In Twin Peaks episode 1.004, Special Agent Dale Cooper, Sheriff Harry S. Truman, and Deputies Hawk and Andy Brennan visit Lydecker Veterinary Clinic. While at the office, Cooper and team confiscate all of the animal files based on his hunch that the bird who attacked Laura Palmer was a patient at the clinic. In reality, the exterior of the office and the adjacent “One Stop” is located at an iconic roadside destination in Cornell, California.
WHERE IS THE LYDECKER VETERINARY CLINIC LOCATED?
Located at 30354 Mulholland Highway, the spot where exterior of the Lydecker Veterinary Clinic was shot is actually a popular spot for motorcycle enthusiasts called The Rock Store.
According to the official Rock Store website, “Ed and Vern (Veronica) Savko moved to Southern California from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania after World War II. They stumbled across [this] building, made entirely out of volcanic rock, which had been a stagecoach stop in the 1910s. They purchased this ‘Rock Store’ in 1961 and created a small town grocery store out of it.”
The location was also a desert hot springs resort and a gas station prior to the Savko’s purchasing it.
This is a look at the Rock Store and the adjacent Cornell Service Station from the 1960s.
There is a fantastic documentary from 2008 about the location by director Christopher Leps with narration by Peter Cullen. It includes interviews with Ed and Vern and some wonderful historical photos and stories. Unfortunately, Ed passed away in April 2012 and Vern passed in May 2021. Tthis video is a great tribute to the co-founder of this southern Californian icon.
The Rock Store still exists today. Fortunately, the terrible Woosley fire that destroy much of the surrounding area missed the shop. You can follow them on Facebook for the latest updates and photos.
PULLING INTO GAS STATION
Now let’s take a closer look at the scenes from Twin Peaks episode 1.004.
The scene opens with an image of two vintage Indian Head gas pumps.
The pumps once looked like they did in the episode when compared to this black and white photo from Christopher Leps’ documentary. It appears the pumps must have been switched at some point.
Sheriff Truman parks his vehicle in front of the gas pumps. Look carefully and you may see a reflection of the crew.
Truman and Cooper exit the vehicle and begin walking toward the Veterinary Clinic.
This image from Google Maps shows a similar angle to the one used in the episode. You’ll notice the Indian Head label has been removed from the pumps.
The pumps were still there when I visited the location in October 2020.
HEAD INTO THE ONE STOP
As Cooper and Truman walk to the entrance, Hawk is seen giving a “high-five” to a motorcycle rider parked outside the adjacent One Stop shop. I love this little nod to the Rock Store’s popularity with bikers.
The location still has the rock work along the bottom of the One Stop location that appears to match what is seen in the episode.
There is also an interesting side note about this location according to writer Robert Engels. The script’s first draft was written on September 26, 1989. There were three additional revisions on October 23, 27 and 31. In the script, the One Stop was called the Twin Peaks Econo Shopper as noted below:
EXT. THE TWIN PEAKS ECONO SHOPPER – DAY
On Cooper looking ABOVE THE CAMERA.
COOPER
In my dream. Mike said he and Bob
lived above a convenience store.
Cooper is standing in front of a convenience store, the TWIN
PEAKS ECONO SHOPPER. Two stories high. Truman stands next to
Cooper.
TRUMAN
I’d think you’d be afraid to go to
sleep at night.
Behind them Andy and Hawk get out of Hawk’s patrol car.
COOPER
Andy, would you please go into the
Econo Shopper and buy some twine?
ANDY
Okay.
At some point the Econo Shopper was dropped and One Stop was added. I’m wondering if the name was changed due to legal rights since there is a supermarket chain in Puerto Rico with a similar name that has operated since the 1970s.
In the episode, I love the giant colorful “One Stop” graphic that has been placed over the diner next to the Rock Store / Veterinary Clinic. I imagine it was created especially for this episode and was quickly removed after the episode was shot.
ENTERING THE LYDECKER VETERINARY CLINIC
Back to the episode … Cooper asks Andy to get twine while Truman pets an animal held by a girl wearing a Twin Peaks High School Lettermen jacket.
Google Maps provides a good look at the front of The Rock Store.
Here is another look at The Rock Store from my visit in October 2020.
LYDECKER VETERINARY CLINIC
They enter the building as the camera pans up to the handcrafted sign for Bob Lydecker’s clinic. I love the tagline painted on the sign – “Aid to the beast incarnate – which also appears in the script. The Lydecker sign was strategically placed to cover over The Rock Store sign. I’m guessing the “Open” sign was used in the actual shop window.
When the door opens, we get a glimpse inside the shop.
There is a glimpse inside The Rock Store from the Leps’ documentary taken at an similar angle. You can easily see that the interior doesn’t match what appears in the episode.
The documentary also gives a better look inside The Rock Shop with Ed & Vern behind the counter. This image leads me to believe that the interiors of the clinic were shot on a set. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to confirm where it was located – soundstage versus an actual place.
My fellow Bookhouse Boy and author Vinnie Guidera confirmed the interior scenes were shot on a soundstage.
Vinnie shared these two images of the Rock Store’s interior which look nothing like the interior of the clinic in the show.
The door closes and the scene cuts to the clinic interior with Midge Loomer working behind the reception desk. I’ll cover the location’s interior in a different post.
INTWINPEAKS.COM – LYDECKER VETERINARY CLINIC / ONE STOP
Credit for this location once again goes to InTwinPeaks.com. This was the second California film location for Twin Peaks I first visited in August 2008.
Here are two pages from the now defunct website (click on the images to enlarge).
