In Twin Peaks – Part 17, Special Agent Dale Cooper watches a meeting in the woods between James Hurley and Laura Palmer. While the original scene of the couple’s late night exchange is found in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, the new scene offers a unique angle as to what happened during Laura’s last night on earth. The scene itself was captured in Olallie State Park outside of North Bend, Washington.
WHERE DOES AGENT COOPER WATCH JAMES HURLEY AND LAURA PALMER?
Olallie State Park is located a short distance down I-90 from North Bend, Washington. Located at 51350 S.E. Homestead Valley Road, this park is part of the Washington State Parks division which means you’ll need a Discover Pass to explore the area.
The location in question is found at the following coordinates at the entrance to Weeks Falls Trail: 47°26’10.3″N 121°39’14.2″W.
COOPER WATCHES JAMES HURLEY AND LAURA PALMER
The scene begins with a monochromatic scene of James Hurley and Laura Palmer’s scene in woods from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Cooper is transported to a spot behind a giant tree.
These scenes were shot on October 12, 2015, the last day of location shooting in Snoqualmie Valley, Washington.
I first visited this location for my birthday on September 17, 2019. It’s incredibly easy to find.
The moss-covered tree can’t be missed as it’s huge! There is a unique marking on the side as if a giant chunk was removed.
You’ll find it about about 25-30 feet on the right side of Weeks Falls Trail near the entrance.
Cooper watches the scene unfold while crouching behind this tree.
I couldn’t resist doing the same thing. Talk about an awesome birthday gift!
I returned to this location on January 24, 2020. Due to the constant rain, the area around the tree was flooded.
More than three and a half years after that 2020 visit, I returned to Olallie State Park during the Neon Dream event at Twede’s Cafe. Captured this image of the tree which was no longer surrounded by water.
JAMES HURLEY AND LAURA PALMER ON THE PATH
Cut to a long shot of Laura Palmer speaking with James Hurley standing by his motorcycle. James is not being played by James Marshall in this scene. The crew used an uncredited photo double (which is why the scene is viewed so far away). Marshall appears in the third season but all of his scenes were shot in California. He didn’t make the trek to Washington state in September and October 2015.
They are actually standing on Weeks Falls trail, but it’s not the same spot from the film.
In Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, this scene is located about 300 ft. away from the Part 17 location. Those coordinates are located at 47° 26′ 9.708″ N 121° 39′ 10.632″ W.
I set my Canon camera’s timer and ran out to the trail (it rained for most of the day so I’m glad I brought my poncho).
Here is a similar shot from February 21, 2024 when I attended the Real Twin Peaks 2024 event in Snoqualmie Valley.
A few days after that shot, snow fell in Olallie State Park. Fellow Twin Peaks Blog author Vinnie Guidera and his girlfriend Christin recreated the James and Laura scene.
LAURA PALMER SCREAMS
Laura Palmer spots someone in the trees and screams. Agent Cooper responds by ducking down behind the tree.
In the feature film, we have no indication why Laura screams.
Here’s another look at the tree that Cooper hides behind from September 2019.
Here is the same tree covered in snow from February 26, 2024.
Back to a long shot of James and Laura speaking in the woods. This scene ends and cuts to a black-and-white version of the Sparkwood and 21 and Jacques, Leo and Ronette waiting for Laura scenes.
The crew will eventually move the camera onto the trail where James and Laura are standing to film the scene were Agent Cooper meets Laura Palmer.
