As time passes, I know Twin Peaks film locations will continue changing. To paraphrase Agent Dale Cooper, nothing is a sure thing. In February 2023, I discovered Laura Palmer’s log at Kiana Lodge had moved from its original spot, a bi-product of changing climate. Nearly a year later, another iconic spot from Twin Peaks The Return fallen – Steven and Gersten’s tree in Part 15. I first wrote about this location in October 2019 following my first visit to Olallie State Park outside North Bend, Washington. This article examines how this giant spruce tree and surrounding location looks today.
WHERE IS STEVEN AND GERSTEN’S TREE LOCATED?
The coordinates for the tree are 47° 26′ 2.832″ N 121° 39′ 0.228″ W. In order to visit Olallie State Park, you’ll need a Discover Pass which is easily purchasable online via the park’s website.
The giant Spruce tree is located along Weeks Falls trail. It’s toward the latter part of the trail that is closest to Weeks Falls. You can’t miss the spot now that the tree is down.
POWERFUL WINTER STORM FROM JANUARY 16-18, 2024
Between January 16-18, 2024, a powerful winter storm impacted the Snoqualmie Valley area in Washington state. Eastbound Interstate 90 was closed between North Bend and Snoqualmie Pass, and Highway 2 was closed between Scenic and Coles Corner. This was the second major storm of the year for the region and ultimately contributed to the downfall of this mighty tree.
The Facebook group Twin Peaks Worldwide was the first to report the fallen tree on January 17. Susan, a maintenance volunteer at Olallie State Park, found the tree and shared two images. She mentioned that the weather had been “insanely cold” and “everything is freezing up and the winds are crazed, too.”
Susan shared an image of the tree just a few days prior to it being knocked over. This may be the final image of the tree in its original state.
The second image Susan shared broke my heart. I had visited this location in August 2023 while attending the Neon Dream event at Twede’s Cafe in North Bend. I stared in disbelief that the giant tree had tumbled.
A few days later on January 21, Susan provided another update to the Twin Peaks Worldwide Facebook page. She mentioned the park ranger who lives in the small home at the park (the one that was used as the Deer Meadow Sheriff’s Department in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me) was home when the tree fell shortly after midnight on Tuesday, January 16. I can only imagine the sound it made. I checked seismic charts but didn’t find any record of it shaking the ground.
Susan also shared an image of her standing inside the tree. In addition to the freezing temperatures and high winds, the tree was decaying on the inside. This weakened the structure which caused it to topple.
The canopy image Susan shared shows an empty space – completely surreal images.
After seeing these images, I knew my first stop upon returning to Washington state on February 21 would be Olallie State Park.
RETURNING TO OLALLIE STATE PARK
Upon picking up my rental car around 1:00 p.m., I set out for Olallie State Park. My previous visit was on August 26, 2023 when I took the photo above of Steven and Gersten’s tree. You may notice that a tree next to the giant Spruce had previously fallen across the trail.
This is a closer look at the area. The maintenance crew cut the tree into pieces since it made the trail difficult to walk.
In Twin Peaks Part 15, you can see that tree before it fell on the far right side of the screen when Cyril Pons finds Gersten and Steven at the base of the Spruce.
Upon returning to Weeks Falls Trail, I noticed several trees down long before getting to Steven and Gersten’s tree. That January storm was quite damaging. I first saw the fallen Spruce as I approached a small wooden footbridge. Wow! I couldn’t believe it. Thankfully, the tree fell in the opposite direction from the footpath.
A breathtaking scene to behold! There was a strong smell of pine floating in the area as I photographed this mighty tree.
Looking up, you can see an empty space left by this giant. It must have been growing for hundreds of years.
This is the view from on top of the tree looking back toward the cracked stump.
This is the view of how far the tree fell in the woods. It shattered everything in it’s path. Thankfully no one was around it when it toppled.
This is the view of the cracked stump looking down.
It’s wild that you can now climb into the tree. This is the view of the tree from the cracked stump.
It’s hard to describe just how big this tree was before it fell. These pictures don’t convey the scale and size.
For comparison, I’m 5-feet, 9-inches tall. I felt incredibly small standing inside the tree.
APPEARANCES IN TWIN PEAKS PART 15
Let’s take a look at how the tree and surrounding area compares to the tree seen in Twin Peaks Part 15.
Gersten is seen holding Steven who is clutching a handgun.
The scene eventually cuts to a super wide shot of Steven and Gersten sitting at the base of the tree.
The camera returns to another close up of Steven and Gersten at the base of the tree.
The camera cuts to the view from the base of the tree. Cyril Pons appears with his dog (not Mark Frost’s actual dog), which is a payoff from the previous scene of him walking in the woods. If you walk to the right along this trail, you’ll end up at Weeks Falls. Go left and and you’ll eventually return to the parking lot.
Cyril spots Steven and Gersten at the base of the tree and notices Steven’s gun.
I also had to grab a shot from about Cyril Pons’ perspective.
Steven tries hiding the gun between his legs as Cyril quickly leaves the scene with his dog.
Gersten runs to the other side of the tree, anticipating the worst.
With the tree stump now cracked, you can see right through the tree.
While photographing this tree, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the nature of time and how things are ever changing. I know more changes will happen to the Twin Peaks locations I love in Snoqualmie Valley. It makes me want to document as much as I can now so I can remember things when they look different.
FLICKR GALLERY OF STEVEN AND GERSTEN’S TREE
See even more images of Steven and Gersten’s tree in Olallie State Park in this Flickr album. Many high-resolution images have a Creative Commons license which means only attribution to “Sam Howzit” is required for use.
Attend many to fest from 1992 to 2001. Great times