Twin Peaks Location – Sheriff’s Station Holding Cell Area in the Pilot

One of the more memorable scenes from Twin Peaks takes places toward the end of the pilot. Deputies Hawk and Brennan escort James Hurley to the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station holding cell area. After they leave, Mike Nelson and Bobby Briggs bark like dogs while James timidly stares back. While the barking exchange doesn’t appear in the script, the jail was constructed by the crew across from the former Mar-T Cafe in a historic downtown North Bend building once known as the Sunset Garage.

WHERE WAS THE TWIN PEAKS SHERIFF’S STATION HOLDING CELL AREA FILMED?

The building where the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station holding cell area was constructed is located cross the street from Twede’s Cafe in North Bend, Washington, located at located at 201 W North Bend Way. The jail cell was built on the second floor and remained in the location for decades after filming wrapped in 1989.

This location was also used as production offices for Lynch/Frost Productions during location filming for the pilot.

During my first visit to Snoqualmie Valley in August 1996 for the Twin Peaks Fan Festival, I remember hearing about the jail scene being filmed on this building’s second floor. I took this photo never realizing that decades later I’d be writing a detailed article about the location.

HISTORY OF THE FORMER SUNSET GARAGE IN NORTH BEND, WASHINGTON

Before it was known as Sunset Garage, Peter Maloney’s Livery Stable occupied the corner spot. This wooden structure was built around the late 1890s or early 1900s. Notice the barrels lining the roof which were an early form of fire protection.

When the town of North Bend was incorporated in 1909, Maloney served as the town’s first mayor. He was sworn in on March 8 that year and served as Mayor for three years and nine months.

Born in Ontario, Canada, Peter moved to Seattle in 1888 and helped rebuild Seattle after the Great Fire of 1889. He then moved to Snoqualmie where he helped “build a railroad depot, schoolhouse, church, and other buildings.” He also operated saloons in Snoqualmie and North Bend along with his successful livery business.

The Snoqualmie Valley Museum, which is an incredible organization documenting the region’s history, shared a look at the Sunset Garage building from 1921. The image is looking east on North Bend Way from about the location where Hartwood Cafe is found today. Notice how the North Bend Mercantile Co. Building stands where Twede’s Cafe is located today.

In 1915, the town of North Bend became a last stop for gas, food and lodging before motorists traveled to Snoqualmie Pass along the newly completed Sunset Highway.

Harry Snyder capitalized on this new road by opening the appropriately titled Sunset Garage around 1921. This repair and auto parts shop was originally housed in Peter Maloney’s wooden structure but was replaced by the current concrete building around 1929. According to the Snoqualmie Valley Museum, the building held its grand opening in October 1929, just as the U.S. stock market crashed.

Three years later, Snyder was using the garage as a Durant Motors dealership, selling Flint Six and Star automobiles.

You can see a banner for Thompson’s Cafe in this black and white photo. It was located near the spot where the North Bend Theatre is today. Roy Thompson moved his Cafe across the street in 1940 after building the structure that eventually became Twede’s Cafe.

In a Facebook image from the Snoqualmie Valley Museum, here is the corner of North Bend Way and Bendigo Boulevard when Sunset Garage was had with gas pumps.

Once Durant Motors folded, the Sunset Garage became a Buick dealership. According to LivingSnoqualmie.com, Snyder sold the Buick-Pontiac dealership in the 1960s, but others continue to sell Buicks at the garage under the names Taylor-Green Buick Pontiac GMC then Eastway Buick Pontiac GMC.

In the 1960s, the Glazier family, who once ran Glazier’s Dry Goods where Volition Brewing Co. is now located, purchased the building. The family still owns it today as part of their Carbonite Properties portfolio. They chose that name as it “represents some of the historic properties the family owns which have been ‘frozen in carbonite’ for decades” (a nod to Star Wars for sure).

In 2014, Craig Glazier renovated the building’s interior to attract new businesses. D Squared Energy moved in around followed by Compass Outdoor Adventures. The latter business shared a look at renovations from 2014 via a Facebook post on February 21, 2019. The interior shows a long ramp up to the second floor that’s accessible from North Bend Way. This ramp was from a time when the location was a car dealership.

During my visits to Snoqualmie Valley in 2019 and 2020, I only captured photos of the building’s exterior. I never made it inside.

Shockingly, the holding cell area remained in this location until the 2014 renovation. Living Twin Peaks visited the second floor location in March 2017, but the constructed jail set was long gone by that time.

In 2018, Craig Glazier joined the North Bend Economic Development Commission and began “working to renovate and restore the properties in an effort to help create a more vibrant downtown North Bend.” His first project was renovating the Sunset Garage. He opened up the original drive-through bay, reconstructed tile awnings at the building’s top and added a flat awning above the storefront.

Glazier’s restoration work earned him a John D. Spellman Award from King County Historical Preservation in October 2019. The awards are presented once a year by the King County Executive. Spellman was the first King County Executive and 18th governor of Washington. He established the County’s Historic Preservation Program in 1980.

In July 2021, the building’s exterior was painted a royal blue color.

In early October 2025, Mastrogiannis Distillery and Winery soft opened on the first floor of the former Sunset Garage. During the Real Twin Peaks 2026 event, they offered a D.F.C.- Damn Fine Cocktail. It was derived from a cherry pie and made with Baton Brandy, lime, Maraschino cherry, orange liqueur, bitters. It really was damn fine!

