Where was Twin Peaks filmed?

In the show's Pilot Episode, a dazed, bruised, and dirty Ronette Pulaski (Phoebe Augustine) walks across the bridge with torn white slip and rope around her wrists and ankles. She is a student at Twin Peaks High School and Laura’s partying companion reported to be missing since the night before.

Imagine seeing a young woman in that condition as you do about your business early in the morning. So you can probably understand the switchman’s “What the hell?” reaction as soon as he saw Ronette lumbering across the bridge. It’s undoubtedly one of the creepiest scenes in Twin Peaks, but it’s also a critical moment that sets many of the show’s plots in motion.

Due to this scene, Twin Peaks enthusiasts started visiting the bridge, which they know as Ronette’s Bridge. But in real life, it’s called the Reinig Bridge, constructed in 1915. It used to be part of a branch line for the Milwaukee Road railroad but now serves as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge across the Snoqualmie River. It’s also one of the itinerary stops for the Twin Peaks tour of the Snoqualmie Valley.

You can take the Valley Shuttle that travels up and down the Valley with a regular schedule. It connects commuters to Metro bus stops between Snoqualmie, North Bend, Carnation, Fall City, and Duvall.

Who would forget the iconic funeral scene of Laura Palmer in the first season, Episode 4, Rest in Pain? There are so many things happening in this scene. We see Johnny Horne (Robert Bauer) and Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook) yelling, “Amen,” after Reverend Clarence (Royce D. Applegate) finishes his message.

Then Bobby calls everyone hypocrites and fights with James Hurley (James Marshall), telling him, “You’re a dead man!” It’s also when Laura’s father, Leland (Ray Wise), breaks down and throws himself on his daughter’s casket as it’s getting lowered to the ground while sobbing and calling, “My baby!”

The filming location for the funeral is located in Sierra Madre, California. It’s the historic Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery, established in 1881. Many of the city’s original founding families are buried here, as well as the veterans who fought in the Vietnam War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Spanish American War.

If you plan to visit where Laura Palmer is laid to rest in the show, always pay your respects. Remember that it’s an actual cemetery with occupants, so be respectful at all times. There are several ways to get to Sierra Madre Boulevard, including the subway, light ray, and bus. The lines 187, 267, 487, and 489 have routes that pass near the area.

The Double R Diner appears multiple times in Twin Peaks. It’s a town institution and often a place for the townsfolks to hang out and gossip. It’s owned and operated by Norma Jennings (Peggy Lipton) and specializes in coffee and homemade pie. It’s where agent Cooper spends time sipping on a “damn fine cup of coffee.”

Even the other characters in the show know how agent Cooper loves his coffee. In Season 1, Episode 3, Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer, while drinking her coffee in the diner, Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) tells Donna Hayward (Lara Flynn Boyle, “Agent Cooper loves coffee… Agent Cooper likes his coffee black.”

This and many other scenes for the Double R Diner were filmed at Twede’s Café in North Bend, Washington. It’s been the crown jewel of the downtown since the 1940s and has remained a local gathering place and a popular tourist destination. Thanks to its classic feel, picturesque setting, and scenic location, it was chosen as one of the important locations for the Twin Peaks production.

The building endured severe damage from a fire in 2000 but was quickly rebuilt and restored to its former glory. Then it was again used as the Double R Diner for the latest season in 2017. Due to its convenient location in downtown North Bend, Twede’s Café is accessible by public transportation. It is close to several bus stops, but you’ll have to take bus 208 to get to the diner quicker and more conveniently.

Of course, the list of the notable Twin Peaks film scenes won’t be complete without mentioning the part where Laura’s body was found at the beginning of the Pilot Episode. This event leads to discovering the town’s web of dark mysteries and its people's secrets.

While on his way to fishing, Pete Martell (Jack Nance) notices an object near the massive log by the shore. When he approaches it, he realizes it’s a dead body and calls the sheriff’s office, declaring, “She’s dead. Wrapped in plastic.” Although it’s a terrifying scene, the location where it was shot is quite the opposite.

The Kiana Lodge serves as the backdrop for this horrifying scene where the story began. It’s an elegant venue located on 1,000 feet of no-bank waterfront in a peaceful and welcoming setting in Poulsbo, Washington. Since its appearance in the TV series, it has attracted more visitors worldwide to tour the place, hoping to get a glimpse of what happened behind the scenes of the mystery drama. You can still see the massive piece of driftwood by the venue’s entrance, now known as Laura’s Log.

You’ll have to take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island or from Edmonds to Kingston and then drive to the venue. The crossing time for both can take up to 35 minutes.

Also featured in the Pilot Episode is the Twin Peaks High School. Here we meet Laura’s friends and some essential characters that played a significant role in her life. In the classroom, Laura’s homeroom teacher is taking a roll when an officer approaches, looking for Bobby Briggs. He briefly speaks to the teacher and says, “The principal will be making an announcement.” Realizing what has happened to Laura, Donna starts crying.

To shoot the high school scenes in the series, they used Mount Si High School, located in Snoqualmie, WA as a stand-in for the Twin Peaks High School. It featured red zigzag wall decorations that caught the attention of many Twin Peaks enthusiasts. Unfortunately for the fans, this iconic location no longer exists today.

The old Mt. Si High School was demolished in 2019, providing more space for the replacement 355,000-square foot high school. It now features three-story classroom buildings and scenic outdoor gathering spaces, making it one of the state’s largest high schools.

Perhaps, the Salish Lodge & Spa is one of the most exciting Twin Peaks filming sites you should visit if you want to go on a filming tour. It’s a stunning luxury hotel in Snoqualmie you’ll see in the opening credits of the series perched atop the majestic Snoqualmie Falls. Exterior shots of the hotel were used for the fictional Great Nothern Hotel, which serves as agent Cooper’s home base in Twin Peaks. Many scenes in the series show agent Cooper inside the hotel he is staying at, including the opening scene in Season 1, Episode 4. Audrey, a concierge at the Great Northern Hotel, greets him by calling him Colonel Cooper, to which he responds, “Just agent, Audrey. Special agent.” However, it’s essential to note that the interiors for the hotel were actually filmed at Kiana Lodge and later recreated on a soundstage in Los Angeles.

The fastest and most convenient way to get to the hotel is by car or taxi. But you can also catch a bus by taking lines 554 and 208 with bus stops nearby.