As the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Twin Peaks continues, I return to one of the first film locations I visited in August 1996 – Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo, Washington. This location served as The Great Northern Hotel interior for the Pilot Episode. I’m focusing on the Concierge Desk which first appears in the episode and later returns on a set in Episode 2016.
KIANA LODGE LOCATION
Located at 14976 Sandy Hook Rd NE in Poulsbo, the Kiana Lodge opened in 1937 for Seattleites looking for an escape from the city. The approximate coordinates for this scene are 47°41’59.3″N 122°34’56.8″W.
Today, the Suquamish Tribe owns this private wedding and meeting location. While they welcome visitors, they ask you give their paying clients their privacy and plan to visit when there are no events going on. Call ahead to check on their schedule – (360) 598-4311.
BEHIND THE SCENES
While preparing this article, I dug deep into my archives and found this photos which I first saved on October 4, 2008. This clapboard is from the Pilot Episode when Twin Peaks was still titled “Northwest Passage.” Based on American Indian carvings behind it, the scenes at Kiana Lodge were shot around mid-March 1989.
COFFEE TIME WITH AUDREY
The first time we see the Concierge Desk, Audrey Horne has punctured the bottom of a coffee-filled styrofoam cup with a pencil. It’s interesting to note that this scene does not appear in the original “Northwest Passage” script.
I also found this behind-the-scenes photo (saved on December 16, 2008). showing the set they used for filming. Notice the number of cups stacked beside the desk.
Additionally, there is a television set which may be referenced in the original script. The Norwegians learn of Laura Palmer’s death from a news report on a television instead of from Audrey Horne.
INT. GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL LOBBY – DAY
On a small TV monitor at the front desk, continuing the report on the news about Laura. Watching are the DESK CLERK and the group of Norwegians we saw earlier in the day, who are in the process of checking out of the hotel. Two BELLMENare loading their baggage on a trolley.
LOCAL REPORTER’S VOICE
(voice over, on the TV)
… cheerleader, Homecoming Queen, most popular girl in school, friend to many in the community. Seventeen years old. Laura Palmer, found dead this morning, the victim of violent crime …
This scene was shot in the lobby area, on the side closest to the room where Ben Horne spits into the fireplace.
ENTER BOB
In the broadcast version, Bob (who we assume is a hotel manager) stops by the Concierge desk to tell Julie Duvic and Audrey not to inform the Norwegian businessmen about Laura Palmer’s death. You can spot that television just above Bob’s shoulder.
More on Bob and Julie in a moment.
When I returned to Kiana Lodge on January 22, 2020, I photographed numerous spots inside the main clubhouse. This spot was easy to locate as the artwork on the wall hasn’t changed since 1989!
The incredible Mauve Zone offered a promotional photo from the scene which appears similar to the location image.
AUDREY’S CLOSE-UP
The scene cuts to a close-up with Audrey playing with the styrofoam cup. The brochure rack may have existed at Kiana Lodge in 1989, but I’ve been unable to find photos to confirm. It’s no longer present today.
OKAY, BOB. OKAY, BOB. OKAY
“Okay, Bob. Okay, Bob. Okay,” remarks Audrey. More of the television appears as Bob turns to leave. Did you notice the owl figurine on the desk? It’s the first of many that will be seen throughout the series.
How about that flying saucer lamp?
A similar saucer lamp (not an exact match) appears in Sheriff Frank Truman’s office in Part 7 from Season 3.
OH AUDREY
After Bob departs, Audrey removes the pencil from the cup causing coffee to flood the Concierge Desk.
On January 14, 2017, author John Thorne shared a rare behind-the-scenes image of Audrey and Julie via Twitter. It seems the shot was taken before the coffee spilled. I wonder how many takes they did to get the coffee mess just right.
BOB RIEBE
I mentioned earlier that Bob and Julie had a story. At the time of filming Bob Riebe owned Kiana Lodge. He also owned the old Olympic Hotel in Poulsbo at some point in the 1970s and 1980s.
Despite an exhaustive search, I was unable to locate any images of Bob besides the screen cap from the Pilot Episode. The Kitsap Sun published an article about Bob’s home on Bainbridge Island on May 8, 1992 which references photos of him yet they are unavailable in their archives.
