Twin Peaks Film Location – Teresa Banks in Wind River

One of the first scenes in Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me shows a body wrapped in plastic floating down a river. We quickly learn that it’s Teresa Banks, the first victim of killer Bob. The film location for this scene is found at Olallie State Park just outside of North Bend, Washington. I visited the park on my birthday, September 17, 2019 to capture photos and video from my favorite David Lynch film.

LOCATION OF WIND RIVER

The location of Wind River is found just off of the Parking Lot at Olallie State Park. It’s actually the South Fork Snoqualmie River, not “Wind River” as named in the script and film.

The location coordinates for this scene are 47° 26′ 12.75″ N 121° 39′ 13.992″ W.

HISTORY OF OLALLIE STATE PARK

Located at 51350 S.E. Homestead Valley Road in North Bend, Washington, Olallie State Park is pretty much the Disneyland of Twin Peaks film locations. The Wind River scene is just one of many shot here from the series and motion picture.

According to the park’s website, the opened in the 1950s as Twin Falls State Park:

In 1950, Washington State Parks purchased the 160-acre parcel that includes Twin Falls from Puget Sound Power and Light and named the park Twin Falls State Park. The park expanded in 1976, and in 1977, the name was changed to Olallie, the Chinook Jargon word for “salmonberry,” because of the abundance of salmonberries in the area. The Old Snoqualmie Wagon Road, completed in 1867 to offer wagon passage between Ellensburg and Seattle, passes through what is now the picnic area. In 1905, the first automobile drove over Snoqualmie Pass, and the old wagon road was gradually replaced by the Sunset Highway.

An affordable Discover Pass is required to visit the park. It’s used for vehicle access to state parks and recreation lands managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

SHOOTING THE SCENE

According to Charlotte Fraisse’s shooting diary from the film, this scene was shot on Monday, September 30, 1991. It was the 23rd day of shooting.

“While we shoot a short scene with Laura and Bobby, a small team shoots landscapes with cars and a shot of Teresa Banks’ body drifting along the river. The camera had to be seen on the opposite bank of the river, so the technicians climbed into a raft led by three men in rubber suits.”

In an early draft of the script, Teresa’s body is floating through Hells Canyon along Joseph’s Creek in Deer Meadow, Washington. Later versions of the script changed the creek’s name to Wind River:

TERESA BANKS’ body wrapped in plastic floating through Hells Canyon, drifting along in Wind River.

During Leland’s flashback in the film, we see him kill Teresa Banks in the “Tremond Trailer.” According to the August 8, 1991 script, they were originally going to be near Wind River.

LELAND: FLASHBACK
_Nighttime_in_the_woods_.  We see Leland crush Teresa Banks’ face and skull with a pipe until she is dead. We hear the gurgling of the Wind River behind her.

VISITING THE LOCATION

I wasn’t the first super fan to visit this location. Brad Dukes and Charles from the former InTwinPeaks.com braved the waters of the Snoqualmie River. Brad, author of “Reflections: An Oral History of Twin Peaks,” is now my hero after braving crossing the river in February.

Fellow Bookhouse Gal Jill Watson took me on a tour of Olallie State Park on September 16, 2019. After seeing the location, I knew I had to cross the river as a birthday gift to myself.

I arrived at the park around 7:00 a.m. on September 17. Weather was 51 degrees with the sky threatening rain.

Wearing my Blue Rose Task Force tee with camera in hand, I set out to cross the river.

The easiest path seemed to be using these stones to get to the outcropping in the upper left corner of the image.

Since I didn’t bring proper attire on this trip, I used what I had – black Converse shoes and jeans. I also brought a change of clothes since I knew it would be a chilly day.

Funny thing I learned is that things don’t dry quickly in Washington State; I was used to the instant dryer known as Florida’s weather.

I made it to the outcropping, something that is  in the film. You can also see Deer Meadow mountain in the background.

It’s the same mountain seen in this shot with Agents Stanley and Desmond.

MIDDLE OF THE RIVER

A rare shot from the middle of Snoqualmie River as I continued my trek. Why is everything so beautiful in Washington State?

THE OTHER SIDE

I made it! Luckily none of the camera equipment was damaged (I brought plastic bags just in case).

Here’s a look at the full shot from this film location. They cropped the image as you can see the Park Ranger’s home (aka Deer Meadow Sheriff’s Department) in the background.

A shot-for-shot comparison from the film and the actual location. Notice the fallen tree is long gone.

Here’s the same scene overlaid on the full image.

Most likely, the reason for the reverse shot was that it gave the crew more control to release the “body” that was wrapped in plastic. There was definitely more room to work on the side closest to the parking lot.

More views from the other side of the river. Spectacular!

Finally, here’s a panoramic shot of the entire location.

JANUARY 24, 2020

I returned to the location on January 24, 2020. The Snoqualmie River was high and flowing fast so I didn’t dare cross it. I don’t know how Brad did it all those years ago.

INTWINPEAKS.COM

I would be remiss if I didn’t give credit once again to the now closed InTwinPeaks.com. Below is the original page about this location found on the site (Click to Enlarge).