In Twin Peaks Part 14 on Showtime, we travel with Bobby Briggs and the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department to Jack Rabbit’s Palace. This spot in the woods outside Twin Peaks was named by Bobby as a child during visits with his father Major Briggs. This film location is found along Weeks Falls Trail in Olallie State Park just outside North Bend, Washington. Pack your “just cheese” sandwich and let’s go for a hike.
WHERE IS JACK RABBIT’S PALACE LOCATED?
Olallie State Park is home to numerous Twin Peaks film locations and Jack Rabbit’s Palace is located next to several easily identifiable spots from both Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and Season 3.
The specific coordinates for this location along Weeks Falls Trail are 47°26’09.6″N 121°39’12.7″W. To visit the park, you’ll need a Discover Pass. It’s easy to purchase online or you can get one at the parking lot entrance.
The Jack Rabbit’s Palace scenes were shot on October 5, 2015, and Part 14 aired on August 13, 2017.
BOBBY BRIGGS AND JACK RABBIT’S PALACE
We first learn of Jack Rabbit’s Palace thanks to a note left by Major Briggs.
On September 29, Frank Truman reads the cryptic piece of paper left by Bobby’s father:
FRANK TRUMAN
Two-hundred, fifty-three yards east of Jack Rabbit’s Palace. Before leaving Jack Rabbits Palace put some soil from that area in your pocket. And two dates and a time, same time, 2:53. That’s two days from now, and the day after.
Bobby can’t believe what he’s heard as his dad “did it again”:
BOBBY BRIGGS
I know exactly where Jack Rabbit’s Palace is. My dad, when I was a little kid, he took me to this place, near where his station used to be. It was our make-believe world, you know, where we made up stories. I was the one who named it Jack Rabbit’s Palace.
ODESSA, TEXAS
An interesting side note about Jackrabbits and a connection to Twin Peaks.
We learn in Part 18, that Carrie Page lives in Odessa, Texas. This town is home to a gigantic Jackrabbit statue.
Located at 315 West 8th Street in Odessa, the world’s largest Jackrabbit statue, Jack Ben Rabbit, was constructed in 1962. Standing at 8 feet tall, Mr. Rabbit was named after former Odessa Chamber of Commerce President John Ben Sheppard.
According to Roadside America, the rabbit was “displayed for years at the old Prairie Pete Park, then moved into storage in a maintenance yard — until the public raised a fuss and forced it to be returned to a new location, in front of the downtown Ector County Independent School District Administration Building. Someone tried to steal the jackrabbit in 1997, so it’s been bolted to the sidewalk ever since.”
To paraphrase Special Agent Dale Cooper, “When two separate events occur simultaneously pertaining to the same object of inquiry we must always pay strict attention.”
With that said, let’s return to the woods.
VISITING JACK RABBIT’S PALACE
The team sets off for an adventure in the woods on October 1.
After a short hike through the woods, the deputies arrive at Jack Rabbit’s Palace. Bobby is delighted to return to his childhood spot.
Here’s a look at the same spot from Olallie State Park during my first visit with Bookhouse Gal and expert tour guide Jill Watson.
Bobby leaves the road and crosses over to Jack Rabbit’s Palace.
“This is it! Jack Rabbit’s Palace,” Bobby exclaims. I’ll never forget the first time I saw it. I felt like I leaped right into the episode.
Bobby looks up to the trees as the camera zooms in toward the top of Jack Rabbit’s Palace. I took a better image of the top of Jack Rabbit’s Palace on October 14, 2019.
As you can see, the location is not doing well compared to what is seen in the episode. I’m unsure if people are purposely damaging the spot by taking pieces of the tree but, as Jerry Horne once said, “It really makes me mad!” Perhaps it’s the “Leave No Trace” philosophy I adopted as an Eagle Scout.
Unbeknownst to me, my wife Katie snapped this photo of me taking that photo at Jack Rabbit’s Palace.
PUT SOIL IN YOUR POCKET
The deputies put soil in their pockets before continuing their trek 253 yards east of Jack Rabbit’s Palace. I didn’t have these reference shots when I visited so I’ll have to capture location images when I return. I took some additional images on October 14 to match the scenes.
During my October visit, I had my long-haired Chihuahua Yodie along for the ride. Katie took this shot of my photographing Jack Rabbit’s Palace.
RETURN TO JACK RABBIT’S PALACE
The deputies are magically transported back to Jack Rabbit’s Palace after visiting Naido’s spot 253-yards due east from here.
Again, it was incredibly surreal to be in this location.
Here’s a wide angle shot from this location taken with my 11-16mm lens.
There is a close up shot of Bobby leaning against Jack Rabbit’s Palace.
DEPUTY ANDY BRENNAN HOLDING NAIDO
The spot where Andy is holding Naido is to Bobby’s right. It’s easy to find as that giant tree hasn’t changed much since the episode.
Sheriff Frank Truman and Deputy Hawk’s spot is to the left of Bobby, across from Andy and Naido’s spot.
There is an additional close up shot of Truman and Frank. The easiest way to locate this spot is spotting the bended tree behind them.
BEHIND THE SCENES AT JACK RABBIT’S PALACE
In the short film by Jason S. titled “The Man with the Grey Elevated Hair,” we catch a glimpse of David Lynch walking with Executive Producer Sabrina Sutherland along Weeks Falls Trail. On the far left side of the image is Jack Rabbit’s Palace. Lynch and Sutherland are walking toward the parking lot.
When learning Olallie State Park on October 14, 2019, I snapped this similar shot along the trail.
MY FIRST VISIT IN SEPTEMBER 2019
I can’t thank Jill enough for taking me on a tour of this little slice of heaven in the Twin Peaks universe. Here we are on September 16, 2019 following our three-hour hike. She was incredibly patient as I totally geeked out when visiting these spots.
For my birthday on September 17, I returned to Olallie State Park. I didn’t see a single person from 7:00 a.m. to around 5:15 p.m. Despite the periodic rain, I had a wonderful visit as seen above at Jack Rabbit’s Palace. I’m also sporting my favorite new t-shirt from Volition Brewing Co. in North Bend, Washington. They now reside in the building that was Nadine Hurley’s drape store from Season 3.
Here’s a short video of this location. Listen carefully and you may spot familiar sounds along with the ever present Washington State rain.
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Thank you for creating this wonderful site! Thanks also to Jill.