According to the Kitsap Daily News on March 3, 2004, Bob sold the Kiana Lodge to Port Madison Enterprises (PME), the economic arm of the Suquamish Tribe, for $4 Million. They had been trying to acquire the property for nearly 20 years.
“The property was originally purchased for summer home residences in the 1930s and a community lodge was then constructed as well (which remains today as the main lodge). During World War II, the property was occupied by the Army as an aircraft battery station to protect Keyport and Bremerton, but was released back into the owner’s hands after the war was over.
The site was eventually sold to Richard White, famous for the Foster-White Art Galleries in Seattle and for restoring Pioneer Square. One of White’s bartenders, Riebe, purchased the property in 1979 and recently sold it to PME. Riebe will stay on PME’s staff as a consultant to the lodge.”
I found property records on the Kitsap County website with Bob’s signature. This is probably one of the rarest Twin Peaks actor autographs to have.
Unfortunately, Mr. Riebe, who was born on June 23, 1927, passed away on Friday, April 10, 2009 at the Messenger House Care Center on Bainbridge Island. He was 71. Thanks to Juli Marie Kearns (@idyllopus on Twitter), here is his obituary on the Cook Family Funeral Home website.
Leonard Forsman, chairman of the Suquamish Tribe, wrote this tribute to Bob.
“My mom, Helen Forsman, worked for Bob at Kiana for several years. He was very good to her and always praised her work. I also worked for Bob for a summer or two. I always remember how proud he was to own Kiana. He would always say ‘welcome to Kiana’ to new clients in a way that made Kiana seem even more special than it already was. He was always supportive of the Tribe and liked buying clams and fish from tribal members when he could. He always wanted the Tribe to buy Kiana and since we acquired the lodge, it has worked out well for us. He always had a great sense of humor, too. He had me, my dad and mom, my late sister and her family and friend Suzanne down to his place in Mexico back in 1981 for two weeks, that was a really great time. He will always be a part of the Lodge.”
JULIE AND DIANE
Concierge hostess Julie Duvic (played by Diane Caldwell) was named for a location liaison who worked on the show.
Twin Peaks Archive shared this tweet on April 8, 2020 listing the participants who traveled to Snoqualmie Valley on February 9, 1989 for a location scouting trip. Among those participants was Julie Duvic. How I would have loved to be on that trip!
Diane Caldwell wore a “Julie Duvic” name tag as nice tribute.
Sadly Julie Duvic passed away on December 12, 2010 in Los Angeles at age 55. She’s buried in Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans. Diane Caldwell passed away on March 29, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey at age 70 (check out WelcomeToTwinPeaks.com for a nice tribute).
THE CONCIERGE DESK RETURNS
After a LONG absence, the Great Northern Hotel Concierge Desk returns in Episode 2016. As Audrey approaches the desk, we see a sign for the 1989 Tri-County Rodeo Association Annual Convention.
It appears the desk magically appears near the entrance to the Timber Room.
I say “magical” as the desk is absent in both Episodes 2008 (the scene where Leland Palmer dances around the lobby) and the previous Episode 2015 when Ben Horne takes his Civil War shenanigans to the hotel’s lobby.
IS IT MEYER OR ST. CROIX?
Ron Blair plays what I assume is another Concierge Host whose name is either Randy Meyer per his name tag in Episode 2014.
Or he’s Randy St. Croix as in Episode 2017. He’s always credited as Randy St. Croix so perhaps he forgot his name tag in Episode 2014.
CONCIERGE HOSTESS AUDREY
As Audrey sits at the desk, we get a great look as the wooden Concierge sign. It’s a big upgrade from the Pilot Episode when it was a nondescript nameplate.
Later we get a better look at her “Audrey” name tag. She clearly doesn’t need to include her last name as everyone probably knows who she is anyway.
CITY STUDIOS
All of the scenes for Episode 2016 were shot on a set at the former City Studios (now Occidental Studios), located at 7700 Balboa Boulevard in Van Nuys, California. This soundstage facility housed many of the interior sets from the series and film such as the Double R Diner, Red Room, and more.