On the second floor, North Bend photographer Scott Rinckenberger currently has a photo studio that overlooks the Twede’s Cafe parking lot. You can real more about this amazingly talented artist in this Twin Peaks Blog spotlight article.

FILMING AT THE SUNSET GARAGE FOR TWIN PEAKS

The garage sat vacant for decades, with the Glazier family using it mostly for storage. This could be the reason Lynch and Frost used the building in February 1989 for the holding cell area and production offices.

The building’s exterior is seen in the Twin Peaks pilot when Shelly and Bobby get into his car. This scene was shot on February 21, 1989 but the jail cell scenes wouldn’t be filmed until February 28.

I’m glad I captured photos of the building before it was repainted in 2021.

Aside from the scene in the Twin Peaks pilot, I’ve been unable to locate any photos of this constructed set except for this publicity photo of David Lynch. He’s standing behind the wooden bars – that’s correct, the crew made the holding cell out of wood.

When the wooden jail set was deconstructed in 2014, parts of the set ended up at Valley Center Stage, a local performing arts theater. They were located in February 2024, just in time for the Real Twin Peaks event that month.

The Snoqualmie Valley Museum displayed part of the jail set at the museum as part of a Twin Peaks-themed exhibit. It’s difficult to say where exactly this particular set piece was used in the holding cell. Nevertheless, it’s amazing how the jail set stayed in the Valley for 35 years!

TWIN PEAKS SHERIFF’S STATION HOLDING CELL AREA

Now that I’ve explored the location where this scene was shot, let’s take a closer look at the script versus the broadcast version. There are parts missing that must have been added on set. The script I’m referencing for this analysis is from December 8, 1988.

The scene opens with a look at a closed door to the holding cell area. Look carefully in the bottom left corner to see what appears to be a light leak. This could mean that this particular wall with a swinging door was constructed specifically for the scene.

The holding cell lights are also off, which means Mike Nelson and Bobby Briggs were being held in the dark.

The script describes the on-screen action with one major change – Deputy Hawk is also present in the scene despite the script making no mention of him. I’m also guessing they filmed the part where Deputy Andy collects James’ personal goods.

INT. SHERIFF’S STATION HOLDING CELL AREA – NIGHT
Andy finishes putting James’ belt and the contents of his pockets in a large envelope, then leads James through a doorway into the holding cell area corridor. On their way to the cell, they pass Mike and Bobby in a separate cell. Mike and Bobby rise when they see James. Bobby fixates on James, points a finger at him as he passes.

Hawk escorts James to the holding cell opposite Mike and Bobby. Deputy Brennan follows behind. The script contains additional dialogue from Bobby and Andy not heard in the broadcast version.

BOBBY
You.

James stops and looks at him, as Andy opens the door of a nearby cell.

BOBBY
When you least expect it.

ANDY
That could constitute a threat, Briggs.

BOBBY
(cold as ice)
Oh, gee, I’m sorry.

James just looks at him.

ANDY
Let’s go, James.

The script describes Andy unlocking James’ handcuffs but the dialogue is missing in the broadcast.

James enters the cell. Andy closes and locks the door.

ANDY
Stick your hands out.

James sticks out his hands, Andy unlocks and removes the handcuffs.

The script then cuts to Special Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Truman (named Steadman at the time) at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department.

The on-screen action, however, continues with Mike and Bobby staring intently at James being locked up. It’s funny to think the jail cell bars they are holding are made of wood.

Hawk then closes James’ cell door which means the crew had to build a practical set that moved.

The door shuts and James timidly stares back at Mike and Bobby across the room.

After Hawk closes the door, he says, “We’ll be back to check on you later.” This is not in the script. The Twin Peaks Sheriff’s deputies then leave the trio in the holding cell area.

Bobby’s on dialogue – “Goodnight, Officers” – heard as Mike grabs the jail cell bars is also not scripted.

The camera continues with close ups of both Bobby Briggs and James Hurley exchanging looks.

After James is seen looking back at Bobby the script cuts to Donna Hayward and her father Will having an exchange in the front seats of their car. That scene followed by the Policeman’s Dream scene at the Sheriff’s station.

The scene picks up then with Mike and Bobby continuing the stare at James. If I ever did find interior photos from the former Sunset Garage, this screencap may help me identify where the holding cell was constructed. If you look to the right of Bobby and Mike, you’ll notice some kind of drain pipe. It leads me to think this was constructed against an outer wall.

Bobby has additional unscripted dialogue: “When you least expect it.”

Barking ensues while James quietly stares back. The script from December 1989 doesn’t contain this scene.

The scene ends with both Mike and Bobby barking and what I think is a voiceover of Bobby Briggs yelling before the barking ends.

Since mobile phones with cameras were not available in 1989, it’s unlikely that production or behind-the-scenes  photos will turn up from this set. I love, however, that for years it remained in North Bend, locked away on the second floor of a historic building. It gives me hope that maybe other treasures may turn up as the stars turn and a time presents itself.

Download high-resolution photos of the former Sunset Garage in North Bend, Washington on my Flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aloha75/albums/72177720334412317