The exploration of the film locations used for the hotel in Buckhorn, South Dakota continues with a look at the FBI Room. Seen in Parts 14, 16, and 17, this location was shot in the same building in Los Angeles as the Blue Rose Task Force meeting scene in Part 12.
WHERE IS THE FBI ROOM AT HOTEL IN BUCKHORN, SOUTH DAKOTA LOCATED?
Located at 431 West Seventh Street in downtown Los Angeles, California, the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) is a private club with state-of-the-art athletic facilities. The Los Angeles Athletic Club Hotel occupies the top three floors of the 12-story historic landmark building. The hotel includes a variety of Signature Suites as part of their 72 room.
When researching this location, I stumbled upon Oyster.com which had 42 images of the Racquet Club Suite in room 1115 at the hotel. I immediately recognized the carpet which lead me to conclude this was the room they used.
I first shared my findings on October 15, 2017 via Twitter. But here is a deeper dive into the three episodes that used this location.
FBI ROOM AT HOTEL IN BUCKHORN, SOUTH DAKOTA FROM PART 14
The room first appears in Part 14 when Agents Preston and Rosenfield discuss the first Blue Rose case from 1975.
They discuss the significance of the last words said by Lois Duffy, the dying woman from that first case. As an aside, I would give anything to see a series about the early Blue Rose cases featuring a younger Gordon Cole and Phillip Jeffries!
This image from Oyster.com shows the same room where this scene took place. Notice the carpet and curtains. The bed and other furniture was removed and replaced with set pieces.
It appears that Albert was seated in front of the window that is partially covered by the television screen. Tammy sat in the spot where the chair was located.
Gordon Cole enters and announces that it’s “coffee time!”
Tammy proceeds to get coffee as Cole tells Albert that Diane Evans is on her way to the room.
Here’s another look at the room from Oyster.com.
Suddenly a window washer appears outside the window behind Tammy’s seat.
The noise from the window washer’s work drives Cole nuts. He subsequently turns down his hearing device.
The balcony details faintly seen in the episode are more pronounced in this image from Oyster.com.
Diane enters the room and speaks with Cole and team about Garland Briggs and her estranged half-sister Janey-E who is married to Dougie Jones and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Diane sits along the wall where the bed is located in this photograph from Oyster.com. The framed artwork in the episode above Diane’s green chair could have been strategically placed to cover the holes made after the light fixtures above the bed were removed.
The scene ends with Gordon Cole recounting his Monica Bellucci dream to Agents Preston and Rosenfield.
FBI ROOM AT HOTEL IN BUCKHORN, SOUTH DAKOTA FROM PART 16
The room is seen again in Part 16 as Gordon Cole quietly stands looking at the equipment throughout the room.
The camera pans across the room to mimic Gordon’s point-of-view.
I combined some of those shots into this panoramic image of the machines.
I thought the crew might have used the desk in the room to hold the equipment but it appears different in the episode.
I love this little scene of Cole contemplating the machines and sounds. He stands in front of the chair where Diane sat. I’m also even more convinced that those frames cover the light fixture holes. Their placement is too precise and really matches where the lights once existed.
Later in the episode, Diane is seen using an elevator after receiving a coded message from Mr. C. Notice the floor number – 11 – as she is seen exiting the elevator.
Diane walks down the hotel hallway toward the FBI room. Notice the painting at the end of the hall.
As Diane approaches the FBI Room the painting appears to be a mirror image of the one seen a few moment prior.
This image from Oyster.com shows room the outside of 1115 – the Racquet Club Suite. The painting has clearly been replaced. This now makes sense as to why Diane exited the 11th floor.
Notice as she approaches the door, the room number has changed to 1827.
Here’s another look at the outside of the Racquet Club Suite at Los Angeles Athletic Club from Oyster.com.
Diane enters the room after Gordon Cole calls to her.
This shot from Oyster.com gives another look at the room.
Diane eventually attempts to shoot the FBI agents with a gun from her Minuet handbag.
In one shot, Albert fires his gun at Diane but Tammy is missing. The scene cuts back and Tammy is seen firing her gun seated next to Albert. Weird.
Diane disappears to the Red Room and only there empty green chair remains.
FBI ROOM AT HOTEL IN BUCKHORN, SOUTH DAKOTA FROM PART 17
The FBI room at the Buckhorn hotel is seen one final time in Part 17. Gordon Cole is shown holding his gun and contemplating what happened to Diane Evans moments ago in Part 16.
Albert Rosenfield brings Cole a glass of red wine. It’s not the same wine from the Blue Rose Task Force Meeting in Part 12. After some searching on the internet, I found the wine.
It appears to be a bottle of Château Bellevue Bordeaux Supérieur from 2013. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to find that particular wine for sale, but BevMo has a similar bottle available.
One final look at the Racquet Club Suite from Oyster.com. Gordon Cole was seated in the spot by the mirror.
Here’s to the bureau!
