Time for another detailed look at a set from Twin Peaks in a recurring series titled “Setting the Stage.” For this exercise, I wanted to see how the views looking out from the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department changed during the series and film. The inspiration for this story came from a 1989 newspaper article which had an incredible behind-the-scenes image.
BEHIND THE SCENES
While researching Twin Peaks, I stumbled upon an article from the Los Angeles times published on October 24, 1989. The author discussed City Studios (now Occidental Studios) where the seasons 1 and 2 sets were constructed. The above image shows the exterior of the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station from the first seven episodes. The set exterior looks different compared the the Weyerhaeuser Sawmill Office turned Dirtfish Rally School headquarters seen in the pilot episode, The Missing Pieces and season three. Let’s take a look outside the front doors of the Sheriff’s station.
PILOT EPISODE
The first time we outside the Sheriff’s Department front doors is shortly after Bobby Briggs and his friend Mike Nelson leave the station.
Major Briggs and Betty are speaking with Bobby’s lawyer as Bobby and Mike exit the front doors.
The Snoqualmie Saw Mill was still a thing at the time. If you look carefully, you can see parts of the mill. A logging truck was conveniently placed outside the building to block most of the mill.
We also get a rare look at the back of the sundial memorial stone with a bronze likeness of William Willard Warren (W.W. Warren). He played a key role in the evolution of Snoqualmie Falls and the Lumber Company. Sadly the memorial stone was removed many years ago and no one knows what happened to it.
Nighttime at the Sheriff’s Station as James Hurley is escorted into the building by the law enforcement team.
The logging truck appears to be absent (most likely because it was so dark).
We catch a glimpse of the Sheriff’s Ford Bronco through the front door window as James stands in the lobby.
EPISODE 1001
Production moved to City Studios in Van Nuys, California for the first two seasons. One of my favorite details from Episode 1001 is seeing the glass and metal wall being deconstructed. We see very little outside the front door but we’re definitely not in Snoqualmie, Washington anymore.
EPISODE 1002
When Agent Albert Rosenfield and his team arrive, we get a fantastic look at set up outside the front. It appears to match the Los Angeles Times photo at the top of this article.
One of two faux tree is in view with this shot.
I’m assuming the backdrop behind the faux tree is an enlarged image printed on canvas of some sort. I’m also guessing it’s from Washington state yet I have not identified the location.
EPISODE 1004
The front doors are barely visible as Dr. Jacoby leaves the conference room in Episode 1004.
EPISODE 1006
Episode 1006 offers more spectacular views of the exterior.
It appears a half wall was constructed with faux fir trees placed behind it. The building in the distance could be an old shack or perhaps lumber stacked. Both could offer clues as to the whereabouts of the original image (possible from the grounds of the former Snoqualmie Mill).
More looks at the trees and half wall as Agent Cooper enters the building.
EPISODE 1007
The soundstage set could be illuminated at night as seen in Episode 1007 when Leland Palmer speaks with Sheriff Truman.
The front doors are visible in the distance when Cooper speaks with James a few moments later.
EPISODE 2001
At the beginning of season 2, the exterior set is updated. We catch only a glimpse above Andy Brennan’s head as he leaves the conference room.
A few moments later, we get a wonderful look as Phillip Gerard enters the station with his sample case of shoes. The halfway has been updated, the faux trees removed and a new exterior shot with a gravel parking lot is seen.
I’m guessing this “location” is from Washington state based on the green trees and what appears to be mountains in the distance. The crew could have captured the shot when the second unit returned to the state between seasons for extra footage.
One thing to note is the cars parked in the distance. You’ll see them often throughout season 2.
An alternate view of the parking lot is seen when Donna Hayward enters the station. There is one faux fir tree just outside the door that will appear again later in the season.
There is also a wall outside the front doors.
EPISODE 2002
You can see that wall and other details from the parking lot such as part of a possible sign. The white vehicle is still parked in the distance.
EPISODE 2003
The other side of the exterior also has a wall as seen in Episode 2003. This wall wasn’t present in the first season.
Another glance outside the front doors. Those trees really seem like Washington state.
The view outside is seen when Richard Tremayne arrives at the station.
It’s also found in the distance as Agent Cooper escorts Shelly Johnson out of Sheriff Truman’s office.
EPISODE 2004
As Agent Cooper enters the stationing in episode 2004, we see more of the parking lot. I wonder if the giant stone outside the front door was a nod to that stone memorial from Snoqualmie, Washington.
One of the more unique shots is found when Andy is seen pacing outside the station. The parking lot appears to contain a giant log on the ground which may have served as something like a bollard for parking. Another clue to reference when I try to find the spot.
An out-of-focus look at the front doors as Cooper speaks with Lucy.
I mentioned earlier how the soundstage allowed the crew to control lighting and more. Later in Episode 2004, an intense, lightning-filled storm descends on the town of Twin Peaks. The lightning, of course, isn’t real but rather lighting made to look like lightning flashes.
One of the more incredible details is the crew literally made it rain when Judge Sternwood. The crew probably added some artificial rain sprinkler above the front doors.
It’s still raining when Sheriff Truman arrives. One cool detail you should look for in this episode is that faux fir tree outside the front door. The tree shakes back and forth to simulate an actual rain storm. The crew didn’t have to do that but it adds to a level of authenticity found in the show. I love it!
The rain continued to fall as Dick Tremayne arrives to speak with Lucy Moran about “the little problem.” It’s so cool that they made it rain as several of the establishing shots from Snoqualmie showed a nighttime rainstorm.
EPISODE 2005
There is another look at giant stone outside the front door in Episode 2005. There is also a car parked in the distance.
In Episode 2005, the crew also added a “Have You Seen This Man?” poster to the front door.
A better shot of the flyer is seen when Lucy leaves the building. The familiar parked cars in the lot are also seen in this shot.
EPISODE 2006
As Gordon Cole speaks with Cooper in Episode 2006, you can see the flyer on the front door.
It’s nighttime outside as the due enters Sheriff Truman’s office.
EPISODE 2007
A different angle of the lobby and front doors is briefly seen in Episode 2007 when Ben Horne arrives at the station in custody.
EPISODE 2008
There’s the white truck again! When Gwen and Lucy enter the station, we also see another look at what could be a sign. How I wish I could see the front of it!
Similar views of the exterior as seen when both Pete Martell and Agent Cooper enters Sheriff Truman’s office.
As Cooper and Truman leave the station, we see more views of the areas outside the front.
This shot contains my three favorite things – that flyer, the possible sign in the grassy area and the white truck in the distance.
The grass isn’t real in this shot. You can see part of it rippling where it meets the pavement.
The white truck returns when Deputy Hawk escorts Phillip Gerard through the front door.
EPISODE 2009
In both of these shots below from Episode 2009, we can see the spaces above the front door.
We can also the square frosted windows which are very similar to the actual building in Snoqualmie.
EPISODE 2010
The slatted walls outside the front doors are found when Dick Tremayne returns to the station and when Agent Hardy and Canadian Mountie Preston King enter the station. Look closely – the white truck is still parked outside!
EPISODE 2011
Another unique view outside the station in Episode 2011.
EPISODE 2012
Wait, is that a white truck? Yep, it’s still there in Episode 2021.
As Deputy Andy opens the front door in Episode 2012, we get an interesting look at those frosted window squares. I didn’t realize they wrapped around the building like this.
More faux rain is found in Episode 2012 when Dick Tremayne returns to speak with Andy about Little Nicky.
EPISODE 2013
Episode 2013 gives another daytime look outside the front of the station. Yes – the white truck is still there.
This episode also contain one of the only close-up views of the set from outside the Sheriff’s station. Most of all the other shots are from inside the set. All of the establishing shot of the exterior were of the actual building in Washington.
As Deputy Dale enters the lobby, you can see a light above the outside of the front doors. This is probably a work light from the crew.
Lucy waits outside and we get a look at the front doors. I wonder what happened to them after the set was dismantled.
EPISODE 2014
Like Episode 2012, we get a nice look outside the front door as the coroner rolls out the body from Sheriff Truman’s office.
In the distance of this shot just before Major Briggs enters the station, you can see a lamp post (or what appears to be a light pole of some sort). The “grass” also looks a little wonky again.
EPISODE 2017
Another angle from Episode 2017 when Major Briggs and the Log Lady enter the lobby shows those side frosted windows.
EPISODE 2021
The final shot of season 2 that shows the front doors. Sheriff Truman is certainly enjoying that coffee.
Perhaps he just holds his coffee cup that way … you know, keeping up international relations (to paraphrase “Top Gun”). Yes, it was intensional according to Michael Ontkean.
FIRE WALK WITH ME – THE MISSING PIECES
Thanks to The Missing Pieces from Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me, we see the front doors by Lucy’s desk. This scene is missing from the theatrical cut but it was shot on location in Snoqualmie.
SEASON THREE
We return to Snoqualmie for season 3. Dirtfish Rally School provided the space which served as the same film location during the pilot. There are several looks outside the front door. Both during the day …
And at night.
As Sheriff Frank Truman enters the station, you can see part of the old mill buildings in the distance.
The same building is also seen in a rare look outside one of the windows behind Lucy’s desk.
When Deputy Chad intercepts the mail delivery in Part 10, the view is from one of the square windows on the front of the building.
Once the United States Post Office truck pulls away, the Dirtfish Rally School cars are seen in the distance.
Final looks outside the front doors are found in Part 17. First when Deputy Andy reintroduces “Cooper” to his now wife Lucy.
The last shot is when the good Cooper opens the front door just before running inside to confront BOB.
Wow that entryway has seen a lot of different looks over time! Notice in the pilot there are immobile brass bands for door handles. In the the series there are pushbars you can also see in the Missing Pieces shot, which along with exterior double door makes it look like it was shot on the set. I never noticed the real station didn’t have the small entryway but I guess they wouldn’t have needed a redundant interior door if it was real (the metal framed one that was removed.) Although the brass bands return in season 3 they look like different, wider doors? So that’s either a touch by the film crew, the new doors look a lot like the older slim doors, or my eyes are screwy. Anyway great blog. That newspaper photo is a real treat too.