In Twin Peaks – Part 3 on Showtime, we’re introduced to Dougie Jones who shares a delightful afternoon with Jade at an empty home in Rancho Rosa Estates outside Las Vegas, Nevada. In reality, we are at a housing community from the 2000s in the desert town of Palmdale, California.
WHERE IS THE RANCHO ROSA ESTATES HOUSE LOCATED?
The house used as this film location is found at 37890 Lopez Lane in Palmdale, California. The approximate coordinates are 34°34’13.3″N 118°00’30.6″W.
According to a Los Angeles Times article from December 17, 2007, this housing community is one of many added during a building boom in Antelope Valley that peaked in 2005.
Shortly after this 2,664 square-foot home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms was constructed in 2007, the housing market took a tumultuous downturn leaving many homes in the neighborhood vacant. It’s interesting to see that even years later when this scene was shot, we see the echoes of that time with empty houses and for sale signs.
WHEN WAS THE RANCHO ROSA ESTATES HOUSE SCENE SHOT?
Thanks to the outstanding Twin Peaks – From Z to A Collection, we learn the crew spent three days at this location in January 2016. The first day, January 12, included several exterior scenes such as Gene planting a bomb on Dougie’s car and Jade “giving two rides.”
This was the first day of shooting in 2016. The last time the crew was together was on December 17, 2015 for Glastonbury Grove scenes in Franklin Canyon Park near Beverly Hills, California.
The weather was chilly during the three-day shoot so you’ll see actors and crew bundled up during rehearsals. When I think of Southern California weather, I imagine it’s always sunny and 72 degrees. As the chart above from TimeAndDate.com illustrates, morning lows were hovering around freezing.
ESTABLISHING SHOT AT RANCHO ROSA ESTATES
The scene opens with a slow pan of Lopez Lane that ends on he vacant house occupied by Dougie and Jade. The panoramic shot above combines images from that camera movement.
Since I have yet to visit this actual spot, I traveled there virtually via Bing Maps. Their site has more current street views compared to Google Maps.
AT DOORSTEP OF RANCHO ROSA ESTATES HOUSE
After discovering Dougie Jones’s new look on the living room floor, they leave through the front door.
Luckily, Zillow.com listing still contained many images both inside and out of this house. In 2015, the front door was painted brown, similar to what is scene in the episode.
Jade questions Dougie about his missing shoes.
It was great seeing Lynch supervise this scene’s rehearsal while bundled up on the front porch.
According to Mark Frost’s “Ask Me Anything” on Reddit on November 8, 2017, Jade was not the real name of the character played by Nafessa Williams.
“A couple of answers for you: Candie is certainly still in Las Vegas. Maddy is almost certainly still alive. ‘Jade’ – not her real name – was absolutely a big fan of Invitation to Love, which is still on the air.”
JADE FETCHES DOUGIE JONES’ SHOES
Frustrated, Jade returns inside the home to fetch Dougie’s shoes. Childlike Dougie follows giving us a peek inside the home.
We get a similar look in the Behind the Curtain footage as Lynch stares longingly at the door. I love this shot!
Sporting her pink boots, Nafessa is seen walking toward the front door during rehearsals.
Here’s a better look at the interior including the white railing.
JADE PUTTING ON DOUGIE JONES’ SHOES
We get a unique point-of-view as Jade helps Dougie with his shoes.
David Lynch watching Kyle MacLachlan and Nafessa rehearse the scene.
LEAVING THE RANCHO ROSA ESTATES HOUSE
Jade and Dougie pull out of the driveway in her bright yellow 2015 Jeep Wrangler.
The street behind them is Little Rock Lane, the same street where Gene calls Lorraine in Part 5.
RANCHO ROSA ESTATES HOUSE EXTERIORS
Better looks at the house’s exterior are seen in Part 5.
Bing Maps offers a similar shot of this Palmdale home.
LITTLE BOY AT THE RANCHO ROSA ESTATES HOUSE
A curious Little Boy (played by Sawyer Shipman) who lives across the street in the “119 House” checks out the bomb on Dougie’s car. Look for another article about that location soon.
Four hoodlums show up and chase the Little Boy away. There will be a separate article detailing the carjack scene.
Here’s another look at the house from a different angle on Bing Maps.
CLEANING THE DEBRIS
Police remove the destroyed vehicle in Part 6 which is the last time we’ll see this home’s exterior.
I again combined images from a slow pan of the driveway crime scene.
Here’s a sort of similar view from Bing Maps which was taken before this scene was shot.
