During my visit to Olallie State Park in mid-September 2019, I visited many Twin Peaks film locations. Most scenes were shot along Weeks Falls trail, a spectacular tree-lined, dirt trail that ends at a beautiful waterfall. At the beginning this trail, you’ll find the iconic location from Season 3 where Agent Cooper meets Laura Palmer following an intense encounter with James Hurley.
Olallie State Park is located a short distance down I-90 from North Bend, Washington. Located at 51350 S.E. Homestead Valley Road, this park is part of the Washington State Parks division which means you’ll need a Discover Pass to explore the area. I had first visited the park on September 16 with my fellow Bookhouse Gal Jill Watson. I returned on September 17, my birthday, to spend a day exploring this wonderland from 7:00 a.m. to 5:35 p.m.
The location in question is found at the following coordinates: 47°26’10.3″N 121°39’14.2″W.
Luckily, I ran into David Israel that morning who runs Twin Peaks Tour, a guided tour through many of the locations throughout the Pacific Northwest. He pointed out this location as he started his walk down the trail. I spent the next 90 minutes (!!) immersed in this location.
PART 17 – COOPER WATCHES JAMES AND LAURA
The scene begins with a monochromatic scene of James Hurley and Laura Palmer’s scene in woods from Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me. Cooper is transported to a spot behind a giant tree.
The moss-covered tree can’t be missed as it’s huge! There is a unique marking on the side as if a giant chunk was removed.
Cooper watches the scene unfold while crouching behind this tree.
I couldn’t resist doing the same thing. Talk about an awesome birthday gift!
Cut to a long shot of Laura Palmer speaking with James Hurley standing by his motorcycle. They are actually standing on Weeks Falls trail, but it’s not the same spot from the film.
This scene (located at 47° 26′ 9.708″ N 121° 39′ 10.632″ W) is located about 300 ft. away from the Part 17 location.
I set my Canon camera’s timer and ran out to the trail (it rained for most of the day so I’m glad I brought my poncho).
Agent Cooper ducks behind the giant tree as Laura spots him and screams.
Here’s another look at the tree that Cooper hides behind.
Back to a long shot of James and Laura speaking in the woods. This scene ends and cuts to a black-and-white version of the Sparkwood and 21 and Jacques, Leo and Ronette waiting for Laura scenes.
PART 17 – AGENT COOPER MEETS LAURA
Instead of meeting Jacques, Laura is seen stumbling through the woods.
The shot is from Weeks Falls trail and Laura enters the scene from behind the giant tree on the left. The crew added some light behind her to give depth to the scene.
Laura continues on her walk in the woods by climbing over the protruding branch.
You can see details of the tree behind her that appear to match the tree on the right side of the image above.
Laura walks slowly toward the camera in the darkened woods.
Cooper is now standing on Weeks Falls Trail as Laura approaches him. The trees behind him appear to match the trees from the other side of the trail. The parking lot is to the left of Cooper.
Laura walks up the hill toward Cooper, who is barely seen in the frame. Cooper’s tree is to the far right of the location image above.
Agent Cooper stretches out his hand toward Laura.
I recreated the shot which took a few attempts. Seriously, this was the best way to celebrate a birthday. Have I mentioned how much I love my Volition Brewing Co. shirt that has a silhouette of Mount Si in North Bend?
As Laura Palmer takes Cooper’s hand, the scene changes from black and white (dream state?) to full color (reality?).
The scene cuts to Laura’s wrapped-in-plastic body disappearing from the shore of Blue Pine Lodge.
Cutting back tot the woods, Agent Cooper tells Laura they are going “home,” and she follows.
As Laura and Cooper leave, the camera pans up toward the giant trees of Olallie State Park.
The scene cuts to the Pilot Episode where Pete Martell goes fishing instead of finding Laura’s body, followed by Sarah Palmer smashing Laura’s homecoming queen photo.
PART 17 & 18 – LOSING LAURA
Cooper and Laura proceed through the woods, hand-in-hand. They are actually walking toward the parking lot along Weeks Falls Trail.
The section where they are walking is very short so parts of the scene are recycled several times to give the appearance it’s a longer walk.
Cooper is on a mission, determined to take Laura home. I love the shot of his face illuminated in the dark. He passes by an extended fir branch that reaches the trail. It’s still there!
Cooper looks back toward Laura who is slowly following his lead.
Naido’s spot, 253-yards due east of Jack Rabbit’s Palace, makes another brief appearance before cutting back to the action.
The same shot as before with Cooper and Laura walking along the trail is shown.
A scratching sound first heard in Part 1 fills the air as we see Cooper’s hand outstretched in the dark.
The camera pans toward Cooper’s empty hand as he stops and looks back. She’s gone.
A perplexed Cooper stops along the trail and looks around. The parking lot is behind him. I also believe you can see a white production tent faintly in the background behind his right shoulder.
The camera slowly scans the woods.
It’s the same spot where all the previous action took place.
In Part 17, the scene ends with Cooper looking around and then another shot of the woods as “The World Spins” by Julee Cruise begins to play. Again, you can sort of see the white production tent behind Cooper.
It makes sense that a production tent would be in this area since the crew spent so much time filming scenes in Olallie.
Thanks to a tweet on November 16, 2019 from David Patrick Kelly (a.k.a. Jerry Horne), we get a look at that possible white production tent. Based on the outfits, this cast photo was taken during time the crew was in Olallie State Park.
Laura and Cooper’s trek through the woods repeats toward the beginning of Part 18. When we get to this same spot, Cooper appears to look left as the scene cuts to him back in the Red Room with Mike, the One-Armed Man.
Part 17 ends, with another slow pan of the woods just off the trail.
VIDEO FROM OLALLIE STATE PARK
I’ll conclude with a short video of these film locations I captured on September 17 in the rain. Just hum “The World Spins” when watching it.
“Moving near the edge at night. Dust is dancing in the space…“
