Winter in the Real Twin Peaks

February 26, 2024 marks the sixth anniversary of Twin Peaks Blog. I’m wrapping up an amazing few days in Snoqualmie Valley, Washington celebrating with fans from all over the world in the Real Twin Peaks. While I had planned on staying an extra day in the area for visiting film locations, I was delightfully surprised with a wondrous treat – a brief winter storm. The heavy snow fell the night on Sunday and into Sunday morning which created stunning winter images at several of my favorite film locations.

WINTER IN OLALLIE STATE PARK

Following a delicious breakfast at Salish Lodge & Spa, I drove to Olallie State Park and the Weeks Falls Interpretive Trail hoping to capture locations with snow. Wow – I couldn’t believe my eyes driving down I-90! Snow had fallen everywhere including the park. As an aside, make sure you have a Discover Pass if you are visiting. I parked and stopped by the “Wind River” spot where Teresa Banks’ body was seen floating (it’s actually Snoqualmie River).

On my way back up to the Weeks Falls Trail, I was greeted by my fellow Twin Peaks Blog author Vinnie Guidera and his girlfriend Christin. Unbeknownst to me, they decided to visit Olallie as well. This gave us the perfect opportunity to recreate the infamous Special Agents Chet Desmond and Sam Stanley image at Deer Meadow Mountain in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

The Ranger’s home at Olallie State Park which served as the Deer Meadow Sheriff’s Department station was covered in snow.

This giant tree is the spot where Special Agent Dale Cooper watches James Hurley and Laura Palmer on the trail in Part 17 from season 3.

Vinnie and Christin recreated the James and Laura scene standing on Weeks Falls trail . This spot is located near the parking lot at the beginning of the trail.

That’s either a lot of snow or a lot of baby laxative from Bobby Briggs.

This is the spot where the four Twin Peaks lawmen walk toward Listening Post Alpha and Jack Rabbit’s Palace. The branches were heavy with the newly fallen snow.

It was pretty incredible to see Jack Rabbit’s Palace in the snow. I can add this to my image gallery of this spot through the years.

The perfect time for a Jack Rabbit’s Palace selfie with Vinnie and Christin.

This is the view Mr. C would have seen if he approached Twin Peaks Film Location – Finding Naido in Part 14 in wintertime.

Naido’s spot covered in snow.

My heart is heavy at seeing Steven and Gersten’s tree. Following high winds and an ice storm in mid-January 2024, the mighty tree fell in the woods. I can only image the sound it must have made when it hit the ground.

You can now stand inside the tree which make me feel incredibly small. The tree must have been hundreds of years old.

I love visiting Weeks Falls Trail as you can hear the ever present Snoqualmie River flowing by. If you listen carefully in the 1992 feature film and season 3, you can hear the same rushing water.

WINTER AROUND THE REAL TWIN PEAKS

If Agent Cooper was driving into town today, he would not have seen Mount Si.

But Mount Si looked gorgeous from the Elk field along Route 202.

The mountain looked breathtakingly beautiful!

Driving back into North Bend, I was thrilled to see the neon “RR” sign at Twede’s Cafe against a snow-covered background. All weekend, I loved being able to see the neon sign. It truly felt like I was in Twin Peaks.

I also stopped by Ronette’s Bridge along Reinig Road in Snoqualmie while on my way to Dirtfish Rally School. Mount Si had disappeared again with the winter clouds.

The last remnants of the Weyerhaeuser Sawmill at Dirtfish Rally School were still standing.

I’ll see you under the sycamore trees. This is the spot where Laura Palmer is seen driving to Harold Smith’s place in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. The sycamores were planted by Weyerhaeuser in 1929 as part of a beautification project for the former mill town of Snoqualmie Falls.

The new Fat Trout Trailer Park from season 3 under the shadow of a snow-covered Mount Si.

Seeing the Fat Trout made me want to visit Carl Rodd’s bench from season 3 Part 6 in E.J. Roberts Park. We miss you Harry Dean!

Winter means Snoqualmie Falls is extra beautiful – so much water flowing down 268-feet. It’s no wonder this is the second most visited natural wonder in Washington state behind Mount Rainier.

Twede’s Cafe at night in the snow is extra magical.

My entire week in the Real Twin Peaks was extra magical too. Thank you for following Twin Peaks Blog for the past six years. It’s been a joy sharing my 30-year passion for this wonderful and strange show. I look forward to a time I can return to this place I truly love.