront and the log. They’re something that provide such a unique backdrop to both Kiana and the lobby of the Great Northern. Pasco is also responsible for the totems that reside here, as well as one at Pioneer Square in Downtown Seattle.”
It’s true that Mr. Pasco carved some totems at the lodge and he painted the murals seen in The Great Northern Hotel interior scenes from the pilot episode. I even found his name carved on a giant totem which stands outside a building that once housed a gift shop.
The story pole, however, didn’t have Duane’s carved signature. I assumed he would have autographed it similar to the work pictured above. So I turned my attention to Donald Wells Keys who carved the Thunderbird totem. But I couldn’t find any reference material indicating he was the artist.
While continuing my search using a combination of “Kiana Lodge” and “carving” via Newspapers.com, I stumbled upon an article from The Sun on November 5, 1990 about a Suquamish sculptor named Craig Jacobrown whose artwork titled “Rainbringer” was selected as the first 1% for art public sculpture installation on Bainbridge Island. The article also mentioned his other works at the Seattle Aquarium and Pacific Science Center and that he “created the ‘story pole’ at Kiana Lodge, north of Poulsbo.” Boom – I found him!
CRAIG JACOBROWN
According to his blog, Craig first learned how to carve wood “during an extended apprenticeship to Ida Bagus Sutarja in the village of Mas on the Island of Bali in Indonesia.” He returned to Kitsap County, Washington in 1983, where he had a two-year apprenticeship with Duane Pasco. In subsequent years, he spent time as an apprentice with many local indigenous culture keepers including Joe David, Ed Carriere and Joe Ives.
His apprenticeship with renown Kwakwaka’wakw dancer Henry Seaweed and Henry’s extended family would influence him for decades to come. He became a carver, attendant and assistant to the Lelala Dance society. For more than twenty years Jacobrown was close with George Melas Taylor, the leader of the Lelala Dance society. He designed and built many masks, set pieces and puppets for the dance troupe along with collaborating as a lighting and technical designer; a writer and a co-producer for some of their productions.
In 1990, Craig asked Chief Seaweed to use his family crest figure the ‘Kolus’, which is the younger brother of Thunderbird for display as the first 1% for art public sculpture installation on Bainbridge Island.
Today, he continues teaching wood carving, paper mask making and shadow puppetry through the Arts Humanities Bainbridge Education program, Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture and privately. He also performs with Hamumu Arts Collective and runs a mask fabrication and movement training company called “The Maskery.” He enjoys brining to life traditional stories and shares wisdom that can impact future generations.
THE SUN THROWS MINK OUT OF THE SKY
While the newspaper listed Jacobrown as the artist, I needed additional confirmation which was soon found on his blog.
The blog listed a number of pieces he created including the story pole at Kiana Lodge titled, “The Sun throws Mink out of the sky.”
After confirming he carved this magnificent story pole, I sent Craig an email. A few weeks later, he responded expressing how happy he was to tell me about the “Myth of Mink” story pole he carved for Bob Riebe, the former owner of Kiana Lodge. Bob makes a brief cameo in the Concierge desk scene with Audrey Horne in the pilot.
“When I carved the pole in the 1980s, I was deeply drawn to the symbol and the energy of Mink,” explained Jacobrown. “Tlislagilakw, which is the Mink’s name in Kwakwala, the language of the Kwakwaka’wakw people with whom I have been carving, dancing and storytelling for decades.”
“Directly translated Tlislagilakw means ‘Born to be the Sun’,” Craig continued with his story. “My mentor Bill Holm tells the story of how the mink went to his father, the Sun and said he wanted to fulfill his destiny and learn how to carry the large Sun Mask across the sky. But Mink is a trickster, immature and behaves in a way we all need to learn to avoid.”
“As Mink becomes bored with the prospect of carrying the large Sun mask across the sky at a tediously slow pace, he decides to have fun. He carried it way off the path into space where the earth creatures begin to freeze and call out for him to return. Hearing the plea, Mink returns and comes back toward the earth burning and charring the earthlings.”
The top figure is the Sun as he throws his son, Mink, out of the sky after scalding the Owl, the Grizzly and the Butter Clam until the Sealion, the bottom figure teaches Mink to swim.
“The Mink’s mother, Sealion, is the symbol of a creature deeply in tune with the emotional realms,” said Jacobrown. “When she teaches Mink to Swim, she is helping him to finally balance his fiery ego with the power of love and deep emotions.”
Craig reminisced about his twenties and how meeting his wife showed his true destiny in life.
“When I was in my twenties, in the early eighties, I was a bit ego-centric,” he continued. “I believed I was somewhat invincible and I might have tried to carry the Sun across the sky if I thought it was my destiny. But I met a woman and she helped me to realize that my true destiny was to tune into human emotions. We were married a few miles south of Kiana Lodge on Bainbridge Island.”
The path he was on is immortalized in this pole which was carved around the time he was married.
“I was in the matrimonial mode when I carved the story pole just as so many other guests are when they gather at Kiana Lodge. I’m still on this path and I would be happy to tell you more about the symbols any time you wish.”
Thank you to Craig for sharing this story – it’s a mystery I’m glad to have solved more than 30 years after the story pole appeared in Twin Peaks.
APPEARANCES IN TWIN PEAKS
The story pole makes its first appearance in episode 1.002 from season one.
There is a nighttime establishing shot of Blue Pine Lodge to which you can spot the story pole on the far left side of the screen.
Here is a similar shot from my visit to Washington state on February 22, 2023.
A similar shot returns in episode 1.004 but this time two cars are parked outside – Sheriff Truman’s Ford Bronco and a black BWM. Supposedly, the latter was Bob Riebe’s car which means they probably captured these images while filming the pilot in March 1989.
The first daytime shot of Blue Pine Lodge’s exterior and the adjacent story pole appear in Episode 1.006.
A recycled nighttime establishing shot from episode 1.004 is found again in the season one finale episode.
The story pole won’t appear again until episode 2.014 in season 2. This iconic shot is accompanied by Edvard Grieg’s “Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16.”
When I visited in January 2020, I did quite match the angle of the shot.
More than three years later, I tried again with better results. Most likely the establishing shot was captured at sunset as the story pole faces East.
The camera pans slightly to angle the story pole.
The scene cuts to the top of the story pole – to which we now know is the Sun.
Similar shots of the Sun from January 2020 and February 2023.
HISTORIC PHOTOS
My first Twin Peaks film location was Kiana Lodge on August 9, 1996 just before the start of the 1996 Twin Peaks Fan Festival. I grabbed a few shots of the story pole during that visit.
How I wish I could return to that first visit with the modern technology of today.
Charles from the former InTwinPeaks.com took theses images in the 2000s. I included them in this story as at one point the story pole had been painted different colors versus what exists today.
FLICKR
You can find high-resolution images of the story pole on my Flickr account. The photos are licensed as Creative Commons so only attribution to “Sam Howzit” is required for use elsewhere.
I would note (and add links to your other articles) that those pilot shots not only represented the Blue Pine Lodge but also the Great Northern. Great info about the art and artist. Who would have thought the statue had such multicultural origins.
Glad to see this site back from hiatus. Last man standing amongst top-tier TP websites and hosted by a wonderful mad lad tracking down all those props, manufacturers, etc.
Dang it would be great if you could host an archive of ‘In Twin Peaks’ since it seems to have gone way of the dodo